Southern shuttle affordability initiative expected in Budget 2027
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the service has carried approximately 20,000 passengers since its June launch.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to unveil an initiative aimed at making the KTM Komuter southern shuttle more affordable when presenting Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.
Speaking on Oct 8 at a ceremony marking the expansion of BAS.MY services in Johor Bahru, Loke said the measure was expected to help ease living costs. He put daily ridership at between 200 and 300 passengers.
Loke previously said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) was operating the southern shuttle with existing trains. The service links Kulai with Johor Bahru Sentral and also connects Kempas Baru, Pasir Gudang and Paloh.
The two train sets being used are an interim arrangement pending new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains. Procurement of those trains will take between two and three years, he said.
Separately, Loke told a press conference that the Tebrau shuttle would continue when the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link opens. Under the bilateral agreement, the shuttle is to stop operating six months after the RTS Link starts service.
Operating since July 1, 2015, the Tebrau shuttle takes five minutes to travel between JB Sentral and the Woodlands train checkpoint (WTCP). One-way fares are RM5 towards Woodlands and SGD5 towards JB Sentral. Its daily capacity is 8,635 passengers, with 31 trips covering both directions.
