ETS3 or Electric Train Service 3, to Kuala Lumpur has officially launched in December 2025 at Kempas Baru station by the Regent of Johor, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and attended by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook, and Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Here are some must know facts about the new service line that you need to know:
ETS3 Used to Serve only the Northern and Eastern Lines
ETS trains primarily served only the central and northern regions, and the furthest they went south was only up to Gemas in Negeri Sembilan.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) extended the southern ETS stretch to Segamat, starting 15th March 2025 and subsequently launched the southern-bound ETS3 line on 30th August, connecting KL to Kluang.
With ETS3, travel time in between JB Sentral and KL Sentral almost halved
The travel time between KL Sentral and JB Sentral with ETS3 takes only about 4 hours and 20 minutes at a speed of 140 kilometres (km) per hour, compared to its diesel counterpart, which took about seven hours.
In between these two stops, the electric train will stop at several stops comprising Kempas Baru, Kulai, Layang-Layang, Rengam, Kluang, Paloh, Bekok, Labis, Segamat, Gemas, Batang Melaka, Pulau Sebang/Tampin, Seremban, Kajang and Bandar Tasik Selatan.
Traveling to Padang Besar from JB Sentral is possible but…
According to KTMB’s online ticketing sale, there is no direct train from JB Sentral to Padang Besar yet. Passengers may travel to KL Sentral and take the ETS3 to Padang Besar therefrom.
The price per ticket for one way starts at RM80+ per pax, but it will fluctuate according to dates and festive seasons, so it might even reach to RM60+ per pax. There are options of Gold and Platinum for ETS3 that service the JB Sentral to KL Sentral. *
The JB Sentral-KL Sentral ETS3’s route currently runs on two round trips per day
According to Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook, the round trip for ETS3 will be increased gradually and it is expected to have up to eight round trips per day for KL-JB, two trips from Padang Besar-JB and two trips from Butterworth-JB.
“Additional train sets are being tested and will go into service once APAD confirms they are safe.”
“Our work is not yet completed; after that, we will organise the work to establish the Kulai-JB South Commuter service.” He told reporters after the officiation of KL-JB ETS3 route.
The public can check the ETS3 schedule and updated information at KTM Berhad’s official social media page and purchase could be made via its official website and official KITS Style apps.
* As per KTM Berhad online ticketing website in December 2025
