Malaysia is a perfect destination for first-time trip to Asia. Train travel in Malaysia is comfortable and inexpensive. Infrastructure and rolling stock fleet are well-maintained. Trains in Malaysia connect major cities along two main railway lines: KTM West Coast Line from Perlis to the Woodlands Checkpoint and KTM East Coast Line between Gemas and Tumptan.
Long-distance trains are operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). Malaysian rail network is connected with Thai railway network and KTM operates across the border with Singapore to Woodlands Checkpoint.
The first railway line in Malaysia was inaugurated on 1 June 1885. The line from Port Weld to Taiping was 13 km long. Next year was opened railway line between Kuala Lumpur and Klang.
Due to numerous investments in the railway system in Malaysia, railway line renovations, and organizational changes, it is impossible to keep the article up-to-date. In the article, I only provide general information about train travel in Malaysia.
Train travel in Malaysia – useful websites
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways) – official website. Timetable, tickets, prices.
KLIA Express – trains from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the KL Sentral station
Map of railway network in Malaysia (Wikimedia Commons)
Train travel in Sabah State – a comprehensive guide
Trains in Malaysia – Express Rail Link
Express Rail Link is a company that operates passenger trains from Kuala Lumpur Sentral station to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. There are two types of trains:
KLIA Express – the train runs between the airport and Kuala Lumpur Sentral station without any intermediate stops. The train starts at KLIA 2 station near Terminal 2 and makes a stop at another terminal. The travel time from the airport to Sentral station is 28 minutes, while in the opposite direction, the train takes 4 minutes longer.
Trains run every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes outside of peak hours.
The first train from Kuala Lumpur Sentral station departs at 5:00 AM, and the last one at 12:40 AM. From the airport, the first train departs at 4:55 AM, and the last one at 12:55 AM.
Peak hours are from Monday to Friday between 6:00 AM-9:00 AM and 4:00 PM-10:00 PM.
KLIA Express trains have one restroom adapted for people with disabilities.
KLIA Transit – the train has three additional stops between the airport and the station, making the journey longer than the KLIA Express. The travel time in each direction is about 40 minutes.
Trains run every 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes outside of those hours.
From Kuala Lumpur Sentral to the airport, the first train departs at 4:33 AM, and the last one at 12:03 AM. From the airport, the first train departs at 5:48 AM, and the last one at 12:59 AM.
The service was inaugurated in 2002.
KLIA Express – additional information and tickets.
Train travel in Malaysia – ETS Trains
ETS train means “Electric Train Service – high-speed Intercity connections operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu and served by modern electric multiple units.
The first such connection was launched in August 2010 between Ipoh and Seremban, later extended to Padang Besar.
In recent years, the ETS network has expanded significantly. Trains run on the following routes:
– Kuala Lumpur Sentral – Ipoh
– Ipoh – Butterworth – Padang Besar
– Gemas – KL Sentral – Ipoh – Butterworth – Padang Besar
In the schedules, the trains are marked as:
– EG…. – Gold Service
– EP…. – Platinum Service
– ES…. – Silver Service
The fleet used includes two types of vehicles:
KTM Class 91 – an electric multiple unit produced by the Rotem and Mitsubishi consortium. This type of unit has 6 cars, including a dining car, and can carry 350 passengers. Malaysia’s railways have 5 such vehicles, delivered in 2009.
KTM Class 93 – a Chinese-made electric multiple unit. The trains were ordered by the Malaysian government in 2013, with the first one delivered in 2015. At the time of the article’s writing, 10 such vehicles were in operation, with another 9 expected to be delivered within a few years. These are also 6-car units, capable of carrying 320 passengers.
The trains run on electrified railway lines. Theoretically, they can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, but in practice, the speed is much lower.
ETS trains include a dining car, restrooms adapted for people with disabilities, and each car is equipped with surveillance and LCD monitors.
Train travel in Malaysia – Intercity trains
Intercity trains in Malaysia run on non-electrified trains. The trains are comprised of a diesel locomotive and cars with seating, an Asian version of sleeper cars, and sleeping carriages.
Intercity trains operate as express trains (stopping only in major cities) and as trains that stop at all stations.
The most important routes of Malaysian Intercity trains are:
– Johor Bahru Sentral – Tumpat
– Johor Bahru Sentral – Pulau Sebang
– Johor Bahru Sentral – Woodlands Checkpoint
The Butterworth – Hat Yai (Thailand) train also operates as an Intercity train.
In 2021 the new Intercity train from Tumpat to Kuala Lipis was launched.
Classes of cars in Intercity trains in Malaysia:
– ADNFD – a modern air-conditioned cars. Two-bed sleeping compartment with a private toilet and bathroom. The traveler must book the entire compartment, making it ideal for couples who don’t mind spending extra money for hotel.
– ADNFB – two-bed sleeping compartment with a sink. As above, the entire compartment must be booked.
– ADNS – sleeping cars similar to those in the former USSR but air-conditioned and with curtains at each berth. Each car has 40 berths and a restroom at the end of the carriage.
– AFC – first class. Open-plan seating carriages with reclining seats in a 2+1 layout.
– ASC – superior class. Open-plan seating carriages with comfortable seats in a 2+2 layout. 60 seats in each car.
– AEC – economy class. Open-plan cars with seats, less legroom, less comfortable seats, 74 seats in each car.
The Jungle Line
The Jungle Line, also known as the East Coast Line or Jungle Railway, is a railway line in Malaysia from Tumpat to Gemas. The 526 km long line is described in many guides and blogs as offering breathtaking views, which is why many tourists choose to travel by Intercity trains from Johor Bahru to Tumpat.
The line runs through the jungle for a long stretch. There are no major cities along the way, only villages and small towns. Opinions on the scenic value vary – some tourists love the line, while others are disappointed.
In addition to the Intercity train (marked as express in the schedule), express and shuttle trains run on certain sections – trains that stop at most stations. These trains most frequently operate on the Gua Musang – Tumpat and Gua Musang – Kuala Lipis routes. The shuttle trains consist of a diesel locomotive and first, second, and third-class cars. Few tourists use these trains, making the journey an opportunity to observe the locals.
The overnight Johor Bahru – Tumpat train also includes sleeping cars and ADNS cars – the Malaysian equivalents of the sleeper cars known in the former USSR.
Eastern and Oriental Express
The Eastern and Oriental Express is a luxury tourist train that runs periodically for multi-day tourist trips. The private compartments are as luxurious as five-star hotels. The train also has a dining car and a panoramic car. At the time of writing, tours were available from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to Singapore. This train is not for everyone’s budget; as with any luxury tourist train, it is very expensive.
Available cars include Presidential Suites, State Apartments, and two-person and one-person Pullman compartments (stylish sleeping compartments). Each compartment is equipped with a private bathroom with a shower.
The entire train is air-conditioned.
The train was ceased in 2020 due to COViD-19 pandemic and was reinstated in 2024.
Belmond.com – official website
Penang Hill Funicular
Penang Hill is the highest hill on the Malaysian island of Penang. The hill can be reached by a funicular railway, which is one of the island’s biggest tourist attractions.
The first funicular line was built here in 1906, but due to technical problems, it was never opened to the public.
A second construction project was undertaken after World War I. The Penang Hill Railway was designed by Arnold R. Johnson, who studied the construction of funicular railways in Switzerland.
The Penang Hill Railway opened on October 21, 1923. Test runs were conducted for two months, and the line was officially inaugurated on January 1, 1924.
Between 2010 and 2011, the funicular was rebuilt and upgraded. The cars were replaced, new tracks were laid, and a short section was added so that passengers no longer need to change cars halfway (previously, the railway operated as two separate sections). A new lower station with parking was built. The railway resumed operations on April 25, 2011.
Today, the railway route is 1996 meters long. The travel time one way is about 5 minutes, with a maximum speed of 10 meters per hour.
Ticket prices for foreigners are four times higher than for Malaysians.
Penang Hill – official website
Kuala Lumpur Monorail
An integral part of public transportation in Kuala Lumpur is the monorail, often seen in photos of the Malaysian capital featured on blogs and social media.
Plans for building the monorail emerged in the early 1990s. On October 29, 1996, the Malaysian government signed a 30-year contract for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the system, which was then known as the Peoplemover Rapid Transit Line. The line was to be built by KL PRT Sdn Berhad.
Construction began in 1997. However, due to the Asian financial crisis, work was halted in December of that year but resumed in July 1998.
The line was opened in 2003 and has been in operation without major changes since then.
The Kuala Lumpur Monorail is currently the only monorail line of its kind in Malaysia. The line is 8.6 km long and serves 11 stations. The vehicles run on two parallel rails. The entire line is monitored, with technicians observing the situation on the route live from a special control room.
The monorail is designated as line “8” in the timetable and connects Kuala Lumpur Sentral railway station with the Titiwangsa interchange in the business district.
The vehicles on this line can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h. Each vehicle has 48 seats and standing room for 196 passengers. Stations are spaced 0.5 to 1 km apart.
Kuala Lumpur Railway Museum
The previously mentioned Kuala Lumpur railway station, built in 1910, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The station underwent a major renovation in 1986. In 2001, long-distance traffic was moved to Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, and many tenants left the station premises.
Some of the vacant spaces were converted into a small Railway Museum. Unused equipment from stations across Malaysia was brought to Kuala Lumpur, and the museum was opened in 2007.
Unfortunately, in terms of attractiveness, the museum has received mixed reviews. There is no traditional rolling stock display as in similar museums; it is intended for those interested in the history of Malaysian railways and railways in general, focusing mainly on technical aspects. Among the exhibits, you can find scales, displays, and even an elephant bone—left behind after an elephant charged at a train, trying to defend its herd from the approaching behemoth.
While the museum may disappoint some, the station itself receives excellent reviews for its interior architecture. The former station hotel rooms remain inaccessible to visitors, and to access the platforms, one must purchase a ticket for a commuter train.
According to reviews, it’s worth taking a walk around the station—a gem of Kuala Lumpur’s architecture. In recent years, the station has undergone renovation work.
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