Beware fake ECRL tickets as mid-November sales draw near

Fake offers for ECRL tickets are a worry as official sales approach in mid-November. A Pahang official has urged the public to stay alert.

Pahang Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang gave the warning on 28 October. He fears the fake offers will appear mostly on social media ahead of the December school holidays.

Here are the red flags, the real fares and the discounts that are confirmed so far.

Red flags in fake ticket offers

First, watch the price. Sim said unusually cheap fares are a warning sign.

Next, look at the extras. Offers that promise bulk-purchase discounts, free onboard meals or guaranteed seats for early payment should raise doubt.

Besides, the December school holidays are expected to push demand higher.

Still, remember that sales have not opened. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said tickets would go on sale in mid-November.

So anyone selling seats today is not using an official channel. Buyers should wait for the official announcement.

Sim urged buyers to use official channels only. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd is expected to sell tickets through the project’s official website, with a mobile app alongside.

Pahang will have seven stations on the line: Temerloh, Bentong, Maran, Paya Besar, KotaSAS, Bandar Pelabuhan Kuantan and Cherating.

However, the exact sales date has not been announced. Check the official ECRL channels for it.

What real fares look like

First, the starting fares. A Transit economy seat from Gombak to KotaSAS costs from RM60, and the trip is 209 km. Our earlier report has the full list.

Loke said ECRL fares are comparable to airline tickets, but significantly cheaper.

Next, the longer trips. Gombak to Kuala Terengganu starts at RM95, and Gombak to Kota Bharu starts at RM125.

Then, express trains cost a little more. The same three routes start at RM68, RM110 and RM147.

Transit trains stop at every scheduled station. Express trains call at four main stations: Gombak, KotaSAS, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu.

Then there is dynamic pricing. Malaysia Rail Link chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said prices will vary.

They depend on travel time, demand and seat availability.

The Gombak to Kota Bharu journey takes about four hours.

So compare any offer with the official price, which will include the 30% first-month discount.

Discounts that are confirmed

First, the launch discount. Loke announced 30% off economy tickets for the first month of operations at Transport Expo Asia 2026 on 20 October.

Also, people who already get a concession fare do not receive the 30% on top of it.

Concession fares are 50% off. They cover children aged 2 to 12, Malaysians aged 60 and above, OKU card holders and government retirees.

Students aged 13 to 24 get 40% off under the inclusive fare scheme.

Meanwhile, passenger service is targeted to begin on 12 December. The start still depends on safety checks and approvals.

The line has 10 train sets that can carry up to 10,000 passengers a day.

In short, none of these announced discounts for ECRL tickets include free meals or guaranteed seats. Wait for the official channels before you pay anyone.

Dont miss:

Study Old Klang Road jams before building flyover, says expert MyKomuter50 pass to save KTM Komuter users up to RM160 a month ECRL fares from RM60: Tickets on sale mid-Nov, trains by Dec 12 Waze ban explained: The circular, the concerns and TuJu