ETS tickets to Penang sold out months ago

BUTTERWORTH: Tickets for the electric train service (ETS) to Penang from several destinations for Hari Raya have been snapped up despite the festive period being still about three weeks away.

A check by The Star found that ETS tickets to Penang from places like Kuala Lumpur, Alor Setar and Perak for April 5-9 were sold out months ago.

Tickets to the northern region, especially Penang, were also fully booked for the first three days of Hari Raya.

Similarly, the train service from Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur Sentral is fully booked on April 13 and 14 when most people will return to the capital.

A representative for ETS said some people would book the tickets six months in advance upon learning the dates of the festive period.

“This is especially so for students heading home from their campuses or those working in Kuala Lumpur.

“Tickets sell out quickly and the remaining seats available are for the disabled.”

The representative said people preferred travelling on ETS as it was faster and would arrive on time.

Universiti Sains Malaysia student Murshina Syafiqah Norzaidi, 23, from Kedah said getting a train ticket was difficult, especially nearer Hari Raya.

“I always take the KTMB Komuter Utara to Kedah whenever I need to go home as it is cheaper than going by bus.

“I pay RM7.60 one way while a bus ticket will cost double. I do find the train safer as well,” she said.