KUALA LUMPUR: Passengers will enjoy a 30% discount on economy-class tickets for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) during its first month of operations.
The discount is separate from the permanent concessions announced for eligible passengers yesterday. These include a 50% discount for children aged two to 12, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and government pensioners, as well as a 40% discount for students aged 13 to 24.
ECRL tickets will go on sale in mid-November, with one-way fares from Gombak to Kota Bharu starting at RM125 for transit services and RM147 for express services.
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the introductory offer would coincide with the launch of the ECRL, with passenger services scheduled to begin on Dec 12.
"So this is meant for members of the public who do not enjoy any ticket concessions," he told a press conference at the Transport Expo Asia 2026 here today.
Loke said the government had considered both affordability for passengers and the financial sustainability of the rail operator when setting fares. He expressed hope that the fares would be well received by the public.
On freight services, Loke said operations between Gombak and Kota Bharu are expected to begin alongside passenger services.
"Freight services connecting to Port Klang will take approximately another year to be completed, as construction of the section between Gombak and Port Klang is still ongoing.
"MRL (Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd) will review freight charges in due course," he added.
On a separate matter, Loke said the Cabinet had approved the proposed 32km extension of the ECRL from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
He said the project is undergoing technical assessment and land acquisition, and is expected to take about four-and-a-half years to complete.
Land will need to be acquired from the state government and private landowners before construction can begin, he added.