The completion of Malaysia’s Electric Train Service (ETS) line to Johor Bahru marks a pivotal milestone for the nation, delivering a wide-reaching infrastructure upgrade that could ripple through the economy and uplift local communities, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
During a ceremony in Kempas, Anwar told reporters that finishing the KL–Johor Bahru ETS line represents a major chapter in Malaysia’s development. He emphasized that Johor’s continued growth requires not just an airport and a port, but also modern public transport, and he noted that these “basic infrastructure needs” are nearly in place. The PM stressed the need to translate the ETS’s benefits to residents at rural stations along the route, calling for coordinated support from state and federal governments to ensure housing and amenities near ETS stations so that ordinary people share in the project’s gains. He expressed pride that the project is complete and suggested it could serve as a model for Johor and the country’s broader development.
The event was attended by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi. At a subsequent press conference, Loke described the ETS as a backbone for connecting commuters across Peninsular Malaysia and expressed hope that it would raise living standards and increase public transport usage. He outlined plans to link the ETS with the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a RM50 billion megaproject that would connect the Klang Valley with Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
In Johor Bahru itself, there are talks of integrating the ETS with the upcoming Rapid Transit System Link (connected to Singapore), as well as bus services and the elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system, which remains under discussion. The ART concept envisions autonomous, rubber-wheel tram-like vehicles guided by virtual tracks and sensors.
Initial ETS operations will focus on the Johor Bahru–Kuala Lumpur corridor, with the long-term aim of linking Johor Bahru with northern Malaysian cities such as Butterworth, Ipoh, and Padang Besar. Loke noted that the immediate schedule will start with two trains on Friday, expanding by two more trains in January and another two in February to accommodate holiday travel during Chinese New Year and the Hari Raya period.
Construction on the RM8.9 billion project began in 2016, spanning Segamat, Kluang, Kulai, and Johor Bahru, after being first announced in 2011 by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). While progress has faced delays, the ETS between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur is projected to take about 3.5–4.5 hours, depending on service type (Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Express). This travel time is competitive with driving or bus travel and avoids road congestion, unlike the longer roughly seven-hour diesel train journey currently available. KTMB’s chief executive Ahmad Nizam Mohamad Amin described the ETS as more economical than flying due to lower ticket prices and highlighted its potential to “revolutionise” peninsula travel while offering a greener option.
KTMB has announced a special 30% launch discount for Malaysian citizens on routes between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur from December 12, 2025, to January 11, 2026, using a promotional code. Early checks show strong demand, with few seats remaining for the first three days of operation.
Ticketing starts at RM82 for a one-way trip, with standard fares ranging from RM82 to RM99 and business class from RM153 to RM169. The six-coach ETS train carries 312 passengers (five standard cars and one business-class car).
Beyond boosting economic activity in smaller towns along the line, the ETS is expected to facilitate more convenient domestic travel between key peninsular stops and, in turn, support Singapore–Malaysia travel flows. Industry experts have argued that, when combined with the RTS Link to Singapore, the rail journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur could be completed in around four hours, bypassing road congestion along the Causeway and highways. Transport planner Rosli Azad Khan noted that such a combination would offer a more relaxing alternative to traffic jams, whether heading north or south.
As momentum builds, the ETS line’s success will hinge on sustaining reliability and broadening integration with other transit modes, ensuring that growth is inclusive and benefits reach both urban centers and smaller communities along the route.
