Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by train

Getting the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore involves three separate train journeys. Here are the trains to book and how to buy the tickets.

There used to be a direct train service from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but that service was discontinued in 2011. The rail corridor in Singapore has been turned into a walking path and nature reserve, so this service is not returning.

It’s still possible to get the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but it requires booking three separate train tickets. This is because the rail line is being upgraded to a double-tracked electric service between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.

Half of the project is completed, so the journey requires a change of train at Kluang to switch from the electric trains to the diesel trains.

As for the Johor Bahru-Singapore section, there is a separate shuttle train that crosses the border, and that also requires a separate ticket.

Booking tickets

To add to this inconvenience of multiple trains, the tickets need to be booked separately as the official rail site doesn’t sell combined tickets. If you search for tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru the booking site will not show any train tickets.

Before making a booking, make sure there are tickets available on the same day. I’ve made the mistake of booking one leg only to find out that the other leg had sold out.

To do this, go to online.ktmb.com.my and do a search for each leg on separate browsers. You can also book via the online booking agent Baolau. The sections are:

Train EP9511: Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) – Kluang (ETS)

Depart KL Sentral: 7:45
Arrive Kluang: 11:18

Train ES43: Kluang to Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) (Intercity)

Depart Kluang: 12:22
Arrive JB Sentral: 14:15

Shuttle Tebrau 83: Johor Bahru – Woodlands (Shuttle Tebrau)

Depart JB Sentral 15:15
Arrive Woodlands 15:20

KL to Singapore trains

ETS EP9511: KL Sentral to Kluang

The first section from KL to Kluang is on the Electric Train Service (ETS). This was previously terminating at Gemas, but in 2025 the line has been extended further south to Kluang.

[ETS at KL Sentral.]

The ETS trains travel at speeds of up to 140 km/h, so this the quickest leg of the journey.

ES 43: Kluang to JB Sentral

The electric rail service now travels from KL to Kluang, and by 2026 it is expected that the entire line from KL to JB will be electric.

From Kluang to JB Sentral the old diesel Intercity train services complete the journey.

Here is my review of Intercity service to JB Sentral when it was running to Gemas.

Shuttle Tebrau: JB Sentral to Woodlands

The final leg is from JB Sentral to Woodlands via the Shuttle Tebrau.

This is a popular service as it’s a much quicker way to cross the border than using the shuttle bus service. Tickets for the JB Sentral-Woodlands shuttle trains sell out weeks in advance for the peak-hour trips, but you should be ok in getting a ticket in the afternoon.

The immigration process takes about 15 minutes, even if it’s busy. I saw some veteran border crossers that knew what carriage to get on in order to be the first in the immigration queue. I was at the back of the queue, but the line moves fast.

[Free seating assignment on the Shuttle Tebrau.]

As if getting three trains wasn’t complicated enough, Woodlands is not connected to a metro station. I walked to the nearest station at Marsiling MRT Station, which is 1.5 km/22 minutes away (according to Google Maps). You are then looking at another hour of travel time on the MRT to get to Central Singapore.

By the time you check in to your hotel you might be reconsidering if it’s worth doing this trip in one day. This is not an efficient way to travel if you need to be in Singapore that day. If you are travelling overland and have time, I would stay over night in JB and explore the Old City before getting on the shuttle to continue your journey. Kluang is also worthy of a stopover if you have time.

[James on the Shuttle Tebrau from JB to Woodlands.]

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train

Going from Singapore to KL by train also requires planning. Here is how to go from
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train.

Future KL-Singapore train services

KL-JB ETS services

The Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-tracking rail project is expected to by completed by 2026. Once that is finished then ETS services will run from KL to JB in one service. There should be numerous services a day so you won’t be restricted to the current combination.

The ETS will not be extended to Singapore though, so it will still require a second train. There is a new urban rail link being built from JB to Singapore (RTS Link), so passengers will be able to show up and ride without needing to prebook a ticket.

Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High-Speed Railway

In addition to the current West Coast Line, a high-speed railway from KL to Singapore is being planned. This will travel on a different alignment and not pass through JB Sentral. This is still in planning, so it could be years away from being a reality. If it is built then there will be two different ways to travel from KL to Singapore by rail.

More Malaysia and Southeast Asia rail travel

This article is part of the Nomadic Notes train travel series. Read more about Malaysia train travel and Southeast Asia train travel.

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