KTM ETS

The KTM ETS, commercially known as ETS (Electric Train Service), is an inter-city higher-speed rail in Malaysia operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). The KTM ETS is the second electric train service to be operated by the Malaysian railway company after KTM Komuter, and the second inter-city rail service after KTM Intercity.

KTM ETS KTM Electric Train Service
A KTM Class 93 (Platinum service) arriving in Kampar
Overview
Native name	Perkhidmatan Tren Elektrik (Malay) 电动列车服务 (Chinese) மின்சார ரயில் சேவை (Tamil)
Owner	Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)
Locale	Padang Besar - Butterworth - Ipoh - Kuala Lumpur - Gemas - (Johor Bahru mid-2025)
Stations	36 (as of 15 January 2022)
Website	www.ktmb.com.my
Service
Type	Inter-city rail - Higher-speed rail
Operator(s)	KTM Intercity Division
Rolling stock	5 six-car trainset of KTM Class 91 19 six-car trainset of KTM Class 93
Daily ridership	10,489 (Third quarter 2018)
Ridership	3.902 million (2019)
History
Opened	12 August 2010 (2010-08-12)
Technical
Line length	Current: 755 km (469 mi) (Padang Besar-Gemas) Under construction: 192 km (119 mi) (Gemas-Johor Bahru Sentral)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC catenary
Conduction system	With driver
Operating speed	145 to 160 km/h (90 to 99 mph)
Route map to Bangkok via International Express Hat Yai Junction Khlong Ngae Padang Besar (Thai) Thailand Malaysia international border Padang Besar  2  Arau  2  Perlis Kedah state border Kedah River Bridge Anak Bukit  2  Alor Setar  2  Gurun  2  Sungai Petani  2  Sungai Muda bridge Kedah Penang state border Tasek Gelugor  2  Butterworth  2  Perai River swing bridge Bukit Mertajam  1   2  Bukit Mertajam junction North-South Expressway Nibong Tebal  1  Kerian River bridge Penang Perak state border Parit Buntar  1  Bagan Serai  1  North-South Expressway Bukit Merah Lake Railway Bridge Kamunting  1  Taiping  1  Larut Tunnel Bukit Berapit Tunnel Padang Rengas  1  Kuala Kangsar  1  Perak River bridge (Formerly Victoria Bridge) Sungai Siput  1  Ipoh  1  Batu Gajah Kampar Tapah Road Sungkai Slim River Behrang Tanjung Malim 2 Sungai Bernam bridge Perak Selangor state border Kuala Kubu Bharu 2 Batang Kali 2 Rawang 2 Sungai Buloh 2 12 Selangor Wilayah Persekutuan KL state border Kepong Sentral 2 12 to Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur 1 2 5 9 Kuala Lumpur Sentral 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10 to Port Klang Bandar Tasik Selatan 1 4 7 Wilayah Persekutuan KL Selangor state border Kajang 1 9 14 Selangor Negeri Sembilan state border Seremban 1 Negeri Sembilan Malacca state border Pulau Sebang/Tampin 1 Batang Melaka Malacca Negeri Sembilan state border to Tumpat via KTM Intercity Gemas extension by 2025   Gemas River bridge Negeri Sembilan Johor state border Sungai Muar bridge Segamat Genuang Tenang Labis Bekok Paloh Chamek Kluang Mengkibol Renggam Layang-Layang Kulai Kempas Bahru Johor Bahru Sentral   RTS   BRT  Malaysia Singapore international border to Woodlands Train Checkpoint via KTM Intercity

Having begun operations in 2010, the ETS is the fastest metre-gauge train service in Malaysia and operates along the historical West Coast Line (WCL) in western Peninsular Malaysia which has since been electrified and double-tracked, from the north at Padang Besar, close to the border with Thailand, and towards Gemas, at Negeri Sembilan. A southern extension from Gemas to Johor Bahru Sentral, close to the border with Singapore, is expected to begin operations in 2025, completing the rail electrification between the northern and southern borders.

The rail service is currently operated by the KTM Intercity. It was previously operated by ETS Sendirian Berhad, a fully owned subsidiary of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.

Train services

route map of ETS services

Routes

Train number	Route	Service	Stops	Train trips	Class
EG9022-EG9035	KL Sentral–Ipoh	Gold	12	4	91 & 93/1
ES9051, ES9052		Silver	14	1	93/1
EP9272-EP9279	KL Sentral–Padang Besar	Platinum	15	4	93/2
EP9171-EP9180	KL Sentral–Butterworth	Platinum	12	5	93/2
EG9420, EG9425	Padang Besar–Gemas	Gold	29	1	93/1
EG9321, EG9322	Butterworth–Gemas	Gold	24	1	93/1

The ETS covers the section of the West Coast Main Line between Padang Besar on the Malaysia-Thailand border and Gemas on the border between Negeri Sembilan and Johor, including the branch line between the Bukit Mertajam Junction and Butterworth. The line from Gemas to Johor Bahru is currently a single track and is being double tracked and electrified. Most routes originate from KL Sentral, the main railway station of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia

The ETS operates 5 routes, namely:

• KL Sentral - Ipoh
• KL Sentral - Butterworth
• KL Sentral - Padang Besar
• Gemas - Padang Besar via KL Sentral and Ipoh
• Gemas - Butterworth via KL Sentral and Ipoh

Currently, there are 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - Ipoh route, 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - Butterworth route, 4 return trips on the KL Sentral - Padang Besar route and 1 return trip each on the Gemas - Padang Besar and Gemas - Butterworth routes daily. As of 2020, due to travelling restrictions and efforts to curb the pandemic, there were only 2 trips per day along the 5 routes that are currently under operation, while as of 2022 all services have been resumed with lesser Gold service trains.

Services

The train services are operated in 3 categories:

• Platinum service with limited stops (9 return trips), along with business class coach service
• Gold service with selected stops (6 return trips)
• Silver service with stops at all stations. (1 return trip)

List of Stations

Padang Besar - Gemas via Ipoh and KL Sentral

⇄ = cross-platform interchange

Code	Name	Image	Parking bays	Interchange/notes
PDR	Padang Besar		Available	Northern terminus. Railway service continue to Hat Yai Junction via SRT. Linkbridge access to the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex. Northern terminus of the KTM Komuter Northern Sector's Padang Besar-Butterworth Line. ⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
ARU	Arau		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
ABT	Anak Bukit		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
ALS	Alor Setar		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
GRN	Gurun		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
SPT	Sungai Petani		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
TGL	Tasek Gelugor		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line
NTB	Nibong Tebal		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
PBT	Parit Buntar		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
BGS	Bagan Serai		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
TPG	Taiping		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
PRG	Padang Rengas		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
KKS	Kuala Kangsar		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
SGS	Sungai Siput		Available	⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
IPH	Ipoh			Southern terminus of the KTM Komuter Northern Sector's Butterworth-Ipoh Line. ⇄ Butterworth-Ipoh Line
BTG	Batu Gajah		Available	Served as the ETS depot, together with the CRRC rolling stock centre.
KMR	Kampar		Available	Serving passengers who are mainly students of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kampar campus.
TPH	Tapah Road		Available
SUI	Sungkai		Available
SLR	Slim River		Available
KA15	Tanjung Malim		Available	Northern terminus of the KTM Komuter Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line. Serving passengers who are mainly students of the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI). ⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA14	Kuala Kubu Bharu		Available	⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA12	Batang Kali		Available	⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA10	Rawang		Available	⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA08	Sungai Buloh		Available, elevated	Connecting station to  PY04  MRT Putrajaya Line. ⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA07	Kepong Sentral		Available	Connecting station to  PY08  Sri Damansara Timur on the MRT Putrajaya Line. ⇄ Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA02	Kuala Lumpur		Available	Connecting station to  KJ14  KG16  Pasar Seni on the LRT Kelana Jaya Line and MRT Kajang Line via a linkbridge. ⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line & Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
KA01	KL Sentral		Available, elevated	Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to:  KJ15  LRT Kelana Jaya Line  KE1  KT1  ERL KLIA Ekspres and ERL KLIA Transit Linkbridge access to  KG15  Muzium Negara on the MRT Kajang Line Linkbridge access to  MR1  KL Monorail via Nu Sentral shopping mall (KL Sentral Monorail). ⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line, Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line & KL Sentral–Terminal Skypark Line
KB04	Bandar Tasik Selatan		Available, elevated	Connecting station to  SP15  KT2  LRT Sri Petaling Line and ERL KLIA Transit. Exit to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) Bus Hub. ⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line
KB06	Kajang		Available, elevated	Connecting station to  KG35  MRT Kajang Line. Proposed connecting station to Putrajaya Monorail. ⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line
KB13	Seremban		Available	⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line
KB17	Pulau Sebang/Tampin		Available	Southern terminus of the KTM Komuter Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line. ⇄ Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line
BML	Batang Melaka		Available
GMS	Gemas		Available	Southern terminus. Railway services continue to Johor Bahru and Tumpat via KTM Intercity.

Butterworth - KL Sentral/Gemas

⇄ = cross-platform interchange

Code	Name	Image	Parking bays	Interchange/notes
BTW	Butterworth		Available	Northern terminus. Connected to Penang Sentral and the Penang Ferry terminal. Terminus for the KTM Komuter Northern Sector Butterworth-Ipoh and Padang Besar-Butterworth Lines. ⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line & Butterworth-Ipoh Line
BMT	Bukit Mertajam		Available	⇄ Padang Besar-Butterworth Line & Butterworth-Ipoh Line
continue towards south via Nibong Tebal

Ridership

KTM ETS Ridership
Year	Ridership	Revenue (MYR)	Remarks
2023	4,115,242	N/A
2020	951,100	N/A
2019	3,902,000	N/A
2018	3,932,000	N/A
2017	4,148,000	174,433,140
2016	3,565,000	145,521,561
2015	2,059,000	60,314,988
2014	1,693,000	44,328,039
2013	1,563,000	40,621,860
2012	1,180,000	31,885,949
2011	913,000	24,313,451
2010	215,000	5,569,532	Operations began in August

History

First phase

The original KTM Class 91 at Ipoh Railway Station, opened on the first phase.

The service was introduced by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) on 12 August 2010 between Ipoh and Seremban following the completion of the electrification and double-tracking of the Rawang to Ipoh stretch of the West Coast Line. Its inaugural run was celebrated with an opening ceremony at Kuala Lumpur railway station. Initially, services stretched southwards to Seremban, but the KL Sentral - Seremban sector was taken out of service in October 2012. At launch, there were three service types—Platinum, Gold and Silver. On the fastest Platinum service, the trip was covered in two hours, one hour faster than by car. Gold and silver services had more stops, hence taking up to 2 hours 30 minutes. The route was served solely by 5 Class 91 electric trains.

Second phase

A Class 91 at Bukit Mertajam, opened on the second phase.

The service was extended from Ipoh to Padang Besar via Butterworth, the mainland town opposite George Town, with the introduction of the ETS Transit on 10 July 2015, with stops at 24 stations. At the inception of service, only one train service in both directions was introduced. This service was given the name ETS Transit.

On the following day on 11 July 2015, a new service called the ETS Ekspres between KL Sentral and Padang Besar, via Butterworth was introduced, which only stops at 15 stations. Again, only one service for both directions was introduced although, subsequently, on 1 September 2015, an additional service between KL Sentral and Butterworth was introduced. New rolling stock, the Class 93 trains, were introduced in conjunction with the extended service.

Third phase

The KTM Class 93 ETS train No 203 leaving Pulau Sebang/Tampin, opened on the third phase.

On 10 October 2015, the ETS service was extended southwards from KL Sentral to Gemas with the introduction of a new service between Padang Besar and Gemas. The extension of the KTM ETS service to Gemas utilizes the electrified double-track between Seremban and Gemas which was completed in 2014. This extension of service also saw the ETS service returning to Seremban after being discontinued in 2012.

Also on 10 October 2015, a new service was launched between Butterworth and Padang Besar in addition to existing services but this service was subsequently reduced in frequency and ultimately terminated, with the introduction of the new KTM Komuter Northern Sector.

There were constant revisions of timetables and services as more trains became available, with more train service being added for each of the route segments. The Platinum, Gold, and Silver services were also reintroduced while the terms "ETS Ekspres" and "ETS Transit" were no longer used.

Rolling stock

Class	Image	Cars per Set	In service	On order	Manufacturer
KTM Class 91		6	4	-	Hyundai Rotem
KTM Class 93		6	19	11	CSR Zhuzhou

First Generation

Main article: KTM Class 91

Five KTM Class 91 train sets, each comprising six cars, were purchased by KTM for $67 million (USD). The train sets were designed by the Marubeni Corporation and jointly built by Hyundai Rotem of South Korea and Mitsubishi Electric of Japan. The maximum operational speed of the ETS fleet is 140 km/h (87 mph) but is designed to travel up to 160 km/h (99 mph). The total length of each train set is 138 m and weighs 231.8 tons. Each carriage is 22.95 m long, 2.75 m wide and 4 m high. Each train set has a passenger seating capacity of 350 and includes on-board facilities including toilets, a buffet car, power sockets per two seats and two LED Televisions per car.

Second Generation

Main article: KTM Class 93

A Class 93/2 arriving Kuala Lumpur railway station.

Nineteen sets of KTM Class 93 trains were ordered in two batches to expand the fleet as the electrified network expanded. All 19 trains are in service as of October 2019.

The rolling stock was to have been put into operation for the launch of the ETS Express service between KL Sentral and Padang Besar, and the ETS Transit service between Ipoh and Padang Besar. However, reports of problems during the testing and commissioning of the train sets resulted in the then Malaysian land public transport authority, SPAD, not approving the trains for use in time for the launch of the two services on 10 July 2015 and 11 July 2015. As a result, two KTM Class 91 train sets were used for the time being, one for the ETS Express, and the other for the ETS Transit, allowing for just one trip in each direction for both services.

The first four KTM Class 93 sets went into service on 10 October 2015. All sets from the first batch have entered service.

The second batch differs slightly from the first, with a redesigned livery and a business class coach, a first for ETS services, and started operations with the launch of the new ETS Business Class in October 2019. These coaches were given the name Class 93/2.

A third batch of 11 Class 93 is tendered in March 2022 in light with the completion of the Gemas-JB Sentral EDTP modification.

Longest and fastest metre-gauge trains in the world

The ETS trains currently travel up to 140 km/h (87 mph) on the electrified metre gauge rail line. Due to the gauge, the service can be considered a higher speed rail (HrSR) limited-express service.

Similar services operate on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge railways in other parts of the world: the Kuroshio, Shirasagi, Sonic & Thunderbird limited express services in Japan, the Taroko & Puyuma Express in Taiwan, and the Electric & Diesel Tilt Train services in Australia. The only similar metre gauge rail service currently operating is the Renfe Feve on Cercanías Asturias & Euskotren Trena, the Bilbao-Donostia inter-city rail line in northern Spain. This type of inter-state train service is very similar to KTM Komuter Northern Sector regional commuter services.

The ETS thus currently stands as one of the fastest 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge train services in the world, reaching a maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph).

On-board service

Interior of the standard class accommodation on KTM Class 93/1.

Standard Class

The seats are arranged in a 2+2 fashion and each seat comes with a tray table and a power outlet. Cluster seats with fixed tables are available on the Class 93. The seats can be easily converted for wheelchair use should the need arise. There are LCD TV screens in every coach for entertainment. Toilets are available in every coach. There are changing tables for infants on the latest Class 93/2. For Muslim passengers, there is a prayer room in every train. There is a bistro coach which sells drinks, light snacks and microwaved meals. This class is available on all trains, and is the only class available on older trains such as the Class 91 and the Class 93/1.

Business Class interior.

Business Class

The Business Class service marks a step-up from the Standard Class. In addition to the facilities already enjoyed in the Standard Class, there are additional features otherwise not seen on the Standard Class. The seats are arranged in a 2+1 configuration and are wider and able to recline up to 45 degrees. The seats can be rotated to face any direction. In addition to a power outlet, a USB port is also provided per seat. Each seat has its own on-demand video screen for in-train entertainment. Wi-Fi is complimentary for Business Class passengers. Each coach has its own steward or stewardess, whom the passengers can summon from their seats. On-board dining is included in the fare. Passengers are also given their own amenity kit. This service is only available on the Class 93/2 trains.

Extension

Gemas – Johor Bahru Sentral

The MYR 8 billion contract was expected to be tendered out by the end of 2008 pending a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The project would have included building over 200 km (120 mi) of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signaling and communications. This included a realignment between of the Pulau Sebang/Tampin - Gemas section.

In May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe submitted a proposal to the Government to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Bahru at a cost of MYR 5 billion. According to them, the project would be on a private finance initiative basis and the plan submitted to the Ministry of Finance later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in the state of Johor.

On 29 January 2011, then Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said that the Gemas - Johor Bahru double-tracking and electrification project was expected to start that year. He added that the Government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project that year and Malaysia was still in the midst of talking with China Railway Construction, but nothing was confirmed yet. Kong said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project. The construction of 197 km (122 mi) of tracks, at an estimated cost between MYR 6 billion and MYR 7 billion, would take three years.

On 27 October 2015, the public display exercise, required for all development of new railways under Section 84 of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Act 2010, for the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electrification and Double Tracking Project began and ran until 27 January 2016. The Chinese company CRCC has been awarded to carry out the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electrification and Double Tracking Project. Construction on the project began in January 2018. It was expected to be completed by mid-2023, but on 23 March 2023, it was announced that the extension will be expected to be delayed until mid-2025.

The length of the line to be electrified and double-tracked is 197 km (122 mi) between Chainage 563.040 at Gemas and Chainage 754.180 at JB Sentral. The project includes the construction of 11 stations at Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru, and three future stations at Tenang, Chamek and Senai. The upgraded line is supposed to cater for at least 22 services daily involving ETS, KTM Intercity and shuttle train services as well as the KTM Komuter.

The documents displayed also stated that the electrification for the stretch will have the same specifications as that of the Seremban-Gemas stretch, at 25 kV AC 50 Hz single phase and supplied via an overhead catenary. Train operations for this stretch will be integrated with the Train Control Centers at KL Sentral and Gemas. The designed maximum speed for the tracks is 160 km/h (99 mph).

Gallery

• 
  Class 93 entering Kajang
• 
  Class 93 entering Pulau Sebang/Tampin
• 
  Class 93 at KL Sentral
• 
  Class 93 passing Kampar, Perak heading North to Batu Gajah
• 
  Class 91 and 93 at Batu Gajah Railway Depot

See also

• Keretapi Tanah Melayu
  • KTM Intercity and KTM ETS
    • KTM West Coast Line
    • KTM East Coast Line
  • KTM Komuter
    • Seremban Line
    • Port Klang Line
    • Skypark Link
    • Northern Sector
• Rail transport in Malaysia
• Public transport in Kuala Lumpur

External links

• ETS Ticket Online - Compare and Buy ETS Ticket Online