KUALA LUMPUR, December 8, 2025 — Malaysia’s national railway operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is days away from launching its long‑awaited Electric Train Service (ETS) between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru – and is marking the occasion with a 30% promotional discount for early travelers. [1]
Multiple Malaysian and regional outlets reported today that the new ETS3 service on the KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral sector will start operating on 12 December 2025, closing the final gap in Malaysia’s electrified west coast rail corridor and reshaping how people move between Kuala Lumpur, Johor and, soon, Singapore. [2]
Key facts at a glance
- Service name: ETS3 (Electric Train Service 3)
- Route (Phase 1): KL Sentral ↔ JB Sentral
- Launch date: 12 December 2025
- Launch promo: 30% discount on ETS fares for KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral journeys
- Promo travel window: 12 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
- Promo code:
JBBEST(limited to 5,000 uses, terms & conditions apply) [3] - Booking channels: KITS Style app, KTMB website, and KTMB ticket kiosks [4]
- Initial frequency: Four daily services on the KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral route in the first phase, with more to come. [5]
Filling the last missing link in Malaysia’s electrified west coast railway
Until now, ETS trains have run north–south only as far as Gemas and Kluang, where passengers bound for Johor Bahru had to transfer to slower diesel services. [6]
With the completion of the Gemas–Johor Bahru double‑tracking and electrification project, JB Sentral is finally joining the ETS network as its southern terminus. [7]
This means:
- A fully electrified, higher‑speed corridor now stretches from Johor Bahru all the way up to Padang Besar near the Thai border.
- Passengers can travel by ETS through major hubs including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Butterworth (Penang), with Johor Bahru now integrated into that same system. [8]
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has previously said that in its first phase, the new line will focus on Johor Bahru–Kuala Lumpur services, with longer‑distance ETS routes from JB to Padang Besar and Butterworth to follow once operations stabilize. [9]
Launch promotion: 30% off fares with JBBEST
To drive early adoption and support year‑end travel, KTMB is rolling out a 30% discount on ETS fares for trips between KL Sentral and JB Sentral (both directions) taken between 12 December 2025 and 11 January 2026. [10]
According to KTMB’s statement and media reports:
- The discount applies only to the KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral sector on ETS services.
- Passengers must enter the promo code
JBBESTwhen buying tickets. - Only 5,000 promo codes are available, and the offer is subject to KTMB’s usual terms and conditions. [11]
KTMB’s chief technical officer Ahmad Nizam Mohamed Amin emphasised that the launch and discount are timed to coincide with the year‑end and school holiday period, when domestic travel to and from Johor typically spikes. He also highlighted that better rail access is expected to boost Johor’s tourism and business activity, including visitors from neighbouring Singapore. [12]
Route and stops: How the KL–JB ETS3 service will run
ETS3 will operate along the existing electrified West Coast Line, adding Johor Bahru at the southern end. On the KL Sentral–JB Sentral stretch, the train is scheduled to stop at: [13]
- Bandar Tasik Selatan
- Kajang
- Seremban
- Pulau Sebang
- Batang Melaka
- Gemas
- Segamat
- Labis
- Bekok
- Paloh
- Johor Bahru Sentral (JB Sentral)
Travel‑time details are still being fine‑tuned, but current ETS timings give some clues. For instance, the KL–Kluang stretch already takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on stops; the extension to JB Sentral will add further time but still aims to remain competitive compared with road journeys that can be heavily affected by congestion. [14]
Earlier coverage also noted that while the full end‑to‑end ETS journeys along the entire north–south corridor may offer only around one trip per day in each direction, commuters between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur can expect more frequent services tailored to demand. [15]
Service frequency: Four daily trips to start
Although KTMB has yet to publish a detailed public timetable for every departure as of 8 December, a New Straits Times report citing company information says the initial phase will feature four daily services on the KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral route, with plans to increase frequency as ridership builds. [16]
At the same time, extended ETS routes further north — for example to Butterworth and Padang Besar — are expected to run a smaller number of long‑distance trips, reportedly around two per day (one northbound and one southbound) once those legs are introduced. [17]
For now, passengers travelling from Johor Bahru to northern states such as Penang, Perlis or Kedah will typically change trains at KL Sentral, with seamless ETS–ETS connections envisioned as network capacity grows. [18]
Why the 30% launch discount matters
The pricing move is more than just a marketing gimmick. It sends a clear signal about how Malaysia wants the JB–KL ETS to be used:
- Encouraging rail over road
The north–south highway between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur frequently experiences congestion, especially during public holidays and weekends. A discounted, higher‑speed rail option makes it easier for travellers to switch from cars and buses to trains. [19] - Boosting Johor’s tourism and retail sectors
KTMB’s Ahmad Nizam has framed the launch as a way to bring more visitors into Johor — particularly for year‑end trips, theme‑park visits and shopping — while also giving Johoreans a faster way to reach other Malaysian destinations. [20] - Preparing for future Singapore connectivity
Time Out and other regional outlets point out that once the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link opens (currently targeted for 2026), travellers will effectively be able to go from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in about four hours by combining RTS with ETS — without touching the causeway jams. [21] - Supporting a greener transport mix
Electrified rail produces lower on‑route emissions than private cars or short‑haul flights per passenger, especially when trains run at high occupancy. While not positioned explicitly as a climate measure, the ETS3 line aligns neatly with broader sustainability goals for regional transport.
How to book tickets and use the JBBEST promo code
Here’s a practical breakdown for passengers looking to take advantage of the launch promotion:
- Download the KITS Style app
KTMB’s KITS Style mobile app is one of the primary booking channels for ETS tickets, including the new JB–KL sector. [22] - Or book via KTMB’s official website
Tickets can also be purchased through KTMB’s online booking portal and at self‑service kiosks at major stations such as KL Sentral and JB Sentral. [23] - Apply the launch promo code
When selecting your train and fare, enterJBBESTin the promo‑code field. If the code is still available and applicable to your chosen service and date, the 30% discount should be reflected in the final price. - Book early — codes are limited
With only 5,000 promo redemptions available and a prime holiday travel window, the promotion is likely to be snapped up quickly, especially for weekend and peak‑hour trains. [24] - Check terms & conditions
As with most rail promotions, the discount is subject to specific terms, which may include restrictions on changes, refunds or particular train classes. KTMB directs passengers to its official website and call centre for detailed conditions. [25]
A milestone for Johor Bahru Sentral — and Malaysia’s rail ambitions
Johor Bahru Sentral has long been envisaged as a major multimodal hub for southern Malaysia, but for years it was served mainly by diesel KTM Intercity trains and the Shuttle Tebrau to Singapore. Electrification and double‑tracking works between Gemas and Johor Bahru were specifically designed to bring ETS trains into the station and integrate JB into the country’s higher‑speed rail grid. [26]
With ETS3:
- JB Sentral becomes the southern anchor of the national ETS network.
- The station’s role as a gateway for international travellers (especially those connecting to Singapore) is significantly enhanced.
- Malaysia takes another step toward a modernised, frequent and competitive intercity rail system, at a time when several Southeast Asian countries are rapidly upgrading their rail infrastructure. [27]
The launch is also symbolically important: according to lifestyle coverage, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is scheduled to officiate the new service in Johor Bahru on 11 December, on the eve of passenger operations. [28]
What this means for travellers from 12 December onward
From 12 December 2025, travellers between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur will have a new option that offers:
- Predictable travel times, unaffected by highway jams or border tailbacks.
- Comfortable, air‑conditioned coaches with reserved seating typical of ETS services.
- Multiple daily frequency on the core JB–KL segment, with the promise of more trains as demand grows. [29]
For passengers who already rely on ETS to reach cities like Ipoh, Butterworth or Padang Besar, the eventual rollout of through‑services from Johor Bahru will make it possible to traverse the entire length of Peninsular Malaysia by electric train alone — an idea that, until now, lived mostly on planning charts and political promises. [30]
In the immediate term, however, the message from KTMB and the media coverage on 8 December 2025 is simple:
If you’re planning to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru over the year‑end period, the new ETS3 line — with its 30% launch discount — is likely to be one of the fastest, most comfortable and most affordable ways to do it. [31]
References
1. www.thestar.com.my, 2. www.channelnewsasia.com, 3. www.thestar.com.my, 4. www.thestar.com.my, 5. www.nst.com.my, 6. www.timeout.com, 7. en.wikipedia.org, 8. www.timeout.com, 9. www.channelnewsasia.com, 10. www.thestar.com.my, 11. www.thestar.com.my, 12. www.thestar.com.my, 13. www.lowyat.net, 14. sethlui.com, 15. www.timeout.com, 16. www.nst.com.my, 17. sethlui.com, 18. sethlui.com, 19. www.timeout.com, 20. www.thestar.com.my, 21. www.timeout.com, 22. www.thestar.com.my, 23. www.thestar.com.my, 24. www.lowyat.net, 25. www.thestar.com.my, 26. en.wikipedia.org, 27. en.wikipedia.org, 28. sethlui.com, 29. www.channelnewsasia.com, 30. www.channelnewsasia.com, 31. www.thestar.com.my
