As travellers prepare to head home for Chinese New Year (CNY), the Electric Train Service (ETS) will operate 24 hours a day during major festive seasons, starting with CNY and Hari Raya.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the move is aimed at meeting surging travel demand while ensuring Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) fully utilises its train fleet.
He announced the change on 28 January at a press conference after attending the Transport Ministry’s 2026 New Year Address in Putrajaya.
Full Fleet Deployment During Festive Periods
Loke said KTMB had previously adopted what he described as a “cautious approach”, keeping several train sets on standby during peak periods.
“Previously, KTMB did not fully utilise all train sets during festive seasons, keeping some in reserve in case of malfunctions,” he explained.
He has since instructed the rail operator to deploy all available train sets during major festive seasons and to introduce additional, non-scheduled services — similar to how airlines add extra flights during peak travel periods.
By running trains around the clock, including midnight services, ETS trips will increase from 34 to 46 per day. This is expected to significantly boost both frequency and passenger capacity between major cities in Peninsular Malaysia.
“The aim is to increase capacity, improve service frequency, and ensure more people can purchase tickets and benefit from the service,” Loke said.
Extra CNY Tickets For KL–JB Sector
Ahead of CNY, demand for tickets has already spiked.
Loke announced that 12,600 additional tickets for the KL Sentral–JB Sentral–KL Sentral route will go on sale at 12.15am on 11 February, covering travel between 13 and 22 February.
The extra tickets will be made available using a newly approved seventh ETS3 set.
In addition, KTM will introduce for the first time an EMU Plus service between KL Sentral and Ipoh. The service uses Komuter trainsets — meaning there is no reserved seating or onboard toilets — but includes a 30-minute toilet stop at either Slim River or Sungkai.
The EMU Plus service will provide 7,344 additional seats for travel on 13–15 February and 20–22 February.
Overall, KTM is offering 46,404 extra tickets for this year’s CNY — a 426% increase from 8,820 tickets last year — following the addition of seven ETS3 sets and extended operating hours close to 24 hours during the festive period.
For Hari Raya Aidilfitri, 118,823 of the 224,196 available tickets — or 53% — have already been sold for travel between 13 and 29 March. Additional tickets will be announced once current allocations are sold out.
Why Travellers Prefer ETS
Loke noted that ETS remains a popular option among Malaysians travelling home for festive celebrations.
“ETS services are in high demand, as many passengers prefer taking the train over driving long distances,” he said.
Travelling by train allows passengers to work or read during the journey, while avoiding long traffic jams on highways.
He added that the recently introduced passenger train service between Butterworth and Bangkok also creates new opportunities for tourism, trade, and regional connectivity.
Domestic Flight Subsidies Also Announced
Beyond rail services, the government will continue subsidising one-way domestic flight tickets connecting Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan during major festive seasons.
“This is to ensure that Malaysians can return to their hometowns during major festive seasons, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and the Kaamatan and Gawai festivals,” Loke said.
With extended train hours and added seats, authorities are banking on smoother journeys this festive season — and fewer Malaysians stuck in traffic on the way home.
Watch a video here:
@inreallifemalaysia ETS Now Running 24 Hours During Chinese New Year And Hari Raya. No More Missing Out!
♬ original sound – In Real Life Malaysia – In Real Life Malaysia
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