RM5 Tickets for KTM Shuttle Tebrau for Malaysians from 1 August 2024, Singaporeans still pay SGD5
Malaysians using the KTM Shuttle Tebrau will enjoy a new flat fare of RM5 each way for the KTM Shuttle Tebrau in both bounds between JB Sentral and Woodlands CIQ from 1 August 2024. This was first announced by Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook on 10 December 2023, as reported by The Star. Tickets for travel in August 2024 will open on 29 February 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. More notably, Singaporeans and other foreigners will get a fare hike as the return trip originating from Malaysia will no longer be fully charged in Malaysian Ringgit, but separately for each leg of the journey in Malaysian Ringgit and Singapore Dollars respectively. The return trip originating from Singapore, however, will continue to be charged fully in Singapore Dollars.
Current KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticket Price until 31 July 2024 only
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral (one way)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s daily exchange rate)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s daily exchange rate)
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral and back (two ways)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: ~RM17.95 + ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s daily exchange rate)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: ~RM17.95 + ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s 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
From 🇲🇾 JB Sentral to 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ and back (two ways)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5 + RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: RM5 + RM5
KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticket Price for departures from 1 August 2024
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral (one way)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s daily exchange rate)
From 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ to 🇲🇾 JB Sentral and back (two ways)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5 + RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: ~RM17.95 + ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s 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
From 🇲🇾 JB Sentral to 🇸🇬 Woodlands CIQ and back (two ways)
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for Malaysians: RM5 + RM5
- KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) for foreigners: RM5 + ~RM17.95 (RM equivalent of S$5 according to KTM’s daily exchange rate)
How do I book KTM Shuttle Tebrau train tickets online on the KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS)?
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.
How to Register for KTM Shuttle Tebrau RM5 Tickets (Malaysians only)
Individual MyKad and/or MyKid must be physically registered individually at either the KITS ticket kiosks located in railway stations around KTM Berhad’s network, or the physical ticket counter at JB Sentral only. The verification will be completed immediately.
Online ticket purchases are applicable for each individual KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) account holder only. Tickets purchased using the Friends and Family or Dependent method will be charged at the non-Malaysian citizen rate.
Malaysians can also purchase tickets at the counter by presenting the original MyKad, MyKid, or Malaysian Passport of the Malaysian passenger, subject to availability.
Alternatives for Singaporeans
The Shuttle Tebrau fare of S$5 may be a little bit steep for some commuters, especially when the maximum adult distance-based fare payable for regular Singapore public transport is only S$2.37 currently.
Many buses operate from Singapore to Malaysia at existing fare rates.
Combined with the usage of Malaysia’s Autogate (MACS 2.0) privilege for Singaporeans and Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), the JB journey by bus is potentially much faster than using the Shuttle Tebrau, and with no pre-booking necessary either. (Source: My weekly experience.)
Interchangeability Agreement of 1973
The KTM fare structure from Singapore was 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, until 31 July 2024.
I am not a lawyer, so I won’t know if this move for reducing Malaysians’ fares and increasing Singaporeans’ and other foreigners’ fares when departing from Singapore 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, in addition to some foreigners who will skip the train in favour of the bus, with the Shuttle Tebrau foreigner fare hike for return trips.
Also, the Shuttle Tebrau will cease to operate 6 months after the RTS Link has opened anyway, with the land of and around Woodlands Train Checkpoint slated to be used for the expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint.
Other public transport operators currently practicing this same pricing structure (number for currency) in accordance with the cross-border bus and train fare arrangement at the end of the Interchangeability Agreement on 8 May 1973 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.