High cost may make families think twice

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) offers a competitive alternative to express buses and flights for time-conscious travellers, but families may find the combined ticket costs less attractive, transport experts said.

Universiti Malaya Centre for Transportation Research head Associate Professor Dr Yuen Choon Wah said the fares were attractive for students and solo travellers, with the journey from Gombak to Kota Baru expected to take about five hours compared with more than eight by bus.

"Even with train fares of RM125 compared with bus fares of RM50-plus, I still think it is worth the money," he said, adding that the service could encourage more travellers to switch to rail.

But he had doubts about whether the ECRL could attract group travellers, as the combined cost of tickets could make other options more economical.

One-way fares from Gombak to KotaSAS start at RM60 for the Transit service and RM68 for the Express service, while fares to Kota Baru start at RM125 (Transit) and RM147 (Express).

In comparison, express bus fares from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru range from RM34 to RM65, while premium services and peak-period tickets can cost up to RM105.

One-way flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Baru can range from RM89 to RM350 or more.

Universiti Teknologi Mara Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation's Associate Professor Dr Mohd Syuhaidi Abu Bakar said the fares were reasonable and competitive when journey time, comfort and convenience were considered.

"Some people may consider the fares expensive, but we have to consider the time saved, the comfort and convenience."

He said road journeys to Kelantan could take long hours, particularly along the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh-Gua Musang trunk road.

During festive seasons, such journeys can take over 16 hours.

He said the ECRL could provide a good alternative, although affordability would remain an important consideration.

Malaysia Institute of Transport director Associate Professor Dr Mohd Fathi Abu Yaziz @ Mohamad said the ECRL should not be assessed solely on fares, but also on reliability, comfort and time savings.

"The service can bridge the gap between air travel and road transport by providing a faster alternative to buses without the airport procedures."

He cautioned that dynamic pricing could affect affordability for lower-income passengers.

He suggested a hybrid pricing model, with measures such as regulated fare caps or concessions, to balance revenue considerations with the need to keep rail travel accessible.