20/10/2026

TUESDAY | OCT 20, 2026

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East Coast Rail Link services to begin in December

RM1,000, depending on demand and booking dates. The ECRL offers a different proposition: passengers are allowed to rest during the journey instead of spending hours behind the wheel. Its express service is expected to complete the Gombak-Kota Bharu journey in about four hours, potentially sparing passengers prolonged traffic delays and the fatigue of driving long distances. For families returning to their hometowns, the railway could offer a more comfortable and predictable journey, allowing them to spend time together rather than concentrate on navigating congested highways. However, the cost could be a deciding factor, particularly for larger families. – By Harith Kamal M’sians weigh in on train travel PETALING JAYA: For some East Coast travellers, getting home for Hari Raya means enduring exhausting bus rides, hours behind the wheel and the uncertainty of festive traffic, making the prospect of a more comfortable journey worth paying for. As the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) prepares to begin passenger services, travellers are weighing the cost of train tickets against the comfort, convenience and peace of mind that rail travel could offer. For Kelantanese Faiz Ruzman, 26, the appeal is not just about reaching home, but also avoiding another exhausting journey on congested highways. “I think the RM125 ECRL fare is relatively affordable compared with flight tickets, which could cost RM200 to RM300 one-way during normal periods and reach RM500 during peak seasons. “For me, RM120 to RM150 is still reasonable, especially compared with return flights that could cost almost RM1,000.” Faiz expressed a preference for public transport, saying he was reluctant to drive long distances following recent vehicle problems, including a flat tyre and a suspected engine leak. He recalled a gruelling bus journey to Kelantan on the eve of Hari Raya two years ago, when severe congestion along the Karak Highway left him enduring 12 to 14 hours on the road. “It was very uncomfortable being stuck on a bus for so long. Hopefully, I can try the ECRL during the next festive season, depending on ticket availability.” He added that he would consider paying higher fares during peak seasons, although buses costing RM60 to RM70 one-way would remain an option for travellers on tighter budgets. For Kuala Terengganu native Tina Majid, 55, who now lives in Subang Jaya, the prospect of avoiding a tiring drive is another reason to consider the railway. While she expressed belief that fares below RM100 would be more reasonable for regular journeys, she said she would willingly pay RM110 during festive periods to avoid spending eight or nine hours behind the wheel. “Considering my age, I also feel it would be safer and less tiring than driving myself over long distances,” she said, adding that rail travel would also reduce petrol and toll expenses. For student Nurraina Mohd Yousof, 21, who is studying in Terengganu, the decision comes down to whether travelling home could fit within her limited budget.– By Harith Kamal

readiness and emergency response procedures. “We will simulate all the cases during trial operations. “We do have an emergency response plan for every situation and every case that could happen during actual ECRL operations.” Darwis said about 764 employees had joined ECRL Operation Sdn Bhd, including 208 personnel who underwent training in China. He added that the railway would initially deploy 10 electric multiple unit train sets capable of speeds of up to 160kph, operating 12 daily services from Monday to Thursday and 16 from Friday to Sunday. He also said about 2.2 million passenger seats are planned for 2027. Darwis said the RM52.3 billion investment should not be assessed solely through passenger revenue, as freight operations and economic development along the alignment would also contribute to its long-term sustainability.

senior citizens aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities and government pensioners, adding that students aged 13 to 24 will receive a 40% discount. He also said ticket sales are scheduled to begin in November through the official ECRL website, with fares for journeys between individual stations also to be announced then. Darwis said construction across the ECRL alignment, spanning Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, had reached 98.16% as of October. He added that the trains have accumulated more than 50,000km in test runs since Aug 25, including a non-stop journey from Gombak to Kota Bharu completed in under three hours and 30 minutes. He also said fault-free running tests are scheduled to begin on Oct 23, followed by trial operations throughout November to assess operational

o Dynamic pricing allows passengers choice between ticket prices, journey times: CEO

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Bharu journey, while the mid-range fare for the transit service was RM156 in either direction. “Our mid-range fare for the Transit service between Kota Bharu and Gombak, in either direction, is RM156. “So it can go higher than that, depending on the time of purchase and the season.” On concerns over potential fare increases during festive periods, he said the pricing framework included an intervention mechanism to prevent excessive increases and keep fares within a reasonable range. However, he did not specify a maximum fare or confirm whether a formal price ceiling would be imposed. Darwis said the government has approved a 50% fare discount for children aged two to 12, Malaysian

GOMBAK: East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passengers can travel from Gombak to Kota Bharu for as little as RM125 one-way when commercial services begin in December, with express and transit fares varying according to demand, travel periods and seat availability. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the Cabinet-approved fare structure offers economy-class transit and express services, giving passengers a choice between ticket prices and journey times. The starting one-way fares from Gombak are: 0 Kota Bharu (523km) : RM125 for transit and RM147 for express, with the latter taking about four hours. 0 Kuala Terengganu (378km) : RM95 for transit and RM110 for express, with journey times of three hours and 51 minutes and two hours and 54 minutes respectively. 0 KotaSAS, near Kuantan (209km) : RM60 for transit and RM68 for express, with journey times of two hours and five minutes and one hour and 27 minutes respectively. The same starting fares apply to journeys in the opposite direction. Darwis said the dynamic pricing mechanism, approved by the Cabinet on Oct 16, would allow fares to fluctuate according to travel periods, passenger demand and seat availability, similar to pricing practices in the aviation industry. “The concept is almost similar to that used in the aviation industry. “Passengers who plan their journeys earlier or choose certain travel periods have the opportunity to obtain lower fares, subject to ticket availability,” he told a press conference at the ECRL Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal yesterday. He clarified that RM125 was the starting fare for the Gombak-Kota PETALING JAYA: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) offers travellers a chance to trade hours behind the wheel and festive traffic for a more relaxing journey home, with return tickets for a family of four travelling to Kota Bharu costing RM1,000 at the starting fare, compared with an estimated RM156 in petrol and tolls for the return road trip. With commercial passenger services due to begin in December, the rail link offers an alternative for those willing to pay more for the convenience of travelling without the fatigue of driving long distances, particularly during peak festive periods. Based on subsidised Budi95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre and an illustrative fuel consumption rate of seven litres per 100km, the estimated one-way

Darwis said the trains have accumulated more than 50,000km in test runs since Aug 25, including a non-stop journey from Gombak to Kota Bharu completed in under three hours and 30 minutes. – BERNAMAPIC ECRL offers travellers alternative to long-distance driving

stop-start traffic could also increase fuel consumption. For families travelling with young children and elderly relatives, hours in congested traffic could make the journey physically demanding, leaving motorists exhausted before they even reach home. Express buses remain an affordable alternative, with advertised one-way fares starting at about RM25 for Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu and RM45 for Kota Bharu. However, buses are also vulnerable to highway congestion. Selected Kuala Lumpur-Kota Bharu flights start at about RM100 one-way, although airport transfers, baggage and additional charges could raise the overall cost. During festive periods, return airfares could approach

driving costs are: 0 Kuantan : About RM35 for petrol and RM36 for tolls, totalling RM71 one-way or RM142 return. The journey takes about three-and-a-half hours each way. 0 Kuala Terengganu : About RM61 for petrol and RM56 for tolls, totalling RM117 one-way or RM234 return. The journey takes about five hours. 0 Kota Bharu : About RM61 for petrol and RM17 for tolls via the inland route, totalling RM78 one-way or RM156 return. The journey takes nearly seven hours. An alternative route via Terengganu could cost about RM234 return. The estimates assume a conventional passenger car consuming seven litres of petrol per 100km. Actual costs would vary

according to vehicle type, driving conditions and routes. The figures exclude meals, parking, vehicle maintenance and other incidental expenses. Motorists using less fuel-efficient vehicles or travelling longer distances may also face higher costs. However, during festive periods, time spent on the road could become a bigger burden than a fuel bill. Severe congestion around Gombak, Bentong, Karak and Gua Musang could turn routine journeys into exhausting trips lasting 12 to 20 hours, particularly during the Aidilfitri rush. During last year’s festivities, traffic queues reportedly stretched 15km to 20km along the Gua Musang-Kuala Lipis corridor. Prolonged idling and