ECRL fares start at RM125 to Kota Bharu, with 30% off in the first month

One-way fares on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Gombak to Kota Bharu start at RM125 for transit services and RM147 for express services. Tickets go on sale in mid-November and passenger services are scheduled to begin on 12 December, according to Free Malaysia Today and The Rakyat Post.

The government announced permanent concessions for some groups yesterday. Today, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said all other passengers will get a 30% discount on economy-class tickets during the first month of operations.

Starting fares

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) said the Cabinet approved the fare structure on 16 October. These are starting fares, not fixed prices, because ECRL uses dynamic pricing. Tickets vary with travel time, demand and seat availability. The same fare applies on the return trip.

The Rakyat Post reported that the cheapest transit fare is RM24, to Bentong in Pahang.

Transit or express

Transit trains stop at every station. Express trains stop at four main stations only: Gombak, KotaSAS, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. According to MRL, Gombak to Kota Bharu takes about four hours by express and up to five hours by transit. To Kuala Terengganu, express takes two hours 54 minutes and transit three hours 51 minutes.

The trains offer Economy, Premium Economy and Business classes. There will be 12 daily services (six each way) from Monday to Thursday, rising to 16 (eight each way) from Friday to Sunday. About 2.2 million seats are planned for 2027.

Who gets which discount

• 50% off: children aged two to 12, Malaysians aged 60 and above, OKU cardholders and government pensioners.
• 40% off: students aged 13 to 24.
• 30% off in the first month: passengers who do not get a permanent concession. The Rakyat Post reported that people who already hold a permanent concession do not qualify for the launch discount.

Loke said the government weighed affordability for passengers against the financial sustainability of the operator when setting fares, and hoped the public would receive them well.

Freight and the border extension

Freight services between Gombak and Kota Bharu are expected to start together with passenger services. The link to Port Klang needs about another year because construction between Gombak and Port Klang is still under way. MRL will review freight charges later.

Loke also said the Cabinet approved a 32km ECRL extension from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, near the Malaysia-Thailand border. The project is undergoing technical assessment and land acquisition, and is expected to take about four and a half years.

What to do

The fares above are starting prices, so what you pay will depend on the day and time you travel. Check the final price when tickets go on sale in mid-November. For other costs, see the weekly fuel prices and what changes in Budget 2027.

Sources

• Free Malaysia Today, 30% discount on ECRL economy tickets for 1st month, 20 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Tambang ECRL bermula RM125, 19 October 2026
• The Rakyat Post, ECRL Tickets Start At RM60, With Gombak-Kota Bharu Fares From RM125, 19 October 2026
• The Rakyat Post, ECRL Economy Fares Range From RM24 To RM125, With 30 Per Cent Launch Discount, 20 October 2026