How to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru by train

Thanks to recent improvements on Malaysia’s West Coast railway line, a direct train now operates from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, reducing journey times and greatly simplifying the journey between two of the country’s most important cities.

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Route map and details

Malaysia’s West Coast Line has been upgraded in recent years and it’s now electrified and double-tracked along its entire route from Johor Bahru to Padang Besar. This allows ETS trains to run directly from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru (avoiding a change of train at Gemas or Kluang) and has significantly sped up and simplified the journey, with easier connections from Bangkok to KL to Singapore into the bargain.

Timetables

KL Sentral to JB Sentral

Six trains run per day from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) to Johor Bahru (JB Sentral). If you’re planning to continue on to Singapore immediately after you arrive in JB, note that the final shuttle service across the Causeway departs at 10.45pm, although buses and taxis are also available.

How to buy tickets

The easiest way to buy train tickets in Malaysia is online rather than going to the station. You do pay a very small commission but the ease and convenience makes it worthwhile in our opinion.

Baolau is the best site to use for buying train tickets, they have access to the official booking engine, so you can easily see availability, timetables and prices.

Payment can be made using international credit cards and PDF confirmation tickets are sent to your email address within a few minutes. This is the actual ticket you need to board the train, so there’s no need to exchange it at the station before travel. You may prefer to print the pdf out, but it’s also fine to show it on your mobile phone to the conductor and station staff.

Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru train tickets

ETS trains have both Standard and Business Class carriages. Aside from a free meal and more space, there isn’t a great deal of difference between the two classes and many travellers prefer Standard class.

You can read a review of Business class on the ETS trains here.

How much does it cost?

All trains have Standard class, but only the Platinum trains (EP prefix) have Business class:

The prices for each class are:

What to expect onboard

Riding the ETS train from KL Sentral to JB Sentral is a smooth experience. The trains are some of the latest models in KTMB’s fleet, built in China and assembled locally. Everything inside feels clean, modern, and comfortable.

There are six carriages altogether, with most travellers seated in standard class, which has a 2 × 2 seat layout. Business class is a bit roomier, with seats arranged 1 × 2, but the difference isn’t as dramatic as you might expect. Business class passengers do get a free meal and a wider seat, but the overall experience is more functional than premium. You can check out a full review of ETS Business Class here.

Standard class is still more than adequate for the journey, with each seat equipped with a tray table, armrest, footrest, recline button, and both USB and three-pin charging ports. There’s plenty of legroom and space between rows, making it easy to settle in (a real plus if you’re spending the full eight hours to Johor Bahru).

Each standard carriage is largely the same as the others, with a few difference worth noting:

• Coach D has the two disabled spaces onboard and is also closest to the disabled toilet (which is reserved exclusively for disabled travellers).
• Coach C is nearest the Bistro Car, so it sees slightly more foot traffic from passengers walking back and forth to buy food and drinks.
• Coaches B and E each include four seats set around a table, which is handy if you’re travelling as a group.

A few tips for a more comfortable Standard Class experience:

• Carriages are kept at a consistent 19C but it feels a lot colder at times. Remember to bring a light jumper, blanket or sarong to keep you warm during the trip.
• Smaller backpacks can be placed in the overhead racks. Larger suitcases should be stored in the luggage racks at the end of each carriage but competition for space can be fierce.
• We saw several suitcase left in the corridors between the carriages, confirming there isn’t always enough space in the luggage racks. As this is Malaysia, your suitcases will be safe in the corridor, but (as always) it’s best to pack light if possible and keep your bags close by.
• In general, ETS trains run to schedule and delays are uncommon.
• You’ll need to scan your ticket QR code at KL Sentral and again at the ticket gates at JB Sentral.

What are the toilets like?

No issues with the onboard toilets at all. Compared with many trains in the region, they’re kept clean and well stocked, with both toilet paper and hand wash. That’s the case right up to Johor Bahru.

Each carriage shows when a toilet is in use. Coaches B and E each have one, while Coach F’s is reserved for disabled passengers and fully accessible.

Catering options

In business class, a meal delivered directly to your seat, although there isn’t a choice. Standard class passengers have access to a Bistro car, where surprisingly tasty meals are served.

The microwaveable meals might not look very appetising when first served, but they’re good quality and excellent value (around RM12 for nasi lemak, fried noodles, etc). Soft drinks, tea and coffee are also available.

Payment is either by cash or e-wallets. There isn’t anywhere to sit in the bistro itself, so you’ll need to take your food and drinks back to your seat and consume it there.

Journey description

It takes an hour or so to break free of Kuala Lumpur’s suburbs. Once the famous skyline has disappeared, the industrial and residential edges of the city aren’t particularly scenic or likely to attract your attention.

After passing Seremban and entering Malacca, the view gradually changes from buildings to palm oil plantations. For the next hour or two, as the train enters the state of Johor, you’ll see acre upon acre of palm oil trees, a reminder of how important the crop is to Malaysia.

In the final half-hour of the journey, the outskirts of Johor Bahru appear, with the city’s taller buildings coming into view. JB Sentral sits in the heart of the city, just a few hundred metres from the Causeway to Singapore.

The station itself is surrounded by concrete flyovers, bridges, construction work and shopping malls. The basement level of the station has no natural light and little reason to linger, so head up the escalators to the concourse. From here, you can continue your journey into Singapore by train, or step out to explore Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s southernmost city.