Rail transport in Malaysia

Rail transport in Malaysia has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the country's economic growth and modernization.
The development of Malaysia's railways, from the first tracks laid for transporting tin to the extensive network that exists today, mirrors the broader social and economic transformations that have shaped the nation. This narrative explores the key milestones in the history of Malaysian rail transport, consists of primarily of passenger and freight shipments along an integrated rail network. Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), a Government-owned company under the ownership of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) (Malaysia) of the Government of Malaysia, operates Malaysia's national railway system. It is the primary operator of rail operations throughout the country including inter-city rail and commuter/suburban rail in major metro.
The urban transit systems operated by independent bodies constituted for the purpose of the respective operations such as light rapid transit (LRT), mass rapid transit (MRT) and only-functioning monorail.
There is only-functioning airport rail link systems linking Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), while the Penang Hill Railway is the only operational funicular system in the country. Private owned rails exist in few places, mostly used to connect freight to the integrated rail network.
The railway network covers most of the 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia and in East Malaysia, only the state of Sabah has railways network. the railway network in Sabah operate by Sabah State Railway. The Malaysia rail network is also connected to the Thai railway 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) network in the north. If the Burma Railway is rebuilt, services to Myanmar, India, and China could be initiated.
Rail transport in Malaysia began with the first railway line operated in 1885, connecting Taiping to Port Weld (now known as Kuala Sepetang). This 13.5-kilometer line was developed to transport tin from the mines in Taiping, one of the world's most important tin mining areas at the time, to the port for export. The success of this initial line laid the groundwork for the expansion of rail transport in Malaya.
In 1886, the line was extended to connect the tin-rich area of Larut, further boosting the region's economy by providing an efficient means of transporting tin to the port. The early railways were primarily driven by the needs of the tin mining industry, which was the backbone of Malaya's economy in the late 19th century.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw significant expansion of the railway network in Malaya. In 1891, a major line was constructed between Klang and Kuala Lumpur, connecting the inland commercial center to the coastal port. This line was pivotal in facilitating the export of goods, particularly tin and rubber, which were central to Malaya's economy at the time.
As the rail network grew, the need for centralized management became apparent. In 1910, the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) was established, consolidating various regional rail systems under one administration. This unification allowed for more coordinated planning and development, setting the stage for the creation of major rail lines that would form the backbone of the national network.
Under the FMSR, two major rail lines were developed: the West Coast Line and the East Coast Line.
Railways in Malaysia began because of the need to transport tin from mines in the hinterland of the West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia to coastal ports. The first railway line, which was opened on 1 June 1885, was about 13 km long and ran between Port Weld and Taiping, the heart of the tin-rich Larut Valley in Perak state. The second line was opened a year later to link Kuala Lumpur, again the center of tin-mining activities in the Klang Valley, and Klang and subsequently to Port Swettenham (Port Klang) today.
The West Coast Line, completed in 1923, ran from Padang Besar near the Thai border in the north to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, Singapore in the south. This line was crucial in linking the major cities along the west coast, including Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor Bahru. It became the primary route for the transportation of goods and passengers, playing a key role in the economic integration of the region.
The East Coast Line, completed in 1931, connected Gemas in Negeri Sembilan to Tumpat in Kelantan. This line opened up the east coast, which was less developed compared to the west, by providing a reliable means of transportation for agricultural products, particularly rubber and palm oil, to markets on the west coast and beyond.
The Malayan Emergency posed significant challenges to the rail network. The communist insurgency targeted the railways as they were seen as symbols of colonial power and were crucial for British military logistics. Sabotage and attacks on trains and infrastructure caused disruptions, but the rail network remained operational and played a vital role in the British efforts to maintain control during the conflict.
With Malaysia's independence in 1957 and the subsequent formation of Malaysia in 1963, the nation's railways entered a new phase of development. The rail networks in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak were brought under the administration of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), allowing for more unified management and planning.
In the early 1960s, rail transport was still the primary mode of long-distance travel within Peninsular Malaysia. However, with the rapid expansion of road networks and the rise of automobile ownership, the railways began to face increasing competition. To remain relevant, KTM initiated several modernization projects aimed at improving service efficiency and passenger comfort.
A significant milestone during this period was the introduction of inter-city rail services with brand KTM Intercity in 1989. This was a significant development in Malaysia's rail transport history, as it expanded the range of long-distance travel options available across Peninsular Malaysia.
KTM's Intercity services have long been a vital part of Malaysia's rail network, providing long-distance travel options across Peninsular Malaysia. These services connected major cities and towns, offering a reliable and affordable means of transportation for millions of Malaysians.
One of the most iconic trains in KTM's Intercity fleet was the Senandung Malam Express. This overnight service connected Kuala Lumpur with cities such as Butterworth, Padang Besar, and Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The Senandung Malam Express was particularly popular for its overnight travel option, allowing passengers to travel long distances while sleeping, and arrive at their destination refreshed the next morning.
Other notable Intercity services included the Ekspres Rakyat, which ran between Johor Bahru and Butterworth, and the Ekspres Wau, connecting Kuala Lumpur with Tumpat in Kelantan. These services were known for their scenic routes, passing through lush landscapes and offering a unique travel experience.
In Sabah, the Sabah State Railway (SSR) operated a separate network, primarily serving the western coastal regions from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom. Built during the British North Borneo era, this narrow-gauge railway played a crucial role in connecting remote areas with the state capital and was vital for the transportation of goods and passengers in the region.
One of the key developments during this period was the electrification of the rail network in the Klang Valley, which began in 1989. The electrification marked the start of a transition from diesel-powered to electric trains, significantly improving travel times, efficiency, and capacity in the rapidly urbanizing region. This modernization laid the groundwork for the introduction of commuter rail services, which would become increasingly important in the following decades.
The mid-1990s marked the beginning of a new era in Malaysian rail transport, with the introduction of modern commuter services and urban transit systems.
In 1995, KTM launched its commuter rail service, the first electric commuter train service in Malaysia branding as KTM Komuter. Initially serving the Klang Valley for central sector which consist of Batu Caves–Pulau Sebang Line and Tanjung Malim–Port Klang Line, KTM Komuter quickly became an essential part of the region's public transportation network, offering a reliable alternative to the congested roads. The service was later expanded to include northern sector, connecting cities such as Butterworth, Padang Besar, and Ipoh to the larger network, enhancing connectivity and convenience for residents and travelers alike.
Urban rail transit also saw significant advancements with the introduction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in the Klang Valley. The Ampang Line (formerly STAR LRT) opened in 1996, followed by the Kelana Jaya Line (formerly PUTRA LRT) in 1998. These lines provided a much-needed solution to the increasing traffic congestion in the Klang Valley, offering fast and efficient connections between key urban centers.
The modernization of the Sabah State Railway (SSR) began in the early 2000s, addressing the need to upgrade the aging narrow-gauge tracks and rolling stock. These efforts were crucial for improving safety, reliability, and passenger comfort, particularly on the line connecting Kota Kinabalu to Tenom. The modernization project included the refurbishment of stations, the introduction of new trains, and significant improvements to the infrastructure. The SSR modernization is ongoing, with plans to further enhance the network by extending the line to other parts of Sabah, thereby improving connectivity and supporting the state's economic development. This project is vital for ensuring that the SSR continues to serve as a key transportation link in Sabah, particularly in the more remote regions of the state.
In 2002, the Express Rail Link (ERL) was introduced, providing high-speed connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The ERL's KLIA Express service reduced travel time between the city and the airport to just 28 minutes, significantly improving access to the country's main gateway for international travelers.
The early 2000s also saw the double-tracking and electrification of existing rail lines, which paved the way for the introduction of the Electric Train Service (ETS) in 2010. The ETS offered high-speed rail services between major cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang, providing a comfortable and efficient alternative to road and air travel.
Following the 2008 state election that saw Pakatan Rakyat (predecessor of the present-day Pakatan Harapan coalition) gaining control of Penang's legislature, the Penang state government conceived the multimodal Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which includes the introduction of urban rail systems across the state. In 2015, as part of the PTMP, the state government announced a proposed RM10 billion light rail transit (LRT) line to link downtown George Town with the Penang International Airport. However, planning was carried out independently from the federal government, creating political tensions that ultimately delayed the PTMP's implementation, as transport infrastructure falls under the federal Ministry of Transport's jurisdiction.
Malaysia's rail transport continues to expand and modernize, with several significant projects currently underway or in planning stages.
One of the most ambitious projects is the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which began construction in 2017. The ECRL aims to connect the East Coast region of Peninsular Malaysia with the more developed West Coast, running from Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor. This project is expected to reduce travel times, boost economic development in the east coast states, and improve the overall efficiency of Malaysia's rail network.
The Klang Valley continues to see expansions with the ongoing construction of the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3), set to connect Bandar Utama to Klang by 2024. This line will serve densely populated areas, providing an alternative to road transport and enhancing the region's public transportation network.
Another major project in the planning stages is the MRT Circle Line (MRT3), which will form a loop around Kuala Lumpur, connecting existing MRT, LRT, and KTM lines. Once completed, the MRT3 will significantly enhance connectivity within the Klang Valley, offering more convenient and efficient travel options for residents and visitors.
The proposed light rail transit (LRT) line between downtown George Town, the Penang International Airport and Silicon Island was granted federal approval in 2019. However, due to protracted political infighting, the project – now renamed Mutiara LRT – only secured federal funding in 2023. The LRT line was redesigned to include an extension between George Town and Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai. Construction of the Mutiara LRT commenced in 2025 and is expected to be completed by 2031.
The Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project is another key development, set to provide a crucial link between Johor Bahru and Singapore. Expected to be completed by 2026, the RTS will ease congestion on the Causeway and provide a fast, efficient cross-border commuting option for thousands of daily travelers.
In Johor's Iskandar Malaysia region, Kuching in Sarawak, and Putrajaya, the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system is being studied and tested. The ART, which is a hybrid between a bus and a train, offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional rail transit, making it an attractive option for rapidly growing urban areas.
Meanwhile, ongoing double-tracking and electrification projects in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia are expected to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the national rail network, particularly for intercity rail travel and freight rail services.
Under construction
There are two primary railway networks in Peninsular Malaysia: The KTM West Coast Line, which runs from Padang Besar in Perlis where it connects with Thailand’s railway network, to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore, as well as the KTM East Coast Line between Gemas in Negeri Sembilan and Tumpat in Kelantan. Within the West Coast Line lies several branch lines, which include railways from Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang, Subang Jaya to Subang Airport, Sentul to Batu Caves, Bukit Mertajam to Butterworth, Kempas to Tanjung Pelepas and Kempas to Pasir Gudang. The entire 1,776 km network uses 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge tracks, and uses a ballasted setup with locally manufactured concrete sleepers. Since the early 1980s, companies formed via international collaboration, such as Mastrak Sdn Bhd had been producing these sleepers via technology transfer. In the five years period of 1982-1987 alone, it was estimated that around 500,000 pieces of concrete sleepers had been laid down for the Kerdau-Jerantut and Sungai Yu-Tumpat lines.
Currently, a total of 767 km from the 1,776 km railway network is double-tracked and electrified. The tracks include a portion of the West Coast Line (from Gemas to Padang Besar) as well as the entire Port Klang and Batu Caves branch lines. The rail lines from Tanjung Malim to Pulau Sebang/Tampin, Padang Besar to Ipoh, as well as the Port Klang, Batu Caves and Butterworth branch lines are used for commuter rail services.
Efforts in retrofitting the old tracks were done under the Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) orchestrated by the Minister of Transport. The first EDTP was done from Rawang to Ipoh from 2001 to 2009, stretching 179 km while the second EDTP was done from Ipoh to Padang Besar at a length of 329 km from January 2008 to November 2014. There were also smaller scale EDTPs initiated in branch lines, such as the 7.2 km Batu Caves branch line, which was completed in 2010.
Malaysia's national petroleum company, Petronas, had once built and operated a single-track 75 km Kerteh–Kuantan Port railway line starting 1 April 2004. Despite this, the railway system was of poor quality and locomotives had to operate well below the designated speed. On 17 November 2010, the railway was eventually closed due to a number of recurring technical problems on the railway system such as drainage problems, improper slope protection and alleged usage of weak fill material within the embankment slope.
The only railway network present on the island of Borneo is the 134 km (83 mi) railway line in Sabah, linking Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu, and Tenom in the Interior Division. It is operated by the Sabah State Railway and has 15 stations. Efforts of modernisation were undertaken from 2006 to 2011 and as widespread usage of concrete sleepers becomes apparent in the Malaysian Peninsula, the Sabah State Railway had also installed these sleepers for their railway network.
The MYR 8 billion contract was expected to be tendered out by end 2008 pending a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The project would have included building over 200 km of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signalling and communications. This included the realignment between Pulau Sebang, Melaka to Gemas section.
In May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe submitted a proposal to the Government to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Bahru at a cost of MYR 5 billion. According to them, the project would be on a private finance initiative basis and the plan submitted to the Finance Ministry later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in Johor State.
On 29 January 2011, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said that the Gemas-Johor Bahru double-tracking and electrification project was expected to start that year. He added that the Government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project that year and Malaysia was still in the midst of talking with China Railway Construction, but nothing was confirmed yet. Kong said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project. The construction of the 197 km of tracks, at an estimated cost between MYR 6 billion and MYR 7 billion, would take three years.
On 27 October 2015, the public display exercise, required for all development of new railways under Section 84 of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Act 2010, for the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrification Double Tracking Project began and will run until 27 January 2016. According to documents on display to the public, construction is expected to begin in 2016 and be completed in 2021.
The Chinese company CRCC has been awarded to build the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrification and Double-Tracking project. Construction on the project began in Jan 2018. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
The length of the line to be electrified and double-tracked is 197 km between Chainage 563.040 at Gemas and Chainage 754.180 at Johor Bahru. The project includes the construction of 11 stations at Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru, and 3 future stations at Tenang, Chamek and Senai. The upgraded line is supposed to cater for at least 22 services daily involving KTM ETS, KTM Intercity and shuttle train services as well as KTM Komuter.
The documents displayed also stated that the electrification for the stretch will have the same specifications as that of the Seremban-Gemas stretch, at 25 kV AC 50 Hz single phase and supplied via an overhead catenary. Train operations for this stretch will be integrated with the Train Control Centres at KL Sentral and Gemas. The design speed for the tracks is 160 km/h.
The project was implemented by Keretapi Tanah Melayu began in 2016 and phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2021. The project entails the rehabilitation of 42 km of tracks between Rawang and Salak Selatan as well as Sentul and Simpang Batu. This will focus on enhancing 16 stations along these routes and upgrade the existing signalling and electrification system. This will be reduced to just seven-and-a-half minutes once the KVDT is completed.
The 42 km rehabilitation under Phase I, which are:
Phase II is from Simpang - Pelabuhan Klang and Salak Selatan - Seremban.
Introduced by the Penang state government in 2015, the Penang Transport Master Plan originally envisaged seven public transport corridors. Of the seven corridors, the Mutiara LRT line was given the highest priority to ease vehicular traffic volume along the downtown George Town–Bayan Lepas corridor, which reached 64,144 vehicles in 2018. The 29 km (18 mi) line is the first domestic light rail system outside the Klang Valley, comprising 21 stations between Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai, downtown George Town, Bayan Lepas and Silicon Island.
The Mutiara line received conditional approval from federal government environmental regulators in 2019. Due to political infighting, construction could not begin until 2025 when the Anwar Ibrahim administration took over the LRT project. The line is expected to be operational by 2031.
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a standard gauge, single-track on double placement railway link infrastructure project connecting Port Klang on the Straits of Malacca to Kota Bharu in northeast Peninsular Malaysia via Putrajaya, connecting the East Coast Economic Region states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to one another, and to the Central Region of the Peninsular's west coast. The project was proposed to provide high speed inter-city rail service to the east coast states and to complement the KTM East Coast Line. Currently, Terengganu is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia without a passenger railway system, as the KTM East Coast Line only services Pahang and Kelantan.
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) is an under-construction cross-border rapid transit system that will connect Woodlands, Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, crossing the Straits of Johor.
The rapid transit system will have two stations, with the Singaporean terminus located at Woodlands North station (interchanging with the Singapore MRT system) and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station (interchange with the proposed Iskandar Malaysia BRT system). Both stations will have co-located Singaporean and Malaysian customs, immigration and quarantine facilities.
When built, the RTS Link will be the second rail link between the two countries after the KTM Intercity Shuttle Tebrau, and the first high-capacity international metro system to be built. The RTS Link is expected to replace the railway line and shuttle train services between JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, completing the withdrawal of KTM operations from Singapore.
A third LRT system is under construction which, once completed, will link the city centre with the cities of Shah Alam and Klang. The line, which spans 37 km, has 25 permanent stations under construction, one of them being kept as provisional stations for the future. The LRT line is planned to be fully operational by 2026.
The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project is a proposed three-line 150 km MRT system by Gamuda Berhad-MMC Corporation Berhad for the Klang Valley which envisages a "Wheel and Spoke" concept comprising two northeast–southwest radial lines and one circle line looping around Kuala Lumpur. The proposal was announced in early-June 2010 and construction works were targeted to commence in early 2011, leading to project completion in 2016 for the first line.
The MRT system will be the backbone of a new transport system in Klang Valley, which will be home to an estimated 10 million people by 2020. The MRT system will be integrated with the existing LRT, monorail, KTM Komuter and intra- and inter-city bus services to form an effective public transportation system.
In December 2010, the Government announced that the Kajang Line will be the first to take off. The Kajang Line will run from Sungai Buloh to Kajang through the Kuala Lumpur city centre. This route which runs from north-west to south-east of Kuala Lumpur is densely populated and is currently inadequately served by the then existing rail-based public transport. Upon completion, the line is estimated to provide service to 1.2 million people with an estimated daily ridership of 442,000.
Construction of the line was officially launched on 8 July 2011 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Phase 1 of the line, from Sungai Buloh to Semantan station was operational by December 2016 while the remainder of the line opened in July 2017.
The MRT system will be owned by the Government of Malaysia through the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp), a special purpose vehicle which is 100% owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated. Rapid Rail, which is the current operator of the Klang Valley's LRT and monorail lines operated the MRT lines under its integrated fare system.
A second MRT line, the Putrajaya Line, is completed and fully operational in March 2023. The third MRT line, the Circle Line, is another proposed line and would be the "Wheel" component of the MRT project. The line was recently approved by the Cabinet and is currently awaiting the tendering process. Constructions are expected to commence by December 2028.
Terengganu and Sarawak are the only two states in Malaysia that do not have railway infrastructure. In Sarawak, a railway line existed before the Second World War, but the last remnants of the line were dismantled in 1959.
As part of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy project, the government is planning a 320 km railway track between Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah Division. The cost and plans for the project timeline is yet to be revealed.
Another railway line, the Sarawak Railway Line is a proposed project by the Malaysian government to establishing a railway network in the state of Sarawak. In 2008, it was reported the project will be ready in 2015 but still no signs of development by the government until present.
The Kuching LRT system is a proposed light rapid transit (LRT) system network in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. as one of the methods to ease traffic congestion in the city. The proposed LRT lines will connect Kuching to Samarahan and Serian. The construction of the RM10.8 billion project was expected to commence by 2019 and was scheduled to be operational by 2024, however, it was scrapped in favor of a more cost-affordable Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system.
On 17 September 2015, it was announced that the Sabah State Railway will be extended to cover the northern and east coast areas, mainly to major towns of Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau. On 21 March 2017, around RM1 million has been allocated for the project study. Once the project is complete, there is also a proposal to connecting the rail networks of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia with the provinces of Kalimantan in Indonesia that will be called as "Trans-Borneo Railway", as Indonesia were currently developing the railway network on their side.
A proposed monorail line project is to be constructed in the Kota Kinabalu area by the Sabah state government. The proposals generated mixed reactions between the mayor and politicians. As reported in the government website, the project was in the ground breaking process under the Kota Kinabalu development plan.
A new rapid transit line has also been proposed to ease traffic congestions in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. On 27 August 2019, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has submitted a proposal to build an LRT or MRT to the federal government. The city authorities are currently waiting for budget on the project.
On 2021, a skytrain system of Kota Kinabalu was proposed. The skytrain is planned to connect the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Four companies which will be involved in the skytrain project signed a memorandum of understanding on 29 November. The skytrain will be built by phases, with phase 1 will be connecting the airport to the city centre, while phase 2 will extended till Alamesra, near the university.
Malaysia's commuter rail system plays a vital role in connecting urban centers with suburban and outlying regions, offering a reliable and efficient mode of transportation for millions of passengers. Three prominent services within the commuter rail network are service brand KTM Komuter, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit operated by Express Rail Link (ERL).
KTM Komuter service primarily serving the Klang Valley and northern region with routes span over 280 km (170 mi), with more than xx stations . The central sector consists of the Batu Caves–Pulau Sebang Line, Tanjung Malim–Port Klang Line. The northern sector consists of two routes, namely the Butterworth/Bukit Mertajam-Ipoh route as well as the Butterworth-Padang Besar route.
The Express Rail Link (ERL) services are dedicated to providing fast and direct connections between Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), including KLIA2, the low-cost carrier terminal that stretches 57 km (35 mi). The rail link currently has two services: The KLIA Ekspres with 3 stations and KLIA Transit with 6 stations.
The KLIA Ekspres is a non-stop airport rail link service that connects KL Sentral to KLIA and KLIA2 with 3 stations. It offers the fastest way to travel between the city center and the airport, with a journey time of just 28 minutes. The service operates every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours and is known for its punctuality and efficiency. While, KLIA Transit with 6 stations also shares the same tracks as KLIA Ekspres but includes additional stops at intermediate stations: Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya & Cyberjaya, and Salak Tinggi with journey time from KL Sentral to KLIA2 is approximately 39 minutes.
Defunct
Malaysia's inter-city rail network has been a cornerstone of the nation's transportation infrastructure, connecting major cities and towns across Peninsular Malaysia. The primary operator of intercity rail services in Malaysia is Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTMB), which runs the service KTM Intercity and KTM ETS services. These services provide an essential link for passengers, fostering economic growth and enhancing mobility across the country.
KTM Intercity (Malay: KTM Antarabandar) is the service brand name for long-haul passenger trains that connect cities and major towns served by the KTMB rail network. The service is provided using conventional locomotive-hauled coaches and DMUs. Services span the length of the network, except branch-lines. It has also been involved in various types of collaborations, joint-promotions, and cross-promotions with all state-level tourism bodies, travel agencies and travel-related industry players in developing rail packages for group travellers.
KTM ETS, is another service brand which stands for Electric Train Service, is a rapid intercity train service by KTMB utilizing electric train-sets. The service started in 2010 using metre-gauge. It currently operates on the lines West Coast Line from Padang Besar, Perlis to Gemas. The trains travel up to 140 km/h (87 mph) on electrified lines. Each train set is capable of carrying up to 350 passengers.
Defunct
The medium-capacity rail system, or officially named as Light Rapid Transit (LRT) by Prasarana Malaysia, is a rail system that consists of four lines: LRT Kelana Jaya Line, LRT Ampang Line, LRT Sri Petaling Line and the upcoming LRT Shah Alam Line. The lines are operated by Rapid Rail and owned by Prasarana Malaysia. It is not to be confused with a light rail transit, which bears a similar acronym.
The Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines share a single rail line from Sentul Timur to Chan Sow Lin, before they branch off to Ampang and Putra Heights respectively. The combined 45.1 km (28.0 mi) line has 36 stations and uses semi-automated trains. The lines entered service with the first phase opening on 16 December 1996, second phase in July 1998 and a recent extension on 30 June 2016.
The Kelana Jaya Line is a 46.4 km (28.8 mi) LRT system which runs from Gombak to Putra Heights. It is the first fully automated and driverless rail system in Malaysia, and began operations on 1 September 1998. An extension project to connect the Kelana Jaya Line to the Sri Petaling Line via Putra Heights was completed on 1 July 2016.
As the population of the Klang Valley region grew higher and traffic congestion became much more problematic, the government had embarked on realising a public transport project to ease congestion. The new Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project was drafted up on early 2010 with three lines to be built, which now include MRT Kajang Line, MRT Putrajaya Line and the upcoming MRT Circle Line. All three lines are operated by Rapid Rail and owned by MRT Corp. MRT stations are also supported with additional parking areas and feeder buses for last mile connectivity.
The Kajang Line is the first mass rapid transit (MRT) line constructed in Malaysia. It is a fully automated and driverless rail system with 29 stations and stretches 46 km (29 mi) from Kwasa Damansara to Kajang. The Kajang Line began construction on 8 July 2011, and its first phase finished on 16 December 2016. Since its full opening on 17 July 2017, the Kajang Line has been serving various densely populated suburban areas such as Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara and Balakong.
The second MRT line currently in operation is the Putrajaya Line. It also uses fully automated and driverless train-sets running from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral with a track length of 57.7 km (35.9 mi). Works on building the line began on 15 September 2016 and its first phase was opened on 16 June 2022. The second phase began operations on 16 March 2023. The Putrajaya Line provides an alternative travel route for the population of Putrajaya to travel to the heart of Kuala Lumpur without the need for a personal vehicle or using the KLIA Transit line. The Putrajaya Line also links several townships south of Kuala Lumpur, including Cyberjaya, Seri Kembangan and Sungai Besi as well as Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Malaysia has only one operational monorail system, the KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur. Previously, another monorail line in Malacca City, the Melaka Monorail was also operational. Both monorail systems use elevated straddle-beams as rail tracks. The KL Monorail is mainly used for urban public transport, while the Melaka Monorail, now abandoned, was used as a displayed tourist attraction.
The KL Monorail is an 8.6 km (5.3 mi), 11-station monorail system operated by Rapid Rail and owned by Prasarana Malaysia. The monorail system uses 4-car train-sets built by Scomi Rail and serves areas from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa, as well as other areas such as Pudu, Bukit Bintang and Bukit Nanas. In 2021, the system served a total of 4.226 million passengers.
The Melaka Monorail is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) uni-directional single track monorail system which formerly had three stations. Since its opening on 21 October 2010, the system suffered various incidents, including frequent breakdowns and lack of maintenance. The company, Monorail Theme Park & Studios, which operated the system, had its contract terminated in September 2021 and the system had stopped operating. There are currently no plans of reviving this system.
On 16 December 2022, the Premier of Sarawak released the Phase 1 integrated transit map of the KUTS project with a 69.9-kilometer route consisting of 3 initial rail lines and a total of 31 stations (with 5 provisional stations) to be completed in stages, with Phase 1 of the Blue Line scheduled to be completed in 2025 while the remaining lines are to be constructed at a later date.
KTM Kargo provides cargo conveyance services, with a network that spans almost the whole of the KTMB rail network. It is accessible from seaports and Inland Container Terminal (ICT) as well as industrial centres. Cargo services are a major contributor to KTM's overall revenue. urrently, there are 45 cargo train services daily with 23 routes daily, of which about 70% are concentrated in the Northern sector. KTMB runs 37 freight train services daily of which about 80% are concentrated in the Northern sector.
The Penang Hill Railway in Penang is the funicular system in Malaysia. The system uses a single metre-gauge railway track, with a total length of 2 km (1.2 mi) and a passing loop in the middle. The inclination is around 52.9% at maximum and 18.8% at minimum. The system was first opened as a two-section system in 1923 and managed by the former George Town Municipality (now Penang Island City Council). On 1 February 1977, the ownership was transferred to the Penang State Government and a complete overhaul was done in 2010 to convert the system into a one-section railway. The system travels through eight stations from the Lower Station at Air Itam to the Upper Station on top of the Penang Hill. Despite the upgrade done in 2010, the aging rail infrastructure had led to the system having several breakdowns as it could not support large number of passengers at certain times.
Cable transport in Malaysia is typically used in the tourism industry to transport tourists to the peak of a hill or highland using gondola lifts. As of May 2023, there are three cable transport systems built: Langkawi Cable Car, Awana Skyway and Genting Skyway. The former is located in Langkawi Island, while the latter two are located in Genting Highlands.
The Langkawi Cable Car, or Langkawi SkyCab, is a 2.2 km (1.4 mi) cable transport system transporting tourists to the peak of Mount Machinchang. The journey time takes around 15 minutes, and upon arrival, tourists are able to go to the Langkawi Sky Bridge via an inclined elevator. The construction of the cable car was realised following a survey of the most feasible method of public transportation on Mount Machinchang. The cable car commenced operations in 2003, owned by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and operated by Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd.
Another two cable car systems located in Genting Highlands are Awana Skyway and Genting Skyway. Awana Skyway is a three-station 2.4 km (1.5 mi) cable car system owned by Genting Malaysia Berhad. From 1977 to 2014, the system used an aerial tramway lift and had two stations. A newer mono cable gondola lift system was later constructed on the existing system and was subsequently opened in 2016. It uses 60mm diameter solid cable wire ropes with 22 pylons, making it safer compared to the previous system. The system now has three stations, taking passengers to either the Awana Station, Chin Swee Station or the SkyAvenue Station, with the whole trip taking around 10 minutes and with an operating speed of 6 m/s.
Besides the Awana Skyway, Genting Skyway is also a gondola lift cable car system in Genting Highlands. The system was opened on 21 February 1997, with two stations from Gohtong Jaya to Highlands Hotel. With a length of 3.38 km (2.10 mi), the system now serves as an alternative route whenever Awana Skyway is closed for maintenance. The trip duration for this system is 15 minutes, much longer compared to its twin system. This system is also owned by Genting Malaysia Berhad.
The only automated people mover system (APM) in Malaysia is the Aerotrain, which is located within Kuala Lumpur International Airport's (KLIA) Terminal 1. The 1.2 km (0.75 mi) APM first commenced operation in 1998 and is operated by the Engineering Transportation bureau of Malaysia Airport (Sepang) Sdn Bhd. The system serves from Terminal A of KLIA to Satellite Terminal A and takes around 2.5 minutes of travel time. The system ceased operations on 2 March 2023 due to technical problems on the aging system, and will gradually reopen starting June 2024.
The main intercity passenger train operator is Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), a corporation owned by the Malaysian government. It operates the diesel-hauled KTM Intercity passenger trains on the entire East Coast Line and the southern portion of the West Coast Line, and the electrified KTM ETS passenger trains along the remaining portion of the West Coast Line, between Padang Besar and Gemas and the Butterworth branch line. KTM also operates freight trains along both railway lines. Under KTM Komuter, KTM operates commuter rail services along double-track and electrified portions of the West Coast Line between Tanjung Malim in Perak and Pulau Sebang in Negeri Sembilan, and between Padang Besar in Perlis and Ipoh in Perak, as well as the Butterworth, Port Klang and Batu Caves branch lines. Besides its own network, KTM also operates trains on the Kerteh-Kuantan railway under contract with Petronas, the owner of the line.
The Sabah State Railway, previously the North Borneo Railway, is the only state department in Malaysia to operate a railway service. It operates passenger and freight services along the 134 km railway line between Tanjung Aru and Tenom in East Malaysia.
Sarawak Metro was set up by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as a way to operate and develop the state's public transportation assets. It is currently in charge of leading the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project that is undergoing construction as well as maintaining its fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses. There are currently no plans for it to operate railway services in the state.
The Express Rail Link (ERL) is a private company that was set up to develop and operate the high-speed railway between Kuala Lumpur's KL Sentral station and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It operates two services along the 59.1 km standard gauge line, the non-stop KLIA Ekspres and the commuter-like KLIA Transit. Trains on the two services can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h and are the fastest in Malaysia. Besides trains, the company also provides check-in facilities at its Kuala Lumpur City Airport Terminal at KL Sentral. Except for check-in baggage of passengers, Express Rail Link does not handle any cargo.
Rapid Rail was set up by Prasarana Malaysia to operate the rapid transit public transport service in the Klang Valley. Prasarana Malaysia is fully owned by Ministry of Finance Incorporated, the corporate arm of the Malaysian Ministry of Finance. The company currently operates two MRT lines, three LRT lines and one monorail line in Kuala Lumpur under the Rapid KL brand, namely the Kajang Line, Putrajaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line, Kelana Jaya Line and KL Monorail.