KTM Intercity

KTM Intercity
Left: Ekspres Rakyat Timuran
Right: Shuttle Timuran
Overview
Native name
OwnerKeretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)
Area servedPeninsular Malaysia
Transit typeInter-city rail
Number of lines2
Line number
Daily ridership12,579 (Q3 2025)[1]
Annual ridership793,178 (2024)[2]
Chief executiveNurul Azha Mokmin - Head, Intercity Services
Headquarters5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Tasik Perdana, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
WebsiteKTM Intercity
Operation
Began operationcirca 1960s
Operator(s)Keretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)
Rolling stockKTM Class 23
KTM Class 24
KTM Class 25
KTM Class 26
KTM Class 29
KTM Class 61
Technical
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Average speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Top speed120 km/h (75 mph)

KTM Intercity (Malay: KTM Antarabandar) are diesel-hauled intercity train services in Peninsular Malaysia, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). Services primarily operate along the KTM East Coast Line between Tumpat and Gemas. Services along the KTM West Coast Line have been mostly replaced by electric-hauled KTM ETS services following electrification and double-tracking, with only two services remaining between Gemas and Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore.[3] KTM Intercity has long enjoyed moderate success, but increasingly faces competition with road and air travel, as expressways increase in number and budget airlines offer shorter travelling time. In 2006, KTM Intercity earned a profit of RM 70.94 million as group revenue, hovering around the RM 65 million mark since 2001.

Train services

Scheduled services

KTM Intercity operates the following scheduled services:

Service Terminals Rolling stock Details
Ekspres Rakyat Timuran Between JB Sentral and Tumpat via Gemas Locomotive JB Sentral–Tumpat (1 nightly trip, both directions)
Shuttle Timuran Between Gemas and Tumpat DMU Dabong–Tumpat (1 daily trip, both directions)
Gemas–Kuala Lipis (2 daily trips, both directions)
Gua Musang–Kuala Lipis (1 daily trip, both directions)
Gua Musang–Tumpat (2 daily trips, both directions)
Kuala Lipis–Tumpat (1 daily trip, both directions)

Seasonal services

KTM Intercity operates the following seasonal services:

Service Terminals Rolling stock Details
MySawadee[4] Between KL Sentral and Hat Yai Junction Locomotive Seasonal service to/from Thailand
Ekspres Lambaian Aidilfitri Between KL Sentral and Tumpat Seasonal service during Eid al-Fitr
Ekspres Lambaian Aidiladha Seasonal service during Eid al-Adha

Cross-border services

The Shuttle Tebrau is an international cross-border train service between Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and Woodlands, Singapore. The service commenced in 2015, replacing direct KTM Intercity services between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The service initially operated 14 daily trips between JB Sentral and the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, comprising 7 Johor Bahru-bound services and 7 Woodlands-bound services. The service has since expanded to operate 31 daily trips, comprising 13 Johor Bahru-bound services and 18 Woodlands-bound services.[5]

For passengers travelling from Johor Bahru to Woodlands, Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at JB Sentral before boarding. Singaporean immigration checks are conducted at Woodlands Train Checkpoint after alighting. For passengers travelling from Woodlands to Johor Bahru, both Singaporean and Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at Woodlands Train Checkpoint before boarding. No further immigration checks are conducted at Johor Bahru after alighting.

The Shuttle Tebrau service will be replaced by the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System in 2027.[6]

Former services

KTM Intercity operated the following former services:

Service Terminals Rolling stock Details
Ekspres Makmur Between Gemas and Kuala Lipis[7] Locomotive Former service replaced by Shuttle Timuran
Ekspres Peninsular Between JB Sentral and Hat Yai Junction Former services replaced by KTM ETS
Ekspres Rakyat Between JB Sentral and Butterworth
Ekspres Selatan Between JB Sentral and Gemas
Senandung Sutera Between JB Sentral and Ipoh

Travel classes

KTM Intercity offers the following travel classes:

  • Air-conditioned First Class (AFC) - First-class seats (1-2 configuration). AFC seats are available on Ekspres Rakyat Timuran services and seasonal services. AFC seats offer more legroom and recline compared to ASC seats.
  • Air-conditioned Second Class (ASC) - Second-class seats (2-2 configuration). ASC seats are available on all KTM Intercity services. ASC seats on Shuttle Timuran services do not recline.
  • Air-conditioned Day-Night Sleeper (ADNS) - Sleeper berths (20 upper berths and 20 lower berths per carriage). ADNS berths are available on Ekspres Rakyat Timuran services and seasonal services. ADNS berths can be converted to seats for daytime use.

List of KTM Intercity stations

The following is a list of stations served KTM Intercity:

  • Stations in bold indicate major stops.
  • Green ticks indicate two-way stops.
  • Red ticks indicate one-way stops.
Name
ERT
T-KL
T-GM
T-D
GM-KL
KL-G
JB-W
Tumpat checkY checkY checkY checkY
Kampung Kok Pasir halt checkY checkY
Wakaf Bharu checkY checkY checkY checkY
Bunut Susu halt checkY checkY checkY
Pasir Mas checkY checkY checkY checkY
Chica Tinggi halt checkY checkY
To' Uban halt checkY checkY checkY
Sungai Keladi halt checkY checkY
Bukit Panau halt checkY checkY checkY
Tanah Merah checkY checkY checkY checkY
Temangan checkY checkY checkY
Sungai Nal halt checkY checkY
Kuala Krai checkY checkY checkY checkY
Pahi halt checkY checkY checkY
Manek Urai checkY checkY checkY
Kampung Baru Sungai Mengkuang halt checkY checkY checkY
Ulu Temiang halt checkY checkY checkY
Kampung Baru Bukit Abu halt checkY checkY checkY
Bukit Abu checkY checkY checkY
Kuala Gris halt checkY checkY checkY
Dabong checkY checkY checkY checkY
Kemubu checkY checkY
Sri Jaya halt checkY checkY
Sri Mahligai halt checkY checkY
Sri Bintang halt checkY checkY
Sungai Tasin halt checkY checkY
Jerek Baru halt checkY checkY
Bertam halt checkY checkY
Bertam Baru checkY checkY
Limau Kasturi checkY checkY
Sungai Sirian halt checkY checkY
Kampung Sungai Sirian halt checkY checkY
Pan Malayan halt checkY checkY
Gua Musang checkY checkY checkY checkY
Lapan Tupai halt checkY
Mentara Baru halt checkY checkY
Merapoh checkY checkY checkY
Telok Gunong halt checkY checkY
Sungai Temau checkY checkY
Chegar Perah checkY checkY
Aur Gading halt checkY checkY
Kampung Berkam halt checkY checkY
Bukit Betong halt checkY checkY
Padang Tengku checkY checkY
Kuala Lipis checkY checkY checkY checkY
Kerambit checkY checkY
Mela halt checkY
Jerantut checkY checkY
Jendarak halt checkY
Kuala Krau checkY checkY
Mentakab checkY checkY
Mengkarak checkY
Triang checkY checkY
Kemayan checkY checkY
Bahau checkY checkY
Gemas checkY checkY
Segamat checkY
Kluang checkY
Kulai checkY
Kempas Baru checkY
JB Sentral checkY checkY
Woodlands checkY

See also

References

  1. ^ "Daily Rail Ridership in Peninsular Malaysia". Daily Rail Ridership. Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). 27 October 2025. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  2. ^ "KTMB Performance Update". Malayan Railways, Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  3. ^ Tuesday, 12 Oct 2021 06:51 PM MYT. "KTMB adds ETS, KTM Intercity train services for interstate travellers". Malay Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Hassan, Hazlin (8 June 2024). "Budget-conscious Malaysians flock to Hat Yai for holiday as prices rise at home". The Straits Times.
  5. ^ Lim, Adrian (16 June 2015). "New shuttle train service between Woodlands and JB Sentral from July 1". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  6. ^ Yasmine, Rhea (26 June 2025). "JB-Woodlands train to end service in 2027, after RTS Link begins operations: Malaysian official". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "KTM Train Schedule effective on April 1, 2021" (PDF). 1 April 2021.