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- Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the initial focus of the ETS3 will be the Johor Bahru-Kuala Lumpur route to allow higher train frequencies compared to longer routes.
KLUANG (Nov 22): Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) for the Johor Bahru-KL Sentral route is expected to commence operations on Dec 12, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
He said the service's inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Dec 11 and the ministry has sought the consent of the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, to officiate the launch in Johor Bahru.
He said the initial focus of the ETS3 will be the Johor Bahru-Kuala Lumpur route to allow higher train frequencies compared to longer routes.
“If the distance is too long, such as routes to the north, we can only operate two trips a day, one up, one down.
“But for a shorter journey like Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, the service can run more frequently,” he told a press conference after opening the 2025 Kluang Rail Festival at Laman Rel Mahkota here on Saturday.
The ETS3 route from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang was launched in August.
During that launch, Sultan Ibrahim consented to personally drive the ETS3 train, which can operate at speeds of up to 140kph, from KL Sentral to the Kluang station.
On the status of the automated transit flow system (ART) project, Loke said development is ongoing and has not been delayed.
He said the project is currently at the request-for-proposal evaluation stage and is being refined by the Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) after several proposals did not meet the required standards.
“Of course, the ministry will work with the UKAS to expedite the awarding process for the project,” he added.
On Thursday, Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh urged the federal government to expedite the ART project, ideally by early next year.
He said the project is crucial to support public transport and streamline the traffic flow ahead of the full operation of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System in 2027.
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