Planning to travel back to your hometown for Chinese New Year 2027? Or perhaps you are thinking of taking a relaxing holiday somewhere in Malaysia during the upcoming festive season? If travelling by train is part of your plan, here is some good news worth checking out!

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is opening ticket sales for its Electric Train Service (ETS) and Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT) services covering January and February 2027. Starting from 2 November 2026 at 12PM, passengers can begin purchasing their train tickets for journeys scheduled between 1 January and 28 February 2027.

The exciting part is that KTMB is making more than 1 million seats available for these two months. This is particularly helpful for Malaysians who prefer travelling by train during busy festive periods, when roads can become congested and driving long distances may be tiring.

If you are planning to return to your hometown, visit relatives or organise a family holiday, this is a good opportunity to secure your preferred travel dates before the more popular departures become fully booked.

KTMB Opens Chinese New Year 2027 Train Ticket Sales on 2 November

One important date that train passengers should mark on their calendars is 2 November 2026.

KTMB will begin releasing ETS and ERT tickets from 12PM onwards, covering the travel period from 1 January until 28 February 2027. Tickets will be available subject to seat availability, so passengers are encouraged to make their reservations early.

Chinese New Year is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods in Malaysia. Many people return to their hometowns to celebrate with parents, grandparents, relatives and friends. With so many passengers travelling around the same time, popular departure dates and convenient train schedules can become difficult to secure.

Rather than waiting until the festive season gets closer, booking your tickets early gives you a better opportunity to plan your journey according to your preferred schedule.

Here are the important booking details:

• Ticket sales start: 2 November 2026 (Monday).
• Booking time: 12PM onwards.
• Travel period: 1 January to 28 February 2027.
• Available train services: ETS and ERT.
• Total seat allocation: 1,035,384 seats.
• Ticket availability: While tickets last, subject to availability.

Passengers planning their March 2027 journeys should also take note that the next ticket release is scheduled for 1 December 2026 at 12PM.

More Than 1 Million Seats Available for January and February 2027

Another reason this announcement is worth paying attention to is KTMB’s increased passenger capacity.

For January and February 2027, a total of 1,035,384 seats will be made available across its train services. This is part of a larger plan to accommodate increasing passenger demand during the first quarter of 2027.

For March 2027, KTMB is also allocating another 538,488 seats.

This brings the total seat allocation for January, February and March 2027 to an impressive 1,573,872 seats.

According to the announced figures, this represents a 39% increase compared with the corresponding period in 2026.

The additional capacity is certainly welcome news for passengers who regularly travel by train, especially during school holidays, festive celebrations and long weekends.

Having more seats available means more opportunities for passengers to find suitable travel arrangements. It can also make planning family trips easier, particularly for those travelling in larger groups.

However, more seats do not necessarily mean every departure will remain available for long. Travellers should still book as early as possible, especially when travelling on dates close to Chinese New Year.

Important Travel Update: Some ETS Journeys Will Require a Transfer at KL Sentral

Before purchasing your tickets, there is another important announcement that passengers should understand.

Effective 1 January 2027, selected long-distance ETS journeys will require passengers to change trains at KL Sentral instead of remaining on the same train throughout the journey.

The affected routes include:

• JB Sentral to Butterworth.
• JB Sentral to Padang Besar.
• Butterworth to Segamat.

The same arrangements will apply to passengers travelling in the opposite direction.

For example, if you are travelling from JB Sentral to Butterworth, your journey will involve two train sections.

First, you will take an ETS train from JB Sentral to KL Sentral. Once you arrive at KL Sentral, you will need to alight and transfer to another ETS train heading towards Butterworth.

At the moment, passengers must purchase separate tickets for these two sections.

KTMB is planning to upgrade its booking system from December 2026 to allow connecting journeys to be booked in a single transaction. This should make the booking process more convenient for passengers travelling on affected routes.

Until the upgrade is implemented, travellers should pay close attention when making their reservations.

Make sure the arrival time of your first train gives you sufficient time to transfer to the next service. Remember that you will need to leave the first train, locate your connecting platform and board the next departure.

This is particularly important for families travelling with young children, elderly passengers or people carrying several pieces of luggage.

A little extra planning can help prevent unnecessary stress during your journey.

More Daily ETS Services Coming in 2027

KTMB is also increasing its scheduled daily ETS services in 2027, giving passengers more opportunities to choose a suitable departure time.

In 2026, there were 44 scheduled ETS services daily. From 2027, the number will increase depending on the day of the week.

The new daily service arrangements are as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 50 scheduled services daily.
• Friday to Sunday: 58 scheduled services daily.

This means passengers can look forward to up to 14 additional scheduled services per day compared with the previous arrangement.

The JB Sentral–KL Sentral–JB Sentral route will also receive an increase in scheduled services, rising from 8 to 12 services daily.

This is encouraging news for people travelling between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, particularly during weekends and festive holidays.

More scheduled services can provide greater flexibility when organising trips, although passengers should always refer to the official timetable for actual departure times and availability.

Two Additional ETS Station Hubs for Greater Convenience

There is more good news for railway passengers, as KTMB will also introduce two additional ETS station hubs.

These are:

• Kuala Lumpur Old Railway Station.
• Subang Jaya Station.

The additional boarding options are expected to improve passenger convenience and help distribute crowds during busy travel periods.

For passengers living or working around these areas, having more station options could make travelling by train more convenient.

Instead of automatically heading to the same major station, passengers can check whether their selected service is available at one of these additional locations.

As always, it is important to verify the actual boarding station printed on your ticket before travelling. Do not assume that every ETS service will stop at every station.

Where to Buy KTMB ETS and ERT Train Tickets?

Passengers can purchase their train tickets through KTMB’s official booking channels.

Here are the useful links to keep handy:

• KTMB Official Website: https://www.ktmb.com.my/
• Online Ticket Booking: https://online.ktmb.com.my/
• Mobile Application: KITS Style, available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
• Train Timetable: https://www.ktmb.com.my/TrainTime.html

For a smoother booking experience, passengers may want to prepare their travel dates, departure stations, destination stations and passenger details before ticket sales begin.

If you are travelling with family members, it is also a good idea to coordinate everyone’s preferred departure time beforehand.

For routes requiring a transfer at KL Sentral, remember to check both train sections carefully and allow sufficient connecting time.

Why Should You Book Your Chinese New Year 2027 Train Tickets Early?

There are several good reasons why passengers should take advantage of this early ticket release.

First, booking early gives you a better chance of securing your preferred departure date and time. This is especially important for those who must travel on specific days because of work schedules, school holidays or family celebrations.

Second, travelling by train can be a more relaxing alternative to driving long distances. You can sit back, enjoy the scenery, read a book or spend time with your family without having to concentrate on traffic throughout the journey.

Third, the increased number of ETS services and additional passenger capacity for 2027 should provide more travel opportunities. It is certainly encouraging to see KTMB preparing for higher passenger demand.

Most importantly, returning home for Chinese New Year is about spending meaningful time with loved ones. Securing your tickets early means one less thing to worry about when the festive season approaches.

If you are considering a holiday getaway instead, this ticket release is also worth exploring. You can start planning a trip to your preferred destination and organise your travel arrangements well ahead of time.

My recommendation: Set a reminder for 2 November 2026 at 12PM and visit KTMB’s online booking platform as soon as sales open. Popular dates may attract considerable demand, so avoid leaving your reservations until the last minute.

Do remember that selected long-distance routes will require a train transfer at KL Sentral from 1 January 2027. Check the latest booking arrangements and train timetable before confirming your tickets.

With more than 1 million seats available, additional daily ETS services and new station hubs, KTMB’s Chinese New Year 2027 ticket release is certainly worth checking out for anyone planning to travel by train in Malaysia.

Start planning early, secure your preferred seats and look forward to a more comfortable journey home!

Promotional/Event Details

Date: 2 November 2026 onwards (ticket sales opening); travel period from 1 January to 28 February 2027.

Time: 12PM onwards (ticket sales opening).

Venue: Online via KTMB Official Website (https://www.ktmb.com.my/), KTMB Online Ticket Booking (https://online.ktmb.com.my/) and KITS Style mobile application.

Merchant/Brand: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).

Promotion/Event: ETS and ERT Chinese New Year 2027 Train Ticket Sales.

Ticket Allocation: 1,035,384 seats for January and February 2027.

Next Ticket Release: 1 December 2026 at 12PM for March 2027 travel.

Travel Services: Electric Train Service (ETS) and Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT).

Availability: Subject to seat availability.