Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has recorded more than 21,000 ticket sales under its MADANI30 promotional code, reflecting strong uptake for discounted Electric Train Service (ETS) and Ekspres Rakyat Timuran (ERT) journeys as Malaysians look to manage rising travel costs.
KTMB chief operating officer Afzar Zakariya said the 30% discount initiative reflects collaboration between the company and the government to ease the financial burden on the public. He said the promotion covers ETS routes between Johor Bahru and Padang Besar as well as Johor Bahru and Tumpat, with travel validity from April 15 to October 14 on weekdays.
“This promotion is open to all users for standard class for travel Monday to Thursday, thus making it easier for users to plan their journeys in advance whether for work or leisure purposes,” he said.
He added that “This initiative driven by the Ministry of Transport not only increases access to quality public transport, but also supports efforts to promote the transition to more sustainable, comfortable and efficient modes of transport as well as improving connectivity between cities and regions.”
Afzar shared the update while appearing as a guest on the Jendela Fikir: Rel Menghubakan Rakyat, Mengkeren Negara programme produced by Bernama Radio. He also confirmed the MADANI30 discount campaign will end this Thursday, April 30.
Beyond promotional demand, KTMB has also seen operational gains. Afzar said the addition of 10 new ETS train sets for the Kuala Lumpur-Johor Bahru sector helped lift daily ridership by 40%, bringing average passenger numbers to about 16,000 per day compared with around 10,000 previously.
He noted this marks KTMB’s highest passenger performance since its shift from coal-based services to modern electric trains.
Safety and infrastructure upgrades remain a priority, with KTMB maintaining structured maintenance schedules and continuing works under the Klang Valley Electric Double Track (KVDT) project to improve ageing rail infrastructure.
The upgrade covers several key sectors including Rawang-Salak Selatan, Sentul-Simpang Batu, Bangi-Seremban and Simpang Pelabuhan Klang-Port Klang.
Afzar said KTMB’s 1,700-kilometre rail network also continues to face challenges such as cable theft which can disrupt operations. He urged the public to report suspicious activity around rail lines to authorities or nearby KTMB stations, stressing the importance of community vigilance.
