TheKTM ETS, commercially known asETS (Electric Train Service), is aninter-cityhigher-speed rail service inMalaysia. It is operated byKeretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). ETS followedKTM Komuter to be the second electric train service to be operated by KTM. ETS is Malaysia's second inter-city rail service afterKTM Intercity.
Launched in 2010, the ETS is Malaysia's fastest metre-gauge train service. It operates on the historicalKTM West Coast Line in westernPeninsular Malaysia. The line has since been mostly electrified and double-tracked. Its maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) is among the world's fastestmetre-gauge train services.[5]
The service runs between both ends of the West Coast line, betweenPadang Besar, near the border withThailand, toJB Sentral, near the border withSingapore.
The service was introduced byKeretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) on 12 August 2010 betweenIpoh andSeremban following the completion of the electrification and double-tracking of the Rawang to Ipoh stretch of theWest Coast Line. Its inaugural run was celebrated with an opening ceremony atKuala Lumpur railway station. Initially, services stretched southwards to Seremban, but theKL Sentral-Seremban sector was taken out of service in October 2012.[6] At launch, there were three service types—Platinum, Gold, and Silver. On the fastest Platinum service, the trip was covered in two hours, one hour faster than by car. Gold and Silver services had more stops, hence taking up to 2 hours and 30 minutes. The route was served solely by 5Class 91 electric trains.
The service was extended fromIpoh toPadang Besar viaButterworth, the mainland town oppositeGeorge Town, with the introduction of the ETS Transit on 10 July 2015, with stops at 24 stations. At the inception of service, only one train service in both directions was introduced. This service was named theETS Transit.
On the following day, 11 July 2015, a new service called theETS Ekspres betweenKL Sentral andPadang Besar, viaButterworth was introduced, which only stops at 15 stations. Again, only one service for both directions was introduced.[7] Subsequently, on 1 September 2015, an additional service betweenKL Sentral andButterworth was introduced.[8] New rolling stock, theClass 93 trains, were introduced in conjunction with the extended service.
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On 10 October 2015, the ETS service was extended southwards fromKL Sentral toGemas with the introduction of a new service betweenPadang Besar andGemas.[9] The extension of the KTM ETS service toGemas utilizes the electrified double-track betweenSeremban andGemas which was completed in 2014. This extension of service also saw the ETS service returning toSeremban after being discontinued in 2012.
On the same date, 10 October 2015, a new service was launched betweenButterworth andPadang Besar in addition to existing services. However, this service was subsequently reduced in frequency and ultimately terminated with the introduction of the newKTM Komuter Northern Sector.[10]
There were constant revisions of timetables and services as more trains became available, with more train services being added for each of the route segments. The Platinum, Gold, and Silver services were also reintroduced while the terms "ETS Ekspres" and "ETS Transit" were retired.
In 2020, due to traveling restrictions amid efforts to curb theCOVID-19 pandemic, there were only two trips per day along the five then operational routes albeit with fewer Gold service trains. Services were restored as the pandemic situation improved.
On 1 August 2024, KTM reintroduced the ETS Express services consisting of three limited-stop daily services between KL Sentral and Ipoh, Butterworth and Padang Besar respectively, replacing former ETS Gold and ETS Platinum services on these routes. The new services reduced travel times to 2 hours between KL Sentral and Ipoh, 3 hours 35 minutes between KL Sentral and Butterworth and 4 hours 50 minutes between KL and Padang Besar.[11]They were introduced after the completion of Phase 1 of the Klang Valley Double Track and Electrification (KVDT) Project.[12][13]
With the staggered completion of theGemas-JB Electrified Double Tracking Project (EDTP), ETS services were extended southwards in stages throughout 2025 as portions of the line were completed. On 15 March 2025, the ETS was extended beyondGemas station to the newSegamat station, which was rebuilt as part of the EDTP. On 30 August 2025, the ETS line was extended toKluang station, with the introduction of a new ETS Platinum service betweenKL Sentral and Kluang.[14][15] Between 10 October 2025 until 12 December 2025, KTM operated an additional weekend-only (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday) service between KL Sentral and Kluang, providing 2 return trips for those 3 days.[16]
On 12 December 2025, the KL Sentral-Kluang route was extended to JB Sentral. This marks the completion of the electrification and double tracking of the main passenger trunk line on theKTM West Coast railway line between Peninsular Malaysia's northern and southern borders.[17] The existing ETS Gold service from Padang Besar was extended from Segamat to JB Sentral on 1 January 2026, for the first time providing a complete direct north-south train route for Peninsular Malaysia.[18]
⇄ =cross-platform interchange⇅ = connected interchange
| Code | Name | Image | Cumulative distance (km) | Interchanges | Notes |
| PDR | Padang Besar |  | 0.0 | ⇄ 2 | Northern terminus. Connects to Thailand'sSouthern Line. |
| ARU | Arau Royal Station |  | 29.4 | ⇄ 2 | ServesUniversiti Teknologi MARA's (UiTM) Arau Campus,Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) andUniversiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) |
| ABT | Anak Bukit |  | 60.0 | ⇄ 2 | ConnectsSultan Abdul Halim Airport. |
| ALS | Alor Setar |  | 68.2 | ⇄ 2 | |
| GRN | Gurun |  | 103.1 | ⇄ 2 | |
| SPT | Sungai Petani | .jpg) | 124.5 | ⇄ 2 | Serves UiTM's Merbok Campus |
| TGL | Tasek Gelugor |  | 142.5 | ⇄ 2 | |
| NTB | Nibong Tebal | 179.1 | ⇄ 1 | ServesUniversiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Engineering Campus | |
| PBT | Parit Buntar | _01.jpg) | 185.4 | ⇄ 1 | |
| BGS | Bagan Serai |  | 195.8 | ⇄ 1 | |
| TPG | Taiping | .jpg) | 239.4 | ⇄ 1 | |
| KKS | Kuala Kangsar |  | 267.6 | ⇄ 1 | |
| SGS | Sungai Siput |  | 288.8 | ⇄ 1 | |
| IPH | Ipoh |  | 326.1 | ⇄ 1 | Southern terminus of theKTM KomuterButterworth-Ipoh Line. |
| BTG | Batu Gajah |  | 340.1 | Serves as the ETS depot, together with theCRRC rolling stock centre. | |
| KMR | Kampar |  | 363.1 | ServesUniversiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's (UTAR) Kampar Campus. | |
| TPH | Tapah Road | 378.6 | |||
| SUI | Sungkai |  | 402.6 | ||
| SLR | Slim River |  | 426.8 | ||
| KA15 TJM | Tanjung Malim | .jpg) | 445.6 | ⇄2 | Northern terminus of theKTM KomuterTanjung Malim–Port Klang Line. |
| KA12 BTK | Batang Kali |  | 480.8 | ⇄2 | |
| KA10 RWG | Rawang | _01.jpg) | 500.6 | ⇄2 | |
| KA08 SGB | Sungai Buloh |  | 514.9 | ⇄2 ⇅12 | |
| KA07 KPS | Kepong Sentral |  | 521.3 | ⇄2 ⇅12 | |
| KA02 KUL | Kuala Lumpur |  | 532.6 | ⇄12 ⇅59 | |
| KA01 KLS | Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral) | .jpg) | 533.6 | ⇄1210 ⇅56789 | Eastern terminus of theKTM KomuterKL Sentral–Terminal Skypark Line |
| KB04 BTS | Bandar Tasik Selatan | _(eastern_entrance)%2c_Klang_Valley.jpg) | 542.8 | ⇄1 ⇅47 | ConnectsTerminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) Bus Hub. |
| KB06 KJG | Kajang |  | 559.8 | ⇄1 ⇅9 | |
| KB14 SRB | Seremban | _(front)%2c_Seremban.jpg) | 605.9 | ⇄1 | Connects Terminal 1 Shopping Centre Bus Terminal. |
| KB18 PST | Pulau Sebang/Tampin |  | 655.1 | ⇄1 | Southern terminus of theKTM KomuterBatu Caves–Pulau Sebang Line. |
| BML | Batang Melaka |  | 680.6 | ||
| GMS | Gemas |  | 707.6 | ⇄ | Interchange withEast Coast line towardsTumpat. |
| SGM | Segamat |  | 733.6 | ⇄ | Connects Segamat Bus Terminal. |
| LBS | Labis |  | 763.1 | ||
| BKK | Bekok |  | 779.0 | ||
| PLH | Paloh |  | 792.9 | ||
| KLG | Kluang |  | 816.6 | ⇄ | |
| RGM | Renggam |  | 835.3 | ||
| LYG | Layang-Layang |  | 848.2 | ||
| KLI | Kulai | | 871.5 | ⇄ | Connects Kulai Bus Terminal andSenai International Airport. |
| KPB | Kempas Baru |  | 892.4 | ⇄ | |
| JBS | Johor Bahru Sentral (JB Sentral) |  | 903.0 | ⇄ ⇅ RTS | Southern terminus. Future linkbridge access toBukit Chagar station on theRTS Link to Singapore. |
| Code | Name | Image | Cumulative distance (km) | Interchanges | Notes |
| BTW | Butterworth |  | (145.1) | ⇄ 1 2 | Penang branch terminus. Connects toPenang Sentral and thePenang Ferry terminal. Future connecting station toLRT Mutiara Line. Western terminus ofKTM KomuterPadang Besar-Butterworth Line andButterworth-Ipoh Line. |
| BMT | Bukit Mertajam |  | (155.3) | ⇄ 1 2 | |
| continues southbound viaNibong Tebal | |||||
Odd-numbered train numbers denote southbound trains (trains bound for KL Sentral, Segamat and JB Sentral). Even-numbered train numbers denote northbound trains (trains bound for Padang Besar, Butterworth, Ipoh and KL Sentral).[19] Northbound and southbound trains are paired as one return trip. Each return trip service is available daily.
| Train number | Route | Service type | Duration | Stops | Train trips | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG9041, EG9044, EG9045, EG9049, EG9052, EG9055, EG9056, EG9058 | KL Sentral–Ipoh | Gold | 2h 34m | 12 | 4 | 91 &93/1 |
| EX9008, EX9011 | Express | 2h | 4 | 1 | ||
| EP9223, EP9224, EP9225, EP9226, EP9233, EP9238 | KL Sentral–Padang Besar | Platinum | 5h 25m | 15 | 3 | 93/2 &94 |
| EX9209, EX9214 | Express | 4h 50m | 9 | 1 | ||
| EP9121, EP9123, EP9124, EP9130, EP9131, EP9136, EP9137, EP9138 | KL Sentral–Butterworth | Platinum | 4h 5m | 12 | 4 | |
| EX9108, EX9109 | Express | 3h 35m | 6 | 1 | ||
| EG9442, EG9449 | Padang Besar–JB Sentral | Gold | 10h 20m | 38 | 1 | 93/1 |
| EG9343, EG9352 | Butterworth–Segamat | Gold | 7h 7m | 24 | 1 | |
| EP9323, EP9326 | Butterworth–JB Sentral | Platinum | 8h 20m | 22 | 1 | 93/2 &94 |
| EP9523, EP9524, EP9528, EP9531, EP9532, EP9533, EP9536, EP9537 | KL Sentral–JB Sentral | 4h 20m | 17 | 4 |
The ETS covers the section of the West Coast Main Line betweenPadang Besar near theMalaysia–Thailand border andJB Sentral near theMalaysia–Singapore border, including the branch line betweenBukit Mertajam Junction andButterworth. Most routes originate fromKL Sentral, the main railway station ofKuala Lumpur, the capital city ofMalaysia.
The ETS operates six routes, namely:
Currently, there are five return trips each on theKL Sentral -Ipoh andKL Sentral -Butterworth routes, four return trips each on theKL Sentral -Padang Besar andKL Sentral -JB Sentral routes, and one return trip each on theJB Sentral -Padang Besar,JB Sentral -Butterworth andSegamat -Butterworth routes daily. In addition, there are several additional trips on some of the respective routes during school holidays or major religious holidays.
The train services are operated in four categories:
The seats on all trains are arranged in a 2+2 configuration, with each seat featuring a tray table and a power outlet. Cluster seats with fixed tables are available on the Class 93 and Class 94 trains. The seats can be easily converted for wheelchair use if necessary. The latest Class 94 trains seats can be rotated to face any direction. Each coach is equipped with LCD TV screens for entertainment, and toilets are available in every coach. The Class 93/2 and Class 94 trains include changing tables for infants. For Muslim passengers, a prayer room is available on every train. There is also a bistro coach that sells drinks, light snacks, and microwaved meals. This class is available on all trains and is the only class available on older trains such as the Class 91 and Class 93/1.
The Business Class service offers an upgrade from the Standard Class, providing several enhanced features not available in Standard Class. The seats are arranged in a 2+1 configuration, offering greater width and the ability to recline up to 45 degrees. They can also be rotated to face any direction. Each seat is equipped with both a power outlet and a USB port, as well as an on-demand video screen for in-train entertainment. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available for Business Class passengers. Each coach is staffed with a steward or stewardess who can be summoned from the seats. On-board dining is included in the fare, and passengers are provided with an amenity kit. This service is exclusively available on newer trains such as the Class 93/2 and Class 94 trains.
| Route | Service type | Duration | Stops | Train trips | Class | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Sentral–Ipoh | Silver | 2h 50m | 14 | 1 | 91 &93/1 | Terminated on 1 January 2026, replaced with an additional ETS Gold service |
| KTM ETS Ridership[20][21][3][22] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Ridership | Revenue (MYR) | Remarks |
| 2025 | 4,174,696 | N/A | Highest on record |
| 2024 | 4,144,362 | N/A | |
| 2023 | 4,115,242 | N/A | |
| 2022 | 3,337,781 | N/A | |
| 2021 | 633,406 | N/A | Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, services reduced |
| 2020 | 1,646,531 | N/A | Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, services reduced |
| 2019 | 3,901,858 | N/A | |
| 2018 | 3,933,093 | N/A | |
| 2017 | 4,147,634 | 174,433,140 | |
| 2016 | 3,564,879 | 145,521,561 | |
| 2015 | 2,059,828 | 60,314,988 | |
| 2014 | 1,693,000 | 44,328,039 | |
| 2013 | 1,563,000 | 40,621,860 | |
| 2012 | 1,180,000 | 31,885,949 | |
| 2011 | 913,000 | 24,313,451 | |
| 2010 | 215,000 | 5,569,532 | Operations began in August |
| Class | Image | Cars per Set | In service | On order | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTM Class 91 | | 6 | 5 | - | Hyundai Rotem |
| KTM Class 93 |  | 6 | 19 | - | CSR Zhuzhou |
| KTM Class 94 | | 6 | 9 | 1 | CRRC Zhuzhou |
Five KTM Class 91 train sets, each comprising six cars, were purchased by KTM for $67 million (USD). The train sets were designed by theMarubeni Corporation and jointly built byHyundai Rotem ofSouth Korea andMitsubishi Electric ofJapan.[23] The maximum operational speed of the ETS fleet is 140 km/h (87 mph), but the trains are designed to travel up to 160 km/h (99 mph).[24] The total length of each train set is 138 meters, and it weighs 231.8 tons. Each carriage is 22.95 meters long, 2.75 meters wide, and 4 meters high.[25] Each train set has a passenger seating capacity of 350 and includes on-board facilities such as toilets, abuffet car, power sockets for every two seats, and two LED televisions per car.
Nineteen sets of KTM Class 93 trains were ordered in two batches to expand the fleet as the electrified network expanded. All 19 trains have been in service since October 2019.
The rolling stock was initially intended to be operational for the launch of the ETS Express service between KL Sentral and Padang Besar and the ETS Transit service between Ipoh and Padang Besar. However, issues during the testing and commissioning phase of the train sets led to the Malaysian land public transport authority,SPAD, not approving the trains for use in time for the launch of the two services on 10 July 2015 and 11 July 2015.[26] Consequently, two KTM Class 91 train sets were used temporarily—one for the ETS Express and the other for the ETS Transit—allowing for just one trip in each direction for both services.
The first four KTM Class 93 sets went into service on 10 October 2015, and all sets from the first batch have since entered service.
The second batch of KTM Class 93 trains differs slightly from the first, featuring a redesigned livery and a business class coach, a first for ETS services. These coaches, named Class 93/2, started operations with the launch of the new ETS Business Class in October 2019.
A batch of 10 Class 94 trains was tendered in May 2020 in light of the completion of the Gemas-JB Sentral Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP).[27] The tender was awarded toCRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, with 8 out of 10 sets being manufactured in Malaysia. The first set was completed on 8 June 2024 and began operations in August 2025 when the ETS was extended toKluang.
The ETS trains currently operate at speeds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph) on theelectrifiedmetre gauge rail network.[5] The service is classified as ahigher-speed rail (HrSR) limited express rather than true high-speed rail. Comparable services can be found on1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)narrow gauge lines in other countries, such as theKuroshio,Shirasagi,Sonic andThunderbird services in Japan, theTaroko andPuyuma Express in Taiwan as well as theElectric andDiesel Tilt Train services inAustralia.
On metre gauge specifically, the closest comparable rail service is theRenfe Feve which operates underCercanías Asturias andEuskotren Trena, most notably on theBilbao toDonostia intercity line in northernSpain. That system provides an inter-state style service similar to theKTM Komuter Northern Sector regional commuter trains. This places the ETS among the fastest1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge services in active operation worldwide.
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