East Coast Rail Link fares expected to be announced by year-end

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) expects to announce passenger fares for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) by the end of this year, with ticket sales scheduled to begin in November. MRL Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak stated that ticket pricing will be positioned between the cost of bus travel and airfare, emphasizing affordability and reliability.

Commercial operations for the 665-kilometer rail network are targeted to begin by mid-December 2026. This timeline aligns with the Ministry of Transport's request to launch services during the year-end school holidays. The ECRL will connect Selangor to the East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan.

A recent test by the Comprehensive Inspection Train (CIT) completed a 519-kilometer non-stop journey from Gombak to Kota Bharu in 3 hours and 19 minutes, reaching speeds of 160 km/h. This confirms the line's capability to provide an express service between Gombak and Kota Bharu in under four hours, significantly reducing travel time compared to the approximately seven hours required by road.