Malaysians can soon travel from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh in just two hours, thanks to a new express train service by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) starting August 1.
Currently, the Electric Train Service (ETS) takes three hours to cover the distance. However, KTMB’s new service will cut the travel time by an hour, significantly reducing the journey to just two hours.
Travel time for KL-Butterworth & KL-Padang Besar route also reduced
KTMB Operations Mohd Zain Mat Taha shared that travel times from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth and from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar will also be reduced by 45 minutes.
“This enhancement for passengers traveling from KL to Ipoh aligns with our system and infrastructure upgrade under Phase 1 of the Klang Valley Double Track (KDVT) project, which is being completed in stages,” he stated at today’s launch event promoting Ipoh’s tourist attractions and destinations via the ETS.
Expects to draw more tourists to visit Ipoh
Ipoh mayor Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin also highlighted that the Ipoh City Council has been actively promoting the city’s tourism products since last year’s “Visit Ipoh 2023” and this year’s “Perak Tourism Year 2024.”
The focus is on promoting tourism with the 3H concept: Hipster, Heritage, and Health.
“The city boasts numerous trendy cafes, 27 historical buildings from the British colonial era, and advanced medical facilities that attract international patients seeking treatment,” Rumaizi said.
He added that in addition to online and social media promotions, the collaboration with KTMB aims to boost tourism in Ipoh by advertising on the ETS trains running routes from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar and Kuala Lumpur to Gemas.
The city council is confident that this new promotion will draw more tourists to Ipoh.
