ECRL to start on 12 Dec 2026: Gombak–Kota Bharu fares from RM125 and discounts

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) is targeting 12 Dec 2026 for the start of East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passenger services on the Gombak–Kota Bharu route. The date is subject to completing safety requirements and the relevant approvals (Bernama, 19 Oct 2026). This guide summarises the dates, starting fares, discounts and timetable announced so far.

When the ECRL starts operating

• Commercial passenger operations: targeted for 12 Dec 2026 on the Gombak–Kota Bharu route.
• Official ticket sales: scheduled to start in mid-November 2026. Fares for all stations are expected to be available then.
• Testing: Fault-Free Running tests were scheduled to start on 23 Oct 2026, followed by trial operations throughout November.

According to MRL, overall project progress has reached 98.16 per cent. Test trains have been running since 25 Aug, covering more than 50,000 km.

ECRL starting fares

The Cabinet approved the dynamic fare proposal on 16 Oct 2026. The fares below are one-way starting rates, not fixed prices. Actual prices can change with the time of travel, demand and remaining seats, with an intervention element if prices rise too far.

The same starting fares apply in the opposite direction. Transit trains stop at every scheduled station, while express trains stop only at four main stations: Gombak, KotaSAS, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu.

Fare discounts

• 50%: children aged 2 to 12, Malaysian senior citizens aged 60 and above, OKU card holders and government pensioners.
• 40%: students aged 13 to 24.

The seat classes offered are economy, premium economy and business.

Frequency and travel time

According to MRL's chief executive, Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, Phase 1 will run 12 return trips from Monday to Thursday and 14 from Friday to Sunday. A Kota Bharu–Gombak trip is expected to take about four hours, compared with about seven hours by road (Bernama, 6 Oct 2026).

In one test, an inspection train covered 519 km from Gombak to Kota Bharu non-stop in 3 hours 19 minutes, at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The full ECRL network is 665 km long.

What to do now

• Wait for official ticket sales in mid-November, and buy only through official channels announced by MRL.
• If you qualify for a discount (OKU, senior citizen, government pensioner or student), have the relevant identity document ready.
• Compare with the cost of driving: estimate your trip's fuel cost with our Fuel Cost Calculator.

Beware of "early ECRL tickets" or "promotion packages" on social media before official sales open. Never give your OTP or online banking password to anyone. You can check a suspicious message with our Scam Message Checker.