Over 82,000 KTMB Tickets Sold In One Day

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) saw a huge rush for 2026 train tickets, selling more than 82,000 in just one day for travel between Jan 1 and April 30. 

Only a tiny fraction of bookings, 79 transactions, failed, and refunds are being processed within 14 days.

Ahmad Nizam Mohamed Amin, KTMB’s acting CEO, said the response shows that trains remain a popular choice.

“The overwhelming response within 24 hours shows trains are still a top choice for travellers. We’ll continue improving our system to make ticketing smoother and more reliable,” he said.

The surge was driven by major festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and school holidays. While the booking platform worked normally, it faced unusually high traffic from advance sales.

KTMB is adjusting train schedules to cope with demand, including better connections on northern and east coast routes. 

"This is particularly important with the upcoming extension of the Electric Train Service to Johor Baru, which shares tracks with Intercity, Komuter, and freight services," Nizam added.

Starting January, ETS will operate 34 trips daily, with two extra weekend services between Kluang and KL Sentral, bringing the total to 36. KTM Intercity, including Ekspres Rakyat Timuran and Shuttle Timuran, will run 16 trips daily. 

Ticket sales for Ekspres Selatan between JB Sentral and Gemas are temporarily paused, with a new date to be announced.

Nizam also thanked the government for supporting KTMB with new train sets, which will increase capacity, frequency, and comfort.

Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead, especially during peak travel periods, and to check schedules via the KTMB Mobile app, website, social media, or call centre at 03 9779 1200.