KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Thaipusam, and in anticipation of an estimated 2.5 million visitors to Batu Caves, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will offer free rides on its Klang Valley Komuter services for two days.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the free travel will take effect on Jan 31 and Feb 1, 2026.
He said the Komuter services will operate round-the-clock for four days and three nights from Jan 30 to Feb 2 with the number of passengers expected to hit about 700,000.
“Our priority is to ensure that the movement of the public during Thaipusam is smooth, orderly and safe. This is part of the government’s effort to make Thaipusam more accessible and meaningful especially for Hindu devotees,” Loke said during a visit at the KL Sentral on Tuesday (Jan 20) morning.
He said a total of 609 Komuter trips have been planned for the occasion.
Loke said it comprised 302 services on the Batu Caves to Pulau Sebang line, 165 on the Batu Caves–Port Klang line and 142 on the Tanjong Malim–KL Sentral line.
Loke said the number of trips are an increase of 23% compared with last year.
He said an additional 216 trips specifically for Batu Caves will also be available compared with the usual 98 trips daily services.
“The extra trains will operate beyond the normal last service each night, and from KL Sentral, frequency to Batu Caves will be improved to every 30 minutes,” he said.
Loke added that 28 stations will operate 24 hours to assist elderly passengers, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and families with young children.
He urged the public to plan their journeys early and to cooperate with transport staff to ensure a safe and smooth Thaipusam.
Loke said 30 shuttle buses will also run at 10-minute intervals from Pasar Seni Hub, LRT Gombak and MRT Kampung Batu to Batu Caves, operating from 6am to midnight on Jan 31 and continuously for 24 hours on Feb 1.
He said the volume of passengers for the Komuter is expected to be 450,000 during the free rides offered on Jan 31 and Feb 1.
Loke reminded users that all transactions will be cashless with options to use the KITS Style application, Komuter Link card, Touch ’n Go, debit or credit cards, ticket kiosks and counters.
To ease congestion at Batu Caves, he encouraged the public to use the LRT and MRT services before taking transfers with the KTM Komuter at nine key interchange stations namely KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Putra, Bank Negara, Subang Jaya, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kajang, Kampung Batu and Sungai Buloh.
He said KTMB will also introduce additional interstate ETS services on the JB Sentral–Butterworth, JB Sentral–KL Sentral, KL Sentral–Ipoh and KL Sentral–Butterworth routes with two extra trips for each route between Jan 29 and Feb 3. Loke said a total of 10,080 seats will be available with ticket sales commencing on Jan 26.
He said Prasarana Malaysia Berhad's Rapid KL and Rapid Penang will also provide free shuttle bus services in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Loke said 30 shuttle buses will ply three main routes namely Pasar Seni Hub, LRT Gombak and MRT Kampung Batu to Batu Caves at 10-minute intervals.
He said the service will operate between 6am to midnight on Jan 31 and will continue run for 24 hours on for Thaipusam on Feb 1.
Loke said in Penang, 12 free shuttle buses will operate between the ferry terminal and the Adventist hospital in tandem with ferry schedules with frequencies of between 20 and 60 minutes.
He said the Penang Port Commission and Penang Port Sdn Bhd will also provide free ferry services from Jan 31 to Feb 2, and will extend its operations until 3am on Feb 2.
Loke said BAS.MY will also provide free bus services in Johor Bahru, Seremban, Ipoh, Kota Setar and Sungai Petani to ferry Hindu devotees to nearby temples with 169 buses.
He said KTMB will deploy 250 personnel at the Batu Caves and surrounding stations with assistance from auxiliary police, technical crew and medical teams from Selayang Hospital and St John Ambulance.
