KTM Intercity

KTM Intercity
Left: Ekspres Rakyat Timuran Right: Shuttle Timuran
Overview
Native name	KTM Antarabandar (Malay) KTM城际铁路(Simplified Chinese) கேடிஎம் இண்டர்சிட்டி (Tamil)
Owner	Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)
Area served	Peninsular Malaysia
Transit type	Inter-city rail
Number of lines	2
Line number	West Coast Line East Coast Line
Daily ridership	10,144 (Q4 2026)[1]
Annual ridership	1,484,314 (2025)[2]
Chief executive	Nurul Azha Mokmin - Head, Intercity Services
Headquarters	5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Tasik Perdana, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website	KTM Intercity
Operation
Began operation	circa 1960s
Operator	Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)
Rolling stock	KTM Class 23 KTM Class 24 KTM Class 25 KTM Class 26 KTM Class 29 KTM Class 61
Technical
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Average speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Top speed	120 km/h (75 mph)

KTM Intercity (Malay: KTM Antarabandar) are diesel-hauled intercity train services in Peninsular Malaysia, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). Services primarily operate along the KTM East Coast Line between Tumpat and Gemas. Services along the KTM West Coast Line have been mostly replaced by electric-hauled KTM ETS services following electrification and double-tracking, with only two services remaining between Gemas and Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore.^[3] KTM Intercity has long enjoyed moderate success, but increasingly faces competition with road and air travel, as expressways increase in number and budget airlines offer shorter travelling time. In 2006, KTM Intercity earned a profit of RM 70.94 million as group revenue, hovering around the RM 65 million mark since 2001.

Train services

Scheduled services

KTM Intercity operates the following scheduled services:

Service	Terminals	Rolling stock	Coaches Available Onboard	Details
Ekspres Rakyat Timuran	Between JB Sentral and Tumpat via Gemas	Locomotive	ADNS ASC ABC AFC	JB Sentral–Tumpat (1 nightly trip, both directions) Formerly known as Ekspres Senandung Timuran
Shuttle Timuran	Between Gemas and Tumpat	KTM Class 61 DMU	4 Second Class Coaches with a cafe and some toilets	Dabong–Tumpat (1 daily trip, both directions)
				Gemas–Kuala Lipis (2 daily trips, both directions)
				Gua Musang–Kuala Lipis (1 daily trip, both directions)
				Gua Musang–Tumpat (2 daily trips, both directions)
				Kuala Lipis–Tumpat (1 daily trip, both directions)

Seasonal services

KTM Intercity operates the following seasonal services:

Service	Terminals	Rolling stock	Coaches Available Onboard	Details
MySawasdee[4]	Between KL Sentral and Hat Yai Junction	Locomotive	ADNS ASC ABC AFC AXC Chillax	Seasonal service to/from Thailand
RTSM Excursion Train	Between KL Sentral and Butterworth		ASC AFC ABC AXC Chillax
Ekspres Lambaian Aidilfitri	Between KL Sentral and Tumpat		ADNS ASC ABC AFC Chillax	Seasonal service during Eid al-Fitr
Ekspres Lambaian Aidiladha				Seasonal service during Eid al-Adha

Cross-border services

The Shuttle Tebrau is an international cross-border train service between Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and Woodlands, Singapore. The service commenced in 2015, replacing direct KTM Intercity services between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The service initially operated 14 daily trips between JB Sentral and the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, comprising 7 Johor Bahru-bound services and 7 Woodlands-bound services. The service has since expanded to operate 31 daily trips, comprising 13 Johor Bahru-bound services and 18 Woodlands-bound services.^[5]

For passengers travelling from Johor Bahru to Woodlands, Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at JB Sentral before boarding. Singaporean immigration checks are conducted at Woodlands Train Checkpoint after alighting. For passengers travelling from Woodlands to Johor Bahru, both Singaporean and Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at Woodlands Train Checkpoint before boarding. No further immigration checks are conducted at Johor Bahru after alighting.

The Shuttle Tebrau service will be replaced by the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) in 2027.^[6] Whilst the Malaysian government has expressed intention to maintain the service even after the RTS has commenced operation, it has yet to receive agreement from the Singaporean government as of April 2026.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Former services

KTM Intercity operated the following former services:

Service	Terminals	Hauled by	Coaches Available Onboard	Service Termination Date	Details
Ekspres Makmur	Between Gemas and Kuala Lipis[11]	Locomotive	ASC AEC	Unknown	Former service replaced by Shuttle Timuran
Ekspres Peninsular	Between JB Sentral and Hat Yai Junction		ADNS ASC AEC ABC AFC	19th May 2016	Former services replaced by KTM ETS
Ekspres Rakyat	Between JB Sentral and Butterworth		AFC ASC ABC	08th May 2016
Ekspres Selatan	Between JB Sentral and Gemas		ASC ABC	31st December 2025
Senandung Malam	Between KL Sentral and Tanjong Pagar		ADNS ASC AEC ABC AFC ADNFD ADNFB	Possibly in 2014
Senandung Sutera	Between JB Sentral and Ipoh		ADNS ASC AEC ABC AFC ADNFD ADNFB	Around 2015 - 2016
Sinaran Selatan	Between KL Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint		ASC AFC	Possibly around 2015
Senandung Wau	Between KL Sentral and Tumpat		ADNS ASC AEC ABC ADNFB	Early 2015 (Due to the massive flood that destroyed the KTM East Coast railway line)	Former service replaced by KTM ETS between KL Sentral and Gemas Continued between Gemas to Tumpat by Ekspres Rakyat Timuran
Senandung Langkawi	Between KL Sentral and Hat Yai Junction		ADNS ASC AEC ABC ADNFB	Around 2015 and replaced by Ekspres Peninsular	Extended towards JB Sentral and renamed with Ekspres Peninsular Former services replaced by KTM ETS Now replaced with MySawasdee service

Travel classes

KTM Intercity offers the following travel classes:

• Air-conditioned First Class (AFC) - First-class seats (2+1 configuration). AFC seats are available on Ekspres Rakyat Timuran services and seasonal services. AFC seats offer more legroom and recline compared to ASC seats.
• Air-conditioned Second Class (ASC) - Second-class seats (2+2 configuration). ASC seats are available on all KTM Intercity services. ASC seats on Shuttle Timuran services do not recline.
• Air-conditioned Day-Night Sleeper (ADNS) - Sleeper berths (20 upper berths and 20 lower berths per carriage). ADNS berths are available on Ekspres Rakyat Timuran services and seasonal services. ADNS berths can be converted to seats for daytime use.
• Air-conditioned Economy Class (AEC) - Second-class seats (2+2 configuration). 74 seats were available onboard. Those with minimal budget will be taking this coach to travel anywhere. Previously available on almost every KTM Intercity service, but now withdrawn from service (as of 2026).

• 
  ASC: Air-conditioned Second Class
• 
  ADNS: Air-conditioned Day-Night Sleeper

List of stations

Main articles: KTM East Coast railway line and KTM West Coast railway line

KTM Intercity serves the following list of stations:

• Stations in bold indicate major stops.
• Green ticks indicate two-way stops.
• Red ticks indicate one-way stops.

Name	ERT	T-KL	T-GM	T-D	GM-KL	KL-G	JB-W
Tumpat	Y	Y	Y	Y
Kampung Kok Pasir halt			Y	Y
Wakaf Bharu	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bunut Susu halt	Y	Y	Y
Pasir Mas	Y	Y	Y	Y
Chica Tinggi halt			Y	Y
To' Uban halt		Y	Y	Y
Sungai Keladi halt			Y	Y
Bukit Panau halt		Y	Y	Y
Tanah Merah	Y	Y	Y	Y
Temangan		Y	Y	Y
Sungai Nal halt			Y	Y
Kuala Krai	Y	Y	Y	Y
Pahi halt		Y	Y	Y
Manek Urai		Y	Y	Y
Kampung Baru Sungai Mengkuang halt		Y	Y	Y
Ulu Temiang halt		Y	Y	Y
Kampung Baru Bukit Abu halt		Y	Y	Y
Bukit Abu		Y	Y	Y
Kuala Gris halt		Y	Y	Y
Dabong	Y	Y	Y	Y
Kemubu		Y	Y
Sri Jaya halt		Y	Y
Sri Mahligai halt		Y	Y
Sri Bintang halt		Y	Y
Sungai Tasin halt		Y	Y
Jerek Baru halt		Y	Y
Bertam halt		Y	Y
Bertam Baru		Y	Y
Limau Kasturi		Y	Y
Sungai Sirian halt		Y	Y
Kampung Sungai Sirian halt		Y	Y
Pan Malayan halt		Y	Y
Gua Musang	Y	Y	Y		Y
Lapan Tupai halt		Y
Mentara Baru halt		Y			Y
Merapoh	Y	Y			Y
Telok Gunong halt		Y			Y
Sungai Temau		Y			Y
Chegar Perah		Y			Y
Aur Gading halt		Y			Y
Kampung Berkam halt		Y			Y
Bukit Betong halt		Y			Y
Padang Tengku		Y			Y
Kuala Lipis	Y	Y			Y	Y
Kerambit	Y					Y
Mela halt						Y
Jerantut	Y					Y
Jenderak halt						Y
Kuala Krau	Y					Y
Mentakab	Y					Y
Mengkarak						Y
Triang	Y					Y
Kemayan	Y					Y
Bahau	Y					Y
Gemas	Y					Y
Segamat	Y
Kluang	Y
Kulai	Y
Kempas Baru	Y
JB Sentral	Y						Y
Woodlands							Y

See also

• Rail transport in Malaysia
• Trans-Asian Railway

References

1. "Daily Rail Ridership in Peninsular Malaysia". Daily Rail Ridership. Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). 3 August 2026. Archived from the original on 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
2. "KTMB Performance Update". Malayan Railways, Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
3. "KTMB adds ETS, KTM Intercity train services for interstate travellers". Malay Mail. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
4. Hassan, Hazlin (8 June 2024). "Budget-conscious Malaysians flock to Hat Yai for holiday as prices rise at home". The Straits Times.
5. Lim, Adrian (16 June 2015). "New shuttle train service between Woodlands and JB Sentral from July 1". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
6. Yasmine, Rhea (26 June 2025). "JB-Woodlands train to end service in 2027, after RTS Link begins operations: Malaysian official". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
7. "RTS Link: Malaysia Hopes Singapore Agrees To Maintain Shuttle Tebrau Temporarily". BERNAMA. 3 April 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
8. "Malaysia hopes Singapore agrees to maintain Shuttle Tebrau temporarily". TheStar TV (video). 3 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
9. James Tan, Jonathan (7 April 2026). "Malaysia hopes Singapore agrees to KTM Shuttle Tebrau continuing temporarily after RTS Link starts". Paul Tan’s Automotive News. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
10. Xiang Yun, Yee (4 April 2026). "JB-Singapore RTS fares to be fixed by end of year". The Star. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
11. "KTM Train Schedule effective on April 1, 2021" (PDF). 1 April 2021.