ETS3 from JB Sentral to KL Sentral Launching on 12 December 2025
KTM Berhad will begin operating its Electric Train Service (ETS) on the JB Sentral–KL Sentral route from 12 December 2025, marking a major milestone in the completion of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP). This was first announced by Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook at the Kluang Rail Festival press conference on 22 November 2025, as reported by The Sun. The existing KL Sentral–Kluang–KL Sentral ETS services will be extended through to JB Sentral, with 4 daily services forming the initial phase of operations.
KTMB said the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP), covering around 192 kilometres and 11 stations between Gemas and JB Sentral, has been completed in line with its targets. ETS services to the south will be introduced in stages, while commissioning of additional train sets continues for future connections to the northern sector.
The new JB Sentral–KL Sentral Electric Train Service (ETS) restores direct train connectivity between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur from 12 December 2025, which was broken for about 9.5 years since 19 May 2016. The Ekspres Rakyat ran for the last time on 8 May 2016. The Ekspres Peninsular and Senandung Sutera ran for the last time on 18 May 2016.
JB-KL ETS Ticket Sales Opening from 9 December 2025
JB Sentral-KL Sentral ETS tickets go on sale from 9 December 2025 at 12.30am via the KITS mobile app, KTM ticket kiosks, and KTM’s official website. Fares for the KL Sentral–JB Sentral sector start from RM82 one‑way, and tickets will be available for travel up to 6 months ahead, through to May 2026.
From 12 December 2025, 2 daily services will operate in each direction between KL Sentral and JB Sentral, with morning and evening departures in both cities. A revised timetable will take effect from 1 January 2026 with new train numbers, but the pattern of 4 daily trips (2 daily return trips) on the KL Sentral–JB Sentral route will be maintained.
ETS Platinum Southern Sector Timetable
New KTM ETS Train Timetable from 12 December 2025 (Jadual Baru KTM ETS mulai 12 Disember 2025)
From 12 December 2025:
| Train No. | Origin | Departure | Destination | Arrival | Frequency |
| EP 9511 | KL Sentral | 7.45am | JB Sentral | 12.05pm | Daily |
| EP 9510 | JB Sentral | 8.40am | KL Sentral | 1.00pm | Daily |
| EP 9515 | KL Sentral | 5.35pm | JB Sentral | 9.55pm | Daily |
| EP 9514 | JB Sentral | 4.20pm | KL Sentral | 8.40pm | Daily |
From 1 January 2026:
| Train No. | Origin | Departure | Destination | Arrival | Frequency |
| EP 9523 | KL Sentral | 7.55am | JB Sentral | 12.15pm | Daily |
| EP 9524 | JB Sentral | 8.40am | KL Sentral | 1.00pm | Daily |
| EP 9533 | KL Sentral | 5.35pm | JB Sentral | 9.55pm | Daily |
| EP 9532 | JB Sentral | 4.20pm | KL Sentral | 8.40pm | Daily |
ETS Platinum Southern Sector Stopping Stations
Unlike northern sector limited-stop ETS Platinum services, southern sector ETS Platinum services will stop at all stations outside of the KTM Komuter network.
- Kuala Lumpur Sentral Railway Station (KL Sentral)
- Bandar Tasik Selatan Railway Station
- Kajang Railway Station
- Seremban Railway Station
- Pulau Sebang Railway Station (Tampin Railway Station)
- Batang Melaka Railway Station
- Gemas Railway Station
- Segamat Railway Station
- Labis Railway Station
- Bekok Railway Station
- Paloh Railway Station
- Kluang Railway Station
- Rengam Railway Station
- Layang-Layang Railway Station
- Kulai Railway Station
- Kempas Baru Railway Station
- Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)
KTMB’s acting Group Chief Executive Ir. Ahmad Nizam bin Mohamed Amin, who also serves as Chief Technical Officer, said the extension of ETS services to Johor Bahru would improve safe, comfortable and integrated public transport options for local communities. KTM expects the route to boost domestic tourism and economic activity in Johor by attracting more visitors from other Malaysian states as well as travellers coming via Singapore.
ETS Platinum Southern Sector 30% Discount
With the launch coinciding with the year‑end and school holiday period, KTMB is encouraging passengers to plan ahead and purchase tickets early. KTM is offering a 30% promotional discount on Southern ETS journeys between 12 December 2025 and 11 January 2026 when passengers apply the promo code “JBBEST”, subject to a quota of 5000 and specific terms and conditions.
Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook at the Kluang Rail Festival press conference on 22 November 2025, as reported by The Sun, stated that the ceremony for inaugurating the service is scheduled for 11 December 2025, and his ministry has requested the consent of His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, to officially officiate the new service in Johor Bahru.
Loke explained that the initial focus of ETS3 operations will be the Johor Bahru–Kuala Lumpur corridor, in order to ensure higher frequency compared to longer routes.
“If the distance is too long, and the service runs all the way to the north, we would only be able to do two trips per day, one up and one down,” he said. “So, with a shorter journey such as Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, there will be many more train frequencies,” he commented at a press conference after officiating the Kluang Rail Fest 2025 at Laman Rel Mahkota.
The ETS3 Kuala Lumpur to Kluang route was launched on 23 August 2025. During that event, His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, personally drove the ETS3 train, which is capable of reaching an operational speed of up to 140 km/h, from KL Sentral to Kluang Station.
When queried about the status of the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) System Project, Loke said that the system’s development is ongoing and has never been postponed.
He mentioned that the project is currently at the proposal assessment (RFP) stage and is being reviewed by the Public-Private Partnership Unit (UKAS), since some of the recommendations received have not yet met the necessary requirements.
“Certainly, the ministry will discuss with UKAS to speed up the process of awarding the contract for the project in the near future,” he said.
Last Thursday, Johor’s Chairman of Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications, Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, called on the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of the ART, at the latest by early next year.
He said the project is vital to support public transport systems and help disperse traffic flow ahead of the full operation of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Johor Bahru–Singapore in 2027.
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