KTMB Adds Extra ETS Trains For Christmas, School Holiday Rush

KTMB is adding four extra ETS services to handle the year-end travel surge, offering 22,680 additional seats during the Christmas period and the third-term school holidays. 

The temporary services will run from 19 Dec until 11 Jan 2026, covering two high-demand northern routes which are KL Sentral–Padang Besar–KL Sentral and KL Sentral–Butterworth–KL Sentral. 

Tickets go on sale at 10AM today.

The operator is boosting capacity on the Padang Besar route with two extra daily trains, while another two will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Butterworth and KL Sentral. 

“These additional ETS trains are part of KTMB’s efforts to meet high demand when tickets for regular ETS services are sold out,” it said in a statement.

KTMB said the move reflects its commitment to keeping rail travel smooth during peak seasons, ensuring passengers still get a comfortable and safe journey despite heavier traffic. 

The operator also reminded travellers that early planning goes a long way in securing better fares and avoiding last-minute scrambling for seats.

“KTMB encourages the public to plan their journeys and purchase tickets early to enjoy more cost-effective flexible fares and avoid last-minute bookings.

“Passengers are also reminded to arrive at the station 30 minutes in advance as entry gates will close five minutes before train departure,” the statement added.

Full schedules and updates can be found on KTMB’s website, its official social media pages, or via the KTMB Call Centre at 03-9779 1200.