The information in this post is outdated.
Train fares have increased for all lines.

Getting to KLIA from the city is a challenge of time and money. You either get there fast with more money spent on transport (taxis and KLIA Ekspres), or do it cheaply by bus which will take you up to 2 hours. Here, I found out a novel way to get you to KLIA for RM12.50 by train. Not necessarily the fastest journey, but read on.

First, I departed KL Sentral by KTM Komuter to Bandar Tasik Selatan, the next station on the KLIA Transit line. The journey costs RM1, as compared to RM4.20 on the KLIA Transit.

Comfort-wise, around the same as the KLIA Transit. Plus more seats are available, and power sockets are located under the seats. The hassle? Before you can sit back and start to relax, you would have arrived at Bandar Tasik Selatan.

KTM Komuter
KL Sentral – Bandar Tasik Selatan
Cost: RM1

Next, I got on the KLIA Transit. But wait – a direct ticket to KLIA or KLIA2 will cost RM26.50. Cheaper than boarding from KL Sentral, but not cheap enough. So, we will split our journey halfway. Let’s head to Putrajaya first.

A ticket from Bandar Tasik Selatan to Putrajaya will cost RM5.30. Hmm.

Some KLIA Ekspres trains will zoom past you while waiting, but remember, you’re saving more than 60% of the fares the passengers inside are paying.

The KLIA Transit has less seats than the KLIA Ekspres, but that’s okay. Putrajaya is just one stop away.

KLIA Transit
Bandar Tasik Selatan – Putrajaya/Cyberjaya Sentral
Cost: RM5.30

Now, we’ll buy our final ticket to KLIA or KLIA2 itself.

Ticket cost? RM6.20.

Board the next train and you’ll get to KLIA and KLIA2.

KLIA Transit
Putrajaya/Cyberjaya Sentral – KLIA & KLIA2
Cost: RM6.20

So there we have it. RM1 + RM5.30 + RM6.20 = RM12.50 from KL Sentral to KLIA and KLIA2.

Now, the downside. This journey was taken during off-peak hours, where the waiting time for KTM Komuter and KLIA Transit is 30 minutes. You have to be lucky, or read the timetable at KL Sentral beforehand to avoid waiting for the first leg of your journey. On top of that, you will definitely have to wait at Putrajaya for 30 minutes, for you to go up and buy your next ticket. You will not have time to run up, buy the ticket, and run down to catch the same train. That’s why I chose Putrajaya since there are some food and beverage options upstairs as compared to Salak Tinggi.

This journey takes 1 hour and 40 minutes, counting from the departure time of the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral, to the arrival of the KLIA Transit train at KLIA2. It is not the fastest way to KLIA and KLIA2, but it is a novel way and you can tweak your journey a bit with buses and the Sri Petaling Line going to Bandar Tasik Selatan as well.

If you’re not in a rush, love trains, love saving money, and don’t want to get stuck in the great KL traffic jam, this option is for you. Alternatively, just change trains at Putrajaya from KL Sentral, you still pay far less than RM35 on the KLIA Ekspres.

Getting Here
Location: KL Sentral – KLIA & KLIA2
Company: KTM Komuter, ERL
Line: Rawang – Sungai Gadut Line; KLIA Transit
Fare: RM1 + RM5.30 + RM6.20 = RM12.50