The KTM ETS, commercially known as ETS, short for Electric Train Service, is an inter-city rail passenger service in Malaysia operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) using electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains. The KTM ETS is the second electric train service to be operated by the Malaysian railway company, after the KTM Komuter service, and the second inter-city rail service, after KTM Intercity.
The ETS is the fastest metre-gauge train service in Malaysia and operates along the electrified and double-tracked stretch of the West Coast Line between and in Peninsular Malaysia, which was previously served by KTM Intercity.
The rail service is currently operated by KTM Intercity Division. It was previously operated by ETS Sendirian Berhad, a fully owned subsidiary of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.
Train services
Routes
The ETS covers the section of the West Coast Main Line between on the Malaysia-Thailand border and on the border between Negeri Sembilan and Johor, including the branch line between the Junction and . 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 - KL Sentral - KL Sentral - - via KL Sentral and - via KL Sentral and
Currently, there are 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - route, 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - route, 4 return trips on the KL Sentral - route and 1 return trip each on the - and - routes daily. As of 2020, due to travelling restrictions and efforts to curb the pandemic, there are only 2 trips per day along the 5 routes that is currently under operation, while as of 2022 all services have been resume with lesser Gold service trains.
The latest timetables for the routes are available on the official ETS timetable.
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
- via and KL Sentral
- KL Sentral/
Ridership
History
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
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 was introduced. New rolling stock, the Class 93 trains, were introduced in conjunction with the extended service.
Third phase
On 10 October 2015, the ETS service was extended southwards from KL Sentral to with the introduction of a new service between and . The extension of the KTM ETS service to utilizes the electrified double-track between and which was completed in 2014. This extension of service also saw the ETS service returning to after being discontinued in 2012.
Also on 10 October 2015, a new service was launched between and 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.