KTMB Unveils 186 Additional Trains for Festive Travel

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has declared it will be adding 186 new train services to cater to rising passenger numbers during the Hari Raya Aidiladha festivities and the upcoming school holidays across Malaysia. These supplementary train operations will commence from May 22 and continue until June 7, 2026, covering many key routes nationwide.

KTMB mentioned that these extra services will encompass both the Electric Train Service (ETS) and EMU Plus trains. This increase is anticipated to provide an additional 58,380 seats for those traveling during one of the year's peak travel seasons. Tickets for these special services will be made available starting May 9 via the KITS Style mobile application, KTMB’s official website, and at designated railway station ticket kiosks.

The railway provider indicated that the routes connecting Kuala Lumpur with northern and southern Malaysia will exhibit the most significant enhancement in services. The KL Sentral to Padang Besar route, for instance, will present over 15,700 additional tickets for select travel dates throughout May and June. Other notable routes such as KL Sentral to Butterworth and KL Sentral to Ipoh will also see thousands of extra seats added.

Furthermore, KTMB has confirmed that expanded services will be introduced for the KL Sentral to Johor Bahru route, a major intercity rail link during festive times. Nearly 19,000 additional tickets will be available for travel between May 22 and June 7. There will also be extra EMU Plus services running between Klang and Ipoh on select holiday dates to assist passenger flow in the western region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri, the KTMB Group Chief Executive Officer, stated that the increase in train services was influenced by a robust public response during past festive seasons like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. He noted that demand for travel routes to Johor Bahru and northern Malaysia has been consistently on the rise.

The company also pointed out the positive effects of the Malaysian government’s “Road to Rail” initiative, designed to promote public transportation use instead of private vehicles for long distances. Officials are confident that this initiative has boosted public trust in rail services by presenting trains as a safer, more comfortable, and efficient travel choice.

In addition to the extra ETS and EMU operations, KTMB revealed promising ticket sales for the special Ekspres Lambaian Aidiladha service connecting the East Coast with Kuala Lumpur. Nearly half of the tickets for this service have already sold out following the earlier announcement in April.

KTMB is also rolling out promotional discounts for certain East Coast train services. Passengers on the ELA 1029 route from Tumpat to KL Sentral will be eligible for a 30 percent discount on Superior Seater tickets starting May 11. The reduced ticket prices will begin at RM56, compared to the usual RM80 fare, with a limited number of seats available.

Experts in transportation believe that the increase in train services will help alleviate highway traffic congestion during the festive season while ensuring safer travel for countless passengers. KTMB officials are encouraging travelers to book their tickets early, given the anticipated high demand during the holiday period.