Yes, you can now take a direct electric train from KL to Johor Bahru. The ETS3 service between KL Sentral and JB Sentral began on 12 December 2025 on the new Gemas–Johor Bahru electrified double track, and the trip takes about 4.5 hours. KTMB runs eight KL–JB trips a day (four each way), with extra weekend trains, and one-way fares were reported from about RM82. Book on the KITS Style app or online.ktmb.com.my.
For years the honest answer to “is there a train from KL to JB?” was “sort of”: a slow diesel ride, or a change of trains at Gemas. Most people simply drove or took the bus and accepted five to seven hours on the North–South Expressway. That changed in December 2025. Today the ETS train KL to Johor Bahru runs end to end on electrified double track, finishing at JB Sentral, right beside the Causeway checkpoint and the new RTS Link station.
This guide covers what the ETS3 service is, how long it takes, how often it runs, how to buy tickets, what fares to expect, and why it matters if you are thinking about living in, renting out or investing in JB city centre.
What is the ETS3 KL Sentral–JB Sentral train?
ETS3 is KTMB’s Electric Train Service on the southern line, running from KL Sentral to JB Sentral. It replaced the old journey that needed a change at Gemas, because the electrified double track now reaches all the way to Johor Bahru.
The key milestones, all reported by Malaysian media:
- August 2025: ETS3 started running KL Sentral to Kluang, about 3.5 hours.
- 11 December 2025: a royal and media preview run, with the official launch ceremony in Johor Bahru.
- 12 December 2025: passenger service to JB Sentral began, with four existing KL Sentral–Kluang services extended to JB.
- From January 2026: frequency doubled to eight KL–JB trips a day, and longer routes from JB towards Butterworth and Padang Besar were added in later phases.
The track behind it is the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP): 192 km of new line through Segamat, Kluang and Kulai, costing about RM8.9 billion. Construction began in December 2016 with an original completion target of October 2021; the pandemic and land acquisition pushed it back by more than three years. With it done, Malay Mail notes that the electrified double track now runs from Padang Besar in the north to Johor Bahru in the south.
What this means for you: for the first time, JB sits on the same fast, electrified rail spine as KL, Ipoh and Penang. That is a quiet but important upgrade for anyone who lives in JB and still has family, clients or a second office up north.
How long does the ETS train from KL to JB take?
About 4.5 hours, according to Malay Mail’s report on the launch, compared with five to seven hours by car or bus once you add traffic and rest stops. The exact time depends on the service type and the number of stops.
| Mode | Typical KL–JB time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ETS3 electric train | About 4.5 hours | Reported at launch; Platinum services stop less often |
| Old diesel intercity | About 7 hours | Malay Mail comparison before ETS3 |
| Car or express bus | About 5–7 hours | Highly dependent on North–South Expressway traffic |
On the Platinum service, trains call at stations including Kempas Baru, Kulai, Kluang, Segamat, Gemas, Seremban, Kajang and Bandar Tasik Selatan before KL Sentral. From 1 June 2026 KTMB also added a short operational stop at Kempas Baru on the southern Platinum services; the total running time between JB Sentral and KL Sentral was not affected, according to the timetable notice.
But what about delays? Early travellers reported trains running a little behind schedule on some days, particularly on the Seremban–KL section. Build a buffer of 30 minutes if you are connecting to a flight or a meeting.
How many ETS trains run between KL and JB each day?
KTMB runs eight ETS trips a day on the KL–JB route, four in each direction, a frequency in place since early 2026. On busy weekends there are more.
- Weekdays: eight KL–JB trips (four southbound, four northbound).
- Weekends (Friday to Sunday) until 27 December 2026: KTMB added four extra trips, taking the route to 12 services on those days and adding 63,200 seats over the period, according to KTMB’s September 2026 statement reported by RinggitPlus and Malay Mail. The extra departures are 9.05am and 11.55am from KL Sentral, and 7.00am and 5.30pm from JB Sentral.
- Longer routes: under the full plan announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the network also has two JB–Butterworth and two JB–Padang Besar trips a day, for 12 daily ETS services touching JB in total.
Timetables change several times a year (KTMB has published new ETS timetables for February and June 2026, and one for January 2027), so always check the live schedule on KITS before you plan.
What this means for you: eight trips a day is enough to make a same-day KL meeting possible from JB, leaving early in the morning and returning in the evening. It is not yet a “turn up and go” frequency, which is why booking ahead matters.
How to buy ETS tickets: KITS app, website and counters
Buy ETS tickets through KTMB’s own channels: the KITS Style app, the website online.ktmb.com.my, or ticket kiosks and counters at stations. Third-party resellers exist, but KTMB’s channels show the real seat availability.
- Create a KTMB account in the KITS Style app or on the website. Travellers report that the account must be verified before seat maps appear.
- Search KL Sentral to JB Sentral (or the reverse) and pick your date. Compare Gold and Platinum services and Standard or Business class.
- Choose your seat and pay by card or e-wallet.
- Keep the e-ticket on your phone; you scan it at the gates at both ends.
Weekend, school-holiday and festive trains sell out first. KTMB itself encourages passengers to book early, and when it launched ETS3 the first block of launch-period seats sold out on the day sales opened.
How much is the ETS ticket from KL to Johor Bahru?
When the service launched, Malay Mail reported one-way fares from KL or JB starting at RM82. Fares vary by train type, class and how busy the date is, so the price you see in KITS on the day is the real one.
| Item | What we can confirm | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Starting one-way fare at launch | From RM82 (Standard) | Malay Mail, December 2025 |
| Business class | Higher than Standard; includes wider seats and meals | Malay Mail, December 2025 |
| Children 4–12, seniors 60+, registered OKU | 50% off Standard, 20% off Business | KTMB concession terms, reported by RinggitPlus |
| Students with KTMB i-Card | 40% off Standard | KTMB concession terms, reported by RinggitPlus |
We deliberately do not list a full fare table, because unofficial sites quote different numbers and fares move with demand. Check the live fare on KITS before you travel.
What this means for you: for a solo traveller, the train costs more than an express bus but usually less than driving once you add fuel, tolls and a night of parking in KL. For a family of four, driving may still be cheaper; for a business trip, the train’s predictable time and seat-side power sockets often win.
What is it like on board?
The ETS3 trains are six-car electric sets seating 312 passengers: five Standard coaches and one Business coach. Every seat has a power socket, and the train has a bistro, four toilets and a prayer room, according to Malay Mail’s launch report.
- Standard class: 2-2 seating, power sockets, bistro access.
- Business class: wider seats, a private toilet, complimentary meals and individual screens with Wi-Fi and movies.
- Practical tips from travellers: the cabin is kept cold, so bring a light jacket; luggage space in Standard is limited, so board early with big bags; at JB Sentral, ETS and intercity trains leave from a different gate from the KTM Shuttle Tebrau, so follow the signs carefully.
For a walk-through of the station itself, see our JB Sentral station guide.
What the ETS means for JB city centre: rail, RTS and property
The ETS turns JB Sentral into the meeting point of three rail networks: the national ETS line north to KL, the local commuter shuttle to Kulai, and, from its targeted February 2027 start, the RTS Link to Singapore. All three meet within walking distance in the Bukit Chagar–CIQ area.
1. Domestic connectivity
Johor residents can now reach KL by train in about 4.5 hours without changing at Gemas. KTMB’s chief operating officer has said the company expects more passengers from Singapore to use domestic rail networks such as ETS3, which makes JB Sentral a gateway for Singaporeans travelling deeper into Malaysia.
2. The local commuter layer
The same electrified track carries KTMB’s Shuttle Selatan commuter trains from Kulai and Kempas Baru into JB Sentral, launched in June 2026. Our Kulai–JB commuter train guide explains stations, fares and how it links to the RTS.
3. The cross-border layer
The RTS Link’s Bukit Chagar station sits next to the CIQ, about 400 m from JB Sentral, with a covered walkway under construction and a RM60 million bridge approved in August 2026 to link the RTS station directly with the KTM Komuter platforms. RTS passenger service is targeted for February 2027, and the fare has not been announced. Read how JB Sentral connects to the RTS for the walking details.
Why this matters for homes nearby: historically, property close to major rail hubs tends to attract steady tenant demand, because tenants value time saved more than almost anything else. A home within reach of JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar gives a tenant Singapore by RTS, KL by ETS, and Kulai by commuter train from one neighbourhood. That is the logic behind projects such as Causewayz Square, EXSIM’s freehold development on Jalan Lumba Kuda, about 600 m from the CIQ, where the developer has proposed a pedestrian link bridge towards the CIQ and RTS. Target completion is around 2030. You can compare it with other options on our JB RTS Link condo page.
Three “but what if…” questions
What if I am coming from Singapore and want to go to KL by train? Cross the Causeway by bus or by the KTM Shuttle Tebrau, which arrives directly at JB Sentral, then board the ETS in the same station. Once the RTS Link opens, the RTS will be the main cross-border train, and the Shuttle Tebrau is due to stop six months after the RTS starts.
What if the train is sold out? Check other times on the same day, the Gold service, or the reverse-direction trains for a day trip. Weekend extras run until 27 December 2026; KTMB says it adjusts services according to demand.
What if I want to continue to Penang or Ipoh? Most travellers change at KL Sentral. A small number of direct JB–Butterworth and JB–Padang Besar trips run each day under the full schedule.
Plan your trip and your next step
The ETS has made KL to JB a comfortable half-day train ride, and it has made JB Sentral one of the best-connected addresses in southern Malaysia. If you are weighing up where to live or invest in JB, use our JB amenities map to see how far each project is from JB Sentral and the RTS, and the JB property calculator to estimate costs.
Want floor plans or the latest SPA price list for Causewayz Square? WhatsApp us.
Sources
- Malay Mail: KL to JB in 4.5 hours, electric train debuts (Dec 2025)
- Malay Mail: Loke on 12 daily ETS trips and the Gemas–JB EDTP (Nov 2025)
- Malay Mail: KL–JB ETS service to start Dec 12 (Dec 2025)
- RinggitPlus: Four more weekend trains between KL and JB until 27 December (Sep 2026)
- Carz: KTMB ETS3 targets for 2026 (Jan 2026)
- Rail Travel Station: New ETS timetable from 1 June 2026
- Malay Mail: RM60m bridge between Komuter and RTS station (Aug 2026)
- KTMB online ticketing (KITS)
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Train times, fares and timetables change; check KTMB before you travel.