LRT3 Shah Alam line: Everything you need to know before it opens

After a decade of construction, multiple delays, and one very public cost-cutting exercise, LRT3 is finally about to open. Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed on 16 June 2026 that the LRT3 Shah Alam Line will open at the end of this month, within two weeks. “It is currently in trial operations and is ready. We expect it to begin operations towards the end of the month,” he said.

This is the complete guide. By the time you finish reading, you will know the full route, every station, how much it costs, how to connect to other lines, and exactly what this line means for the western Klang Valley.

What is LRT3 and where does it go?

Spanning 37.8km, the LRT3 Shah Alam Line connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya with Johan Setia in Klang, providing a new rail corridor across the western Klang Valley and serving communities that have long relied heavily on road transport.

The line is designed to accommodate up to 18,630 passengers per hour in each direction, and is projected to benefit approximately two million residents along its route — particularly those commuting between Petaling Jaya and Klang.

Furthermore, it will be the third LRT line and the fourth fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley region, operated as part of the Rapid KL system by Rapid Rail, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia.

All the LRT3 stations

The Shah Alam Line serves 20 operational stations across Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang. Among them are two interchange stations: Bandar Utama, which connects to the MRT Kajang Line, and Glenmarie, which links to the LRT Kelana Jaya Line.

The complete list of stations opening with the line:

Five additional stations open later, around 2028: Tropicana (previously known as Lien Hoe), Temasya, Raja Muda (previously SIRIM), Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik.

How much does LRT3 cost to ride?

LRT3 uses Rapid KL’s distance-based fare structure. The most you pay end to end is around RM4.90 in cash, or RM4.30 if you pay cashless with Touch ‘n Go or a contactless card.

Concession card holders pay substantially lower fares, with the same end-to-end journey costing RM2.40.

For most journeys between stations — not the full end-to-end run — fares will be considerably lower. Additionally, watch the official Rapid KL channels in the days after opening, as promotional free-ride periods have historically accompanied new rail line launches in Malaysia.

How does LRT3 connect to other lines?

This is where LRT3 becomes genuinely powerful for commuters, since it doesn’t operate in isolation — it plugs directly into the existing Klang Valley rail network at two points.

At Bandar Utama, passengers can connect directly to the MRT Kajang Line, providing access to destinations including Bukit Bintang, TRX, Pasar Seni, KL Sentral and Kajang. The second interchange is at the Glenmarie station complex, where passengers can transfer between the Shah Alam Line and the Kelana Jaya Line, linking the route to central Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya, Putra Heights and Gombak.

Moreover, there is a walking link to KTM at Klang station. This means passengers can continue their journey by KTM Komuter from the Klang end of the line, connecting to the Port Klang Line.

Why did it take so long? The full history

The line was announced by Prasarana Malaysia in 2013 and work began in 2016. Construction was halted in 2018 for a review that followed the change of government and concerns over funding.

The project was later revived after it was reclassified from a rapid transit line to a light metro. Its expected completion was moved from 2020 to 2024. Continued delays then pushed the projected completion date through 2025 and eventually into 2026.

The cost-cutting exercise that followed the 2018 government change was substantial. The original plan was a RM31.6 billion line with 42 six-car trains, due in 2020. In 2018, the project was reviewed and the cost was cut by nearly half to RM16.6 billion. Trains were reduced to 22 three-car sets, the tunnel was dropped, and five stations were shelved.

However, Budget 2024 saw Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announce that the five shelved stations — Tropicana, Temasya, Raja Muda, Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik — would be reinstated at a cost of RM5.3 billion.

The final delays before the 2026 opening were technical rather than political. In early December 2025, the opening of the line was delayed once again due to software glitches in the signalling system and the line’s inability to complete the required fault-free run.

The delays came at a financial cost to the contractor. The main contractors involved paid RM2.73 million per day in liquidated damages due to delays in meeting the revised completion schedule, with accumulated penalties reported at RM474.8 million.

What does it mean for Shah Alam and Klang?

The arrival of rail in Shah Alam and Klang is genuinely significant. These are large, densely populated urban centres that have been rail-free for decades despite sitting in the middle of the Klang Valley — commuters from both cities have historically had no choice but to drive or take long bus routes to reach the rest of the rail network.

The opening of the LRT3 Shah Alam Line is expected to reduce travel time significantly for commuters who previously had to change stations or rely on road transport to reach Shah Alam. Furthermore, the line is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, making public transport a more practical option for western corridor residents.

For residents of Shah Alam and Klang specifically, the calculus changes meaningfully. A RM4.30 cashless fare each way works out to roughly RM189 a month for a working commuter — a real saving on petrol, parking and tolls.

What You Need to Do Before You Ride

The exact launch date has not yet been confirmed as of 22 June 2026 — though with Anthony Loke’s stated “end of month” timeline, an announcement is expected any day. Before you plan your first trip, follow MyRapid KL‘s official social media channels for the confirmed first day of passenger service, as well as any free-ride promotions tied to the launch.

For fares, use your Touch ‘n Go card or any contactless bank card to pay cashless and save on every journey. The full fare table covering all 25 stations is available on the MyRapid KL website.

LRT3 has been a long time coming for the western Klang Valley. For the millions of residents who live along its route, the wait is nearly over.