30 per cent discount for ECRL economy tickets during launch month - Loke

KUALA LUMPUR, October 20 — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) aims to launch on December 12, according to Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd's Anthony Loke, who announced the Transport Expo Asia 2026. A 30 percent discount on Economy Transit and Express tickets will be available during the first month of operation. Ticket sales are expected to commence in mid-November.

The discount is for the general public, excluding concessionary passengers like persons with disabilities, children aged 2 to 12, senior citizens, and students. Loke emphasized that the pricing was set to balance affordability and financial sustainability, noting that the ECRL fares are comparable to airline tickets but considerably more affordable.

He also stated that the journey time and comfort provided by the rail service are on par with air travel. Loke further revealed that freight operations between Gombak and Kota Bharu will commence concurrently with passenger services. However, the completion of freight services connecting to Port Klang is estimated to take another year, as the construction phase between Gombak and Port Klang is still underway.

The Cabinet recently approved a proposal for a 32km extension from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, reaching the Malaysia-Thailand border. The project is currently undergoing cost and technical studies, along with land acquisition, with an estimated completion time of approximately four and a half years. The initial two years will primarily focus on land acquisition and technical evaluations, as acquiring land along the proposed corridor requires obtaining permissions from the state government and local landowners before commencing construction.