ECRL First-Ride Guide: Kuala Lumpur to the East Coast by Train (Chukai and Kemasik Stations)

After years of construction, the East Coast Rail Link is close to carrying its first passengers. Here is what we know about riding it from Kuala Lumpur to Chukai and Kemasik, and what is still to be confirmed.

For anyone who has spent seven hours on the road between Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia’s east coast, the quieter side of the peninsula facing the South China Sea, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a long-awaited promise. The 665-kilometre line is being built by Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), the government-owned project owner, with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). In October 2026 the first phase is in its final testing stage, and Kemaman has two stations on it: Chukai and Kemasik. This guide is written to be updated as dates and fares are confirmed.

When Does the ECRL Open?

In early October 2026, MRL said it was aiming to begin commercial operations on the first phase in mid-December 2026, brought forward from the earlier January 2027 target so that families could use the line during the school holidays. According to Bernama, reported by Malay Mail on 6 October 2026, Phase 1 was 98.16 per cent complete in September, and ticket sales were targeted for November.

The Route and the Stations

Phase 1 runs from Kota Bharu in Kelantan, down the Terengganu coast, through Pahang and into Selangor. According to MRL’s published station list, its 16 stations are:

• Kelantan and Terengganu: Kota Bharu, Pasir Puteh, Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemasik and Chukai.
• Pahang: Cherating, Kuantan Port City, KotaSAS, Paya Besar, Maran, Temerloh and Bentong.
• Selangor: ITT Gombak, the integrated terminal with an interchange to the LRT Kelana Jaya Line for central Kuala Lumpur.

For Kemaman, Chukai serves the district capital, its cafés and its markets, while Kemasik is closer to the beaches and villages to the north, towards Kerteh. Both stations sit between Dungun and Cherating on the line.

How Long Will the Journey Take?

No official timetable had been published when we checked. What has been reported: during a non-stop inspection run, a train covered 519 kilometres in 3 hours 19 minutes, at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour. MRL has said an express service, stopping only at major stations such as KotaSAS and Kuala Terengganu, is expected to take under four hours, compared with around seven hours by road. Journey times to Chukai and Kemasik will depend on which service you take.

According to MRL, services are planned at 12 return trips a day from Monday to Thursday and 14 from Friday to Sunday, using six-car electric multiple units built by CRRC Dalian, each carrying up to 430 passengers.

Fares and Tickets: Not Yet Announced

Fares had not been officially announced by mid-October 2026. MRL said the Ministry of Transport would announce them after Cabinet approval, expected by the end of October, and described fare figures circulating on social media as speculative. MRL has indicated that fares will be dynamic, priced below airfares and slightly above bus fares. We will update this guide when official prices are published.

For the first time, the east coast will be a train ride from Kuala Lumpur rather than a long drive.

Planning Your First Ride

• Start at Gombak. ITT Gombak connects with the LRT Kelana Jaya Line, so you can reach it by rail from central Kuala Lumpur.
• Book early for the holidays. With services timed for the December school holidays, expect demand to be high.
• Plan the last mile. Arrange transport from Chukai or Kemasik station to your hotel before you travel. Our guide to where to stay in Kemaman lists hotels near both towns.
• Have a back-up. New lines can see schedule changes in their first weeks. Keep a bus or flight option in mind.

Until the Train Arrives

For now, the fastest way to Kemaman is still by air and road. Kerteh airport has no scheduled flights. Kuantan (KUA) is the nearest airport to Kemaman, with Kuala Terengganu (TGG) as the alternative, and the East Coast Expressway links both to Chukai. Our full guide Getting to Kemaman covers every option, and our Kemaman weekend guide will help you plan the trip itself.

Will you be on one of the first ECRL trains to the east coast? Tell us in the comments below.

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