ECRL Guide: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu by Fast Train

Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan in under two hours, and to Kota Bharu in about four: where the new East Coast Rail Link goes, what we know so far, and what to see at the main stops.

For decades, getting from Kuala Lumpur to Malaysia’s east coast has meant a long drive over the mountains, a slow bus or a flight. That is about to change. The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a 665-kilometre electrified railway, is due to open its first phase between Kota Bharu and Gombak, on the edge of Kuala Lumpur, in mid-December 2026. This guide covers the route and the destinations it opens up. For first-ride tips, see our ECRL first-ride guide.

What Opens in December

Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), the government-owned company behind the project, said on 6 October 2026 that it was confident of starting commercial services in mid-December, in time for the year-end school holidays. In his Budget 2027 speech on 9 October, the Prime Minister said the Kota Bharu to Gombak phase was expected to begin operating in December. The start remains subject to final testing and safety approval.

• Route: Kota Bharu (Kelantan) to the Integrated Transport Terminal (ITT) Gombak (Selangor), through Terengganu and Pahang. The extension from Gombak to Port Klang is a later phase.
• Journey times: about four hours from Kota Bharu to Gombak, against roughly seven by road, says MRL. Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said express trains could reach Kuala Terengganu in about three hours and Kuantan in about 1 hour 35 minutes.
• Frequency: 12 return trips a day from Monday to Thursday and 14 from Friday to Sunday.
• Trains: six-car electric trains, each carrying up to 425 passengers, at up to 160 km/h, with luggage racks, a food and drink counter and prayer rooms.
• Fares: not yet announced. MRL expects the Transport Ministry to announce them by the end of October, with ticket sales from November. It describes them as dynamic, “lower than airfares and slightly higher than bus fares”. Ignore fare tables on social media until then.

The Stations

Phase one has 16 stations. From north to south they are Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan; Jertih, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemasik and Chukai in Terengganu; Cherating, Kuantan Port City, KotaSAS, Paya Besar, Maran, Temerloh and Bentong in Pahang; and ITT Gombak in Selangor. Kuantan has two stations: Kuantan Port City near the port at Gebeng, and KotaSAS at the state administrative centre. Not every train will stop at every station.

ITT Gombak stands beside the Terminal Bersepadu Gombak bus station and the Gombak LRT station, the end of the Kelana Jaya Line, which runs into central Kuala Lumpur and KL Sentral. Allow extra time for your first connection.

Kuantan: Pahang’s Capital by the Sea

Kuantan is the largest city on the east coast and the first big stop from Kuala Lumpur. Its landmark is the blue-domed Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque beside the central padang (field), and the beach at Teluk Cempedak is a short drive from the centre. Kuantan Airport (KUA) is also the nearest airport to Kemaman further north.

Cherating, Kemasik and Chukai

North of Kuantan, the line follows the coast. Cherating is a laid-back beach village known, says Tourism Malaysia, for windsurfing and for surfing when the monsoon swells arrive. Kemasik and Chukai serve the Kemaman district, our home region, with quiet beaches and seafood. See our Kemaman stay guide and best beaches in Kemaman.

Kuala Terengganu: Heritage and Islands

Terengganu’s capital is a compact, walkable city at the mouth of the Terengganu River. Its Chinatown (Kampung Cina) is a street of restored shophouses with the Ho Ann Kiong temple. Within reach are the Terengganu State Museum, the city’s markets, and the jetty at Merang for Pulau Redang once the monsoon season ends. Do not miss nasi dagang for breakfast.

Kota Bharu: The End of the Line

Kelantan’s capital is often called the heartland of Malay culture. Its best-known sight is Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, a multi-storey central market named after the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, where many of the stalls are run by women. Kelantan’s tourism office describes it as one of the city’s main draws. The Kota Bharu station will also get a new bus terminal under Budget 2027.

The ECRL turns the east coast from a long journey into a weekend.

Before You Book

• Wait for official fares and tickets from MRL or the Transport Ministry, and book only through the channels they name.
• Mind the monsoon. The line opens during the north-east monsoon, when the islands are closed and floods can disrupt travel. See our monsoon beach guide.
• Plan the last mile. Some stations are outside town centres. Budget 2027 funds new stage-bus links, but check what is running before you travel; e-hailing apps such as Grab are the usual fallback.

Which ECRL stop are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below.

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