Planning to head back to your hometown, reunite with family during Chinese New Year or enjoy a relaxing holiday somewhere in Malaysia in early 2027? If travelling by train is part of your plans, here’s some good news worth paying attention to!
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is opening ticket sales for its Electric Train Service (ETS) and KTM Intercity Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT) journeys covering January to March 2027. With an impressive 1,573,872 seats made available for the first three months of the year, passengers will have more opportunities to secure their preferred travel dates and plan their journeys ahead of time.
The ticket sales opening on 2 November 2026 is particularly important for anyone planning to travel during the Chinese New Year festive season. As demand for train tickets usually increases during major holidays, getting your booking done early could make a significant difference, especially if you are travelling with your family.
Even better, KTMB is increasing its overall passenger capacity by 39% compared with the same period in 2026. This means more seats, additional scheduled services and greater flexibility for passengers looking to travel between popular destinations.
Whether you are travelling for a family reunion, a school holiday getaway or simply prefer taking the train instead of driving long distances, this is an announcement worth keeping on your calendar.
KTMB ETS & KTM Intercity Tickets: Important Sales Dates for 2027
Before making your travel arrangements, take note of the two important ticket sales dates announced by KTMB.
Tickets for January and February 2027 journeys will become available from 2 November 2026 (Monday), starting at 12.00pm (noon). Passengers planning to travel during the beginning of the year, including the Chinese New Year holiday period, should be ready to make their reservations once sales open.
For those planning to travel in March 2027, ticket sales will begin separately on 1 December 2026 (Tuesday).
The ticket release covers two major train services:
- Electric Train Service (ETS): Suitable for passengers travelling between various major destinations along the electrified railway network.
- Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT): An intercity train service providing connections along the East Coast railway corridor.
Instead of waiting until the last minute, passengers are encouraged to prepare their preferred departure and return dates in advance. This is especially useful for families who need several seats together or travellers with fixed holiday schedules.
1.57 Million Seats Available: More Opportunities to Travel in Early 2027
One of the biggest highlights of this announcement is the additional passenger capacity introduced by KTMB.
For January to March 2027, a total of 1,573,872 seats will be available across ETS and ERT services. This represents a 39% increase compared with the same period in 2026, when approximately 1,131,500 seats were provided.
Here is the breakdown of the available capacity:
- ETS: 1,520,592 seats.
- ERT: 53,280 seats.
- Total available seats: 1,573,872.
- Capacity increase: 39% compared with January to March 2026.
This increase is particularly encouraging for passengers who regularly rely on public transport during busy travel periods.
Festive seasons such as Chinese New Year often bring a substantial increase in passenger demand. Many Malaysians travel back to their hometowns to spend time with parents, grandparents and relatives. With more seats available, passengers will have additional opportunities to find suitable travel arrangements.
However, more seats do not necessarily mean every preferred departure time will remain available. Popular routes and convenient travel schedules can still sell out quickly, so early booking remains the smartest approach.
More ETS Train Services Scheduled for 2027
Apart from increasing the number of available seats, KTMB is also introducing more scheduled ETS services to accommodate passenger demand.
From 2027, the number of daily ETS services will increase according to the following schedule:
- Monday to Thursday: 50 daily services, compared with 44 in 2026.
- Friday to Sunday: 58 daily services.
- JB Sentral–KL Sentral–JB Sentral: Daily scheduled services will increase from 8 to 12.
The additional services should provide passengers with more departure choices when planning their journeys.
For example, travellers who prefer leaving earlier in the morning or returning later in the day may benefit from having more scheduled options to consider. This can make it easier to organise family holidays, weekend trips and longer journeys without being restricted to a smaller selection of departure times.
The increase in services between JB Sentral and KL Sentral is also worth highlighting, particularly for passengers travelling between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.
Still, passengers should always refer to the official booking system for actual operating schedules, departure times and seat availability.
Important ETS Route Changes Starting 1 January 2027
While additional services and increased capacity are certainly welcome, there is another important update that passengers should understand before purchasing their tickets.
From 1 January 2027, three direct ETS journeys will no longer be available under the revised timetable arrangements.
The affected routes are:
- JB Sentral to Butterworth and Butterworth to JB Sentral.
- JB Sentral to Padang Besar and Padang Besar to JB Sentral.
- Butterworth to Segamat and Segamat to Butterworth.
Passengers travelling between these destinations will need to change trains at KL Sentral to continue their journeys.
This is an important detail to remember because travellers who are accustomed to taking direct services may need to adjust their travel arrangements.
If your journey involves any of these routes, make sure you check both connecting train schedules before confirming your booking. Allow sufficient time to transfer between services at KL Sentral, particularly if you are travelling with young children, elderly family members or several pieces of luggage.
There is also some good news for connecting passengers. KTMB is upgrading its booking system so that connecting train tickets can be purchased through a single transaction from December 2026.
This improvement should make planning connecting journeys more convenient, as passengers will have a simpler way to arrange their travel instead of handling separate bookings.
Nevertheless, always check the latest timetable and connection arrangements before making payment.
Two Additional ETS Hubs for Better Passenger Convenience
Another development passengers can look forward to in 2027 is the introduction of two additional ETS hubs.
The new hubs are:
- Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.
- Subang Jaya Station.
These additional boarding locations are expected to improve convenience for passengers travelling to and from the surrounding areas.
For some travellers, having more boarding options could mean less time spent travelling to KL Sentral before beginning their journey. It may also help distribute passenger traffic and reduce congestion at the main railway hub.
However, passengers should check whether their selected ETS service stops at either station before heading out. Not every train service will necessarily serve every station, so checking the departure details remains important.
How to Purchase KTMB ETS & KTM Intercity Tickets Online
Booking your train tickets is relatively straightforward, and passengers can use KTMB’s official online booking platform to check available services and complete their reservations.
Official online booking website:
Other available booking channels include:
- KITS Style mobile application.
- KTMB ticket kiosks.
For passengers who prefer booking online, here is a simple guide:
- Visit the official KTMB online booking website or open the KITS Style mobile application.
- Select your departure station.
- Choose your intended destination.
- Enter your preferred travel date.
- Browse the available train services and departure times.
- Select your preferred seats, subject to availability.
- Enter the required passenger information.
- Review your booking details carefully.
- Complete the payment process.
- Keep your booking confirmation for future reference.
Passengers should make sure that all travel information is correct before completing payment. Pay particular attention to departure stations, arrival stations, travel dates and passenger details.
For additional announcements, timetable updates and other travel information, visit KTMB’s official website:
Why Should You Book Your KTMB Train Tickets Early?
If you are wondering whether it is worth purchasing your tickets as soon as sales open, there are several good reasons to consider.
First, early booking gives you a better opportunity to secure your preferred travel dates and departure times. This is particularly important during Chinese New Year, when many Malaysians make similar plans to return to their hometowns.
Second, travelling by train can be a more relaxing alternative to driving long distances. Instead of concentrating on the road for several hours, passengers can sit back, enjoy the journey and spend time with their travel companions.
Third, travelling together becomes easier when you plan ahead. Families travelling with children or elderly relatives can organise their schedules earlier and have more time to select suitable seats.
The increased number of ETS services also gives passengers more flexibility when arranging their holidays. Whether you are planning a short weekend getaway, a longer family holiday or a festive reunion trip, having more departure options can make travel planning less stressful.
Another advantage is avoiding the last-minute rush. Waiting too long could leave you with fewer suitable departure times, particularly if you have specific dates that cannot be changed.
Smart Tips Before Booking Your 2027 Train Journey
To make your booking experience smoother, here are a few practical tips worth following:
- Prepare your departure and return dates before ticket sales open.
- Be ready to book January and February 2027 tickets from 2 November 2026 at 12.00pm.
- Remember that March 2027 tickets will be released on 1 December 2026.
- Check the revised ETS timetable, especially if travelling on affected routes.
- Allow sufficient connecting time at KL Sentral where required.
- Confirm that your selected train stops at your intended boarding station.
- Double-check passenger details before making payment.
- Keep your booking confirmation until your journey is completed.
For Chinese New Year travellers, it is also advisable to discuss travel dates with family members early. This helps everyone coordinate departure and return arrangements instead of making separate last-minute decisions.
Plan Your 2027 Journey with KTMB Today!
With 1.57 million seats available, a 39% increase in passenger capacity and additional ETS services scheduled for 2027, KTMB’s latest ticket release is welcome news for Malaysians who prefer travelling by train.
Whether you are heading home for Chinese New Year, visiting relatives, arranging a family holiday or exploring different parts of Malaysia, this is a good opportunity to organise your travel plans early.
Remember, January and February 2027 tickets go on sale on 2 November 2026 at 12.00pm, while March 2027 tickets will be available from 1 December 2026.
Do not leave your travel arrangements until the last minute, especially if you are planning to travel during the festive season. Visit KTMB’s official booking website, check your preferred train schedules and secure your seats while availability lasts.
Share this announcement with your family and friends who are planning to travel with ETS or KTM Intercity in 2027. A little preparation now could make everyone’s next holiday or hometown journey much easier!
Promotional/Event Details
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Time: 12.00pm (noon) for the opening of January and February ticket sales on 2 November 2026.
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Venue: Online via KTMB Official Ticket Booking Website, KITS Style mobile application and KTMB ticket kiosks.
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Merchant: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).
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Promotion: ETS and KTM Intercity Ticket Sales for January–March 2027.
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Available Seats: 1,573,872 seats.
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Services: Electric Train Service (ETS) and Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT).
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Official Website: https://www.ktmb.com.my/
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Booking Website: https://online.ktmb.com.my/
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