Loke: KTMB ETS3 to begin KL-Kluang-KL route on Aug 30
23-Aug-2025 Bernama
The King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, inspecting KTMB’s ETS3 train on Saturday
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) for the southern route will commence operations involving the Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral)-Kluang-KL Sentral route on Aug 30, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“Ticket purchases can be made from 8pm today through the KTMB Mobile (KITS) application, kiosk machines and the official KTMB website,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
Earlier, following the ETS special launch ceremony, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, took the driver’s seat to test drive the ETS3 train, which is capable of reaching operating speeds of up to 140km per hour, towards the Kluang Station in Johor.
Loke previously reported that both sets of ETS3 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains that have arrived in Malaysia are currently undergoing technical testing and, if all goes well, will begin operations this month.
The remaining eight sets of ETS3 trains, he said, are being installed in stages at the CRRC Rolling Stock Centre assembly plant in Batu Gajah, Perak, with all 10 trains scheduled to be fully operational by early 2026.
ETS from Gemas to JB to spur tourism
22-Jun-2025, TheStar | By VENESA DEVI
The extension of KTM Bhd’s ETS services from Gemas to Johor Baru will improve connectivity to further stimulate the country’s tourism industry, say tourism officials.
Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (promotion) Datuk Musa Yusof said the time savings offered by this service, expected to take passengers from KL Sentral to JB Sentral in four hours, augurs well for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
“The ETS will connect Johor Baru straight to Kuala Lumpur and this will definitely help strengthen the industry, especially in terms of tourist movement, allowing them to visit more places.
“If they stay the night for cultural events such as this, it will also help increase hotel occupancy rates here,” he said.
Musa added that the spillover effects from the ETS, which reached Segamat in March, could already be seen.
“We can already see Segamat benefiting from this, especially during the durian season,” he said after officiating a Gawai and Kaamatan Festival celebration at a hotel here.
On another matter, Musa said that Tourism Malaysia has also been working closely with industry players, including hotels, to promote VM2026.
“We have been having engagement sessions with industry players from north to south to ensure that we are fully prepared for VM2026.
“Among issues that were brought up was the need for stronger collaboration to promote our initiatives, and we’ve been encouraging industry players to leverage digital media to reach a wider audience,” he said, adding that this preparation involves making sure that tour guides and hotels are fully equipped and ready to provide top-notch services for visitors.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor Chapter chairman Ivan Teo said the ETS will significantly improve connectivity and give a much-needed boost to tourism.
“One of the most positive developments is the train, which is not just beneficial for domestic travellers, but also for foreign tourists,” he said.
Teo added that the improved logistics will make Johor Baru more attractive not only as a destination but also as a gateway to other towns like Segamat and Kluang.
“Logistics is the foundation of tourism. Without good accessibility, it’s hard to attract tourists.
“With this, we’ll see more people coming, especially during the year-end school holidays,” he added.
It is understood that the Phase 2 of the extension of the southern ETS will be from Segamat to Kluang, while Phase 3 will see the train going past Kluang to Johor Baru.
However, to date, KTMB has not released any ETS schedule to Johor Baru, the expected journey time from Segamat to Johor Baru, or the expected opening date for the service.
In its latest release of advance ticket sales of up to November, no ETS tickets were offered for journeys beyond Segamat.
Gemas-JB Electrified Double-Track Rail on track for completion in 3Q, says Loke
The highly anticipated Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Rail Project (Gemas-JB EDTP) is on track for completion by the third quarter of this year (3Q2025), said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
He said the project, once completed, would facilitate trade services between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, positioning it as a key catalyst for enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth in the region.
“Hopefully by the third quarter [of this year], we will see trade running from Kuala Lumpur all the way to Johor Bahru,” he said at a forum held in conjunction with CGS International’s 17th Annual Malaysia Corporate Day 2025 here on Tuesday.
He expressed confidence that the timely completion of such infrastructure projects would boost Malaysia’s economic development, strengthen its position as a regional economic hub, attract investment, and enhance overall economic resilience.
On the same note, he said that two major projects are expected to be completed by 2026, namely the Bukit Chagar Rapid Transit System (RTS) Station, an elevated terminal station currently under construction in Johor Bahru, and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which will connect the Klang Valley to the East Coast.
“We hope that some of these major infrastructure projects can be completed on schedule this year. Such developments will undoubtedly support broader economic objectives,” he added.
The Gemas-JB EDTP is a 192km electric train service project covering four major districts in Johor, namely Segamat, Kluang, Kulai and Johor Bahru.
It will reduce travel time from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur to four and a half hours from the previous seven hours.
BERNAMA 07-Jan-2025