Malaysia’s long-awaited electric train linking Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru makes preview run

The train departed Kuala Lumpur Railway Station at 6 a.m. carrying officials from national railway operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and the Transport Ministry.

It arrived at Kempas Baru Station in Johor Bahru at 10 a.m., where the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended a ceremony marking the completion and operationalization of the service, The Straits Times reported.

Each six-coach train can accommodate 312 passengers, comprising five standard coaches and one business-class coach. Amenities include four toilets, charging ports at every seat, a bistro car for onboard meals, and a prayer room for Muslim travelers, according to Malay Mail.

Malaysia's electric train. Photo courtesy of Malaysia's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar

The business-class coach offers wider seating, a private toilet, complimentary meals, individual TV screens with free Wi-Fi and movies, a digital route map, and an in-seat meal-ordering system.

The service marks the completion of the 192-km Gemas–Johor Bahru electrified double-track rail project, extending Malaysia’s west coast rail network from Padang Besar in the north to Johor Bahru in the south.

Construction began in 2017 and was initially scheduled for completion in October 2021, but the project was delayed by more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and land acquisition issues.

Once fully operational, the southern ETS line will reduce travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to about 4.5 hours, compared to the current five to seven hours by car or bus.

There will be four daily services between KL Sentral and JB Sentral: two departures from Kuala Lumpur at 7:45 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., and two from Johor Bahru at 8:40 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the first KL Sentral departure will shift to 7:55 a.m.

One-way fares from either city start at RM82 (US$20). Tickets are available through the KITS Style app, KTMB kiosks, and the official website.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the Kempas Baru event that two additional services would be introduced in January, with more trips expected the following month. He added that KTMB plans to roll out electric commuter trains similar to those operating in the Klang Valley and northern states.

Acting Group CEO and Chief Technical Officer Ahmad Nizam Mohamed Amin said the southern ETS line would enhance mobility for Johor residents traveling to Kuala Lumpur, strengthen connections to northern and East Coast destinations, and support tourism and economic growth.