KTM Shuttle Tebrau Tickets RM5 each way for Malaysians soon, Singaporeans still pay SGD5
Malaysians using the KTM Shuttle Tebrau may soon be able to enjoy a new flat fare of RM5 each way for the KTM Shuttle Tebrau in both bounds between JB Sentral and Woodlands CIQ, as announced by Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook on Sunday, 10 December 2023, as reported by The Star. The new reduced Shuttle Tebrau fare for Malaysians will be implemented “early next year (2024)”.
Singaporeans and other foreigners will not enjoy this reduced fare, and will continue to pay SGD5 for the northbound train journey from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral.
Current KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticket Price
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral (one way)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS): ~RM17.70 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to daily exchange rate)
From 🇲🇾 JB Sentral to 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ (one way)
Future 2024 KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticket Price
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral (one way)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: ~RM17.70 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to daily exchange rate)
From 🇲🇾 JB Sentral to 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ (one way)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: RM5
A firm date has yet to be announced to start this reduced fare for Malaysians. Notably, Shuttle Tebrau tickets have already been opened for sale up to 31 May 2024.
KTM Shuttle Tebrau RM5 Tickets for Malaysians only
Anthony Loke said, “KTMB has proposed to change the pricing structure of the tickets for our citizens (Malaysians) as currently, the price is different between a ticket from Johor to Singapore and a ticket from Singapore to Johor.” and that there was no need for Malaysia to discuss with Singapore about the proposal as Malaysia fully owns KTMB, as reported by The Star.
With the words “our citizens” and the comment about discussing with Singapore implying a unilateral fare change on an international public transport route, it is implied that Singaporeans and other foreigners will not be enjoying this reduced fare, and will continue to pay SGD5 for the northbound train journey from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral.
Malaysians and foreigners are already differentiated in the KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS), with the verification of nationality needed for PNR and registration of discounts such as senior citizens or MyRailLife passes, which all foreigners are not eligible for. The KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) will most likely be able to give this discounted cross-border fare to Malaysians only instantly.
Interchangeability Agreement of 1973?
The Shuttle Tebrau fare structure is in accordance with the cross-border bus and train fare arrangement at the end of the Interchangeability Agreement on 8 May 1973 where passengers pay in Malaysian Ringgit or Singapore Dollars depending on the country of departure. As KTM Berhad is a transport operator serving Malaysia-Singapore cross-border transport in 1973, the fare rule for Shuttle Tebrau still applies today.
I am not a lawyer, so I won’t know if this move for reducing Malaysians’ fares will be in breach of the Interchangeability Agreement between Malaysia and Singapore. What I do know is that KTM will be earning around 3.5 times lesser from each Malaysian passenger.
Other public transport operators who practice this same pricing structure (number for currency) includes, but not limited to, SBSTransit for bus 160, 170, and 170X for cash fares only, SMRT for bus 950 for cash fares only, the Singapore-Johore Express (SJE), and Causeway Link bus CW1, CW2, CW3, CW3E, CW3L, CW3S, CW4, CW4G, CW4S, CW5, and CW7. Other operators or bus services may have slightly differing fares based on the fare number value excluding the currency exchange rate.