Getting the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore involves two 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 two separate train tickets. There is a ETS train from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, and a separate shuttle train from Johor Bahru to Woodlands in Singapore.
Booking tickets
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 Woodlands the booking site will not show any train tickets.
Also note that the shuttle train sells out in advance as it is booked out by daily commuters. I have booked the KL-JB section only to find that there are no tickets left for the JB-Woodlands section. You can get the shuttle bus from JB if this happens, but the train is a much better way to cross the border.
Tickets can be booked at the official site online.ktmb.com.my and via the online booking agent Baolau. The sections are:
Train 9523: Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) – Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) (ETS)
Depart KL Sentral: 7:55
Arrive Kluang: 12:15
Shuttle Tebrau 79: Johor Bahru – Woodlands (Shuttle Tebrau)
Depart JB Sentral: 12:45
Arrive Woodlands: 12:50
KL to Singapore trains
KL Sentral to JB Sentral
KTM began operations of the electric train service (ETS) from KL Sentral to JB Sentral on the 12th of December, 2025. The ETS project was opened in stages, and previously the ETS train only ran from KL to Gemas. Passengers had to change to a diesel-hauled train for the trip from Gemas to JB Sentral.
[ETS at KL Sentral.]
The ETS trains travel at speeds of up to 140 km/h.
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.]
Woodlands is not connected to a metro station, so this is still not a smooth travel experience to get from KL to Singapore. The nearest MRT station is Marsiling, 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.
[James on the Shuttle Tebrau from JB to Woodlands.]
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train
Here is how to go from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train.
Future KL-Singapore train services
Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High-Speed Railway
In addition to the current KL-JB 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 project was cancelled but it is being reconsidered, 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.
I still find it somewhat puzzling that through services to Singapore have been discontinued and that Malaysia has not seen the benefits of connecting their services both to Singapore and at the other end into Thailand. One would have thought is was a no brainer and the politicians and bureaucrats should be ashamed of themselves. Is KL /Singapore still the busiest air route? I wonder why
Yes it’s odd that they haven’t kept the service running. The cachet of having “Singapore” on the departure board at KL Sentral would be worth it, as too for a regular service to Hat Yai (and not just the occasional special train that runs from KL to Hat Yai).
It appears that the current shuttle service from JB to Woodlands will be discontinued when the RTS link opens, which will be a shame. I think that once the entire line is electrified they should run daily non-stop services from KL to Singapore, not stopping at JB, and have the immigration for both sides at Woodlands.
Malaysia also has the same problem as Thailand, in that they are building out a duel gauge system. The current West Coast line has been completely rebuilt from scratch (new rail, electric wiring, new trains) but they built it on the metre gauge. The line should have been upgraded to standard gauge, then they would have got a faster service and perhaps not need the high-speed line. Meanwhile Malaysia are building a standard gauge railway on the East Coast Rail Link project.
I am so excited to try this direct service. It was only a month ago where I took the ETS from KL to Kluang, and then the rest of the journey by the diesel service. The funny thing is at one point the ETS overtook the diesel service from Gemas that I ended up transferring to after a brief almost an hour stopover at Kluang.
Yes I am looking forward to this as well. I will try KL-Sin in one go, and stop in Kluang on the way back.