Fares for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will start at RM125 for economy-class transit services between Gombak and Kota Baru, ahead of its planned launch on Dec 12.
Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak clarified that RM125 is only the starting fare, not a fixed price for every journey. The railway will use dynamic pricing, allowing passengers who book early or travel at selected times to get cheaper tickets, subject to availability.
ECRL fares vary by route and service
For the 523km Gombak-Kota Baru journey, express fares will start at RM147. Other starting fares include:
- Gombak-Kuala Terengganu: RM95 for transit and RM110 for express services
- Gombak-KotaSAS: RM60 for transit and RM68 for express services
The same starting fares will apply in the opposite direction.
Eligible passengers can also enjoy discounts of up to 50% for children aged two to 12, Malaysians aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities (OKU) and government pensioners. Students aged 13 to 24 will receive a 40% discount.
ECRL to cut travel time to the east coast
Express trains between Gombak and Kota Baru are expected to take around four hours, compared with seven to eight hours by road. Transit services on the same route will take up to five hours. Express journeys from Gombak to Kuala Terengganu are expected to take two hours and 54 minutes, while transit services will take three hours and 51 minutes.
For Gombak to KotaSAS, express services are expected to take one hour and 27 minutes, compared with two hours and five minutes for transit services.
Official ticket sales are scheduled to begin in mid-November, while passenger services are targeted to start on Dec 12, subject to safety requirements and the necessary approvals.
Up to 16 daily services planned
The ECRL will initially operate 10 electric multiple-unit train sets at speeds of up to 160km/h.
There will be 12 daily services from Monday to Thursday, with six trips in each direction. From Friday to Sunday, the frequency will increase to 16 daily services, with eight trips in each direction.
Around 2.2 million seats are expected to be available throughout 2027, with service frequency reviewed based on passenger demand and operational needs. MRL said the project had reached 98.16% completion, while train testing had exceeded 50,000km. Final readiness reviews are scheduled for Oct 23, followed by trial operations in November.
The ECRL will connect Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, with the aim of improving access to jobs, education, tourism and business opportunities along its route.
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