ECRL passenger services targeted to begin in mid-December
GOMBAK: Passengers travelling on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) could pay more than RM156 for a one-way journey between Gombak and Kota Bharu, despite the announced starting fare of RM125, as ticket prices will fluctuate according to demand and travel periods.
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said RM156 would be the mid-range fare for the 523km Transit journey, with prices potentially rising further depending on the time of purchase and travel season.
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“Our mid-range fare for the Transit service between Kota Bharu and Gombak, in either direction, is RM156.
“So it can go more than that, depending on the time of purchase and so on. The time of purchase, the time of season,” he told a press conference at the ECRL Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal today.
Asked about the maximum fares passengers might face during festive periods such as Hari Raya, Darwis said the pricing framework included an intervention mechanism that would allow MRL to step in under certain circumstances.
However, he did not disclose how high fares could rise or whether a fixed price ceiling would be imposed to prevent excessive increases during periods of high demand.
The dynamic pricing mechanism was initially agreed to by the Cabinet on June 28, 2024, before its implementation formula received approval on Oct 16 this year.
Under the system, ticket prices will vary according to travel periods, passenger demand and seat availability. The mechanism is intended to help the operator manage passenger volumes while maintaining the railway’s long-term financial sustainability.
Darwis also stressed that the ECRL’s financial viability should not be assessed solely on passenger ticket sales, given the scale of the investment and the wider economic opportunities expected from the project.
“Just imagine that we invested about RM52.3 billion.
“But again, the revenue stream will come not just from passenger, but it will also come from freight services,” he said.
He expressed hope that businesses operating along the ECRL alignment would use its freight services, providing an additional revenue stream to support railway operations.
Meanwhile, Darwis said fares for journeys between individual stations would be available when the ECRL booking platform opens in mid-November.
Commercial passenger services between Gombak and Kota Bharu are targeted to begin in mid-December, subject to the completion of safety and operational requirements.