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The Jungle Railway: Ekspres Rakyat Timuran
For slow travel, the “jungle line” through Malaysia’s rainforest interior is one of Southeast Asia’s classic train journeys.
🔗 Official sites: KTMB · KTMB KITS booking
How to book (official)
- Book on KITS or the KTMB app (Google Play · App Store).
- Board at JB Sentral or Gemas (the KL connection is the ETS to Gemas).
Classes
- First class, Second class, and Day-Night sleeper berths.
The route
- KTM Intercity: Ekspres Rakyat Timuran is a nightly JB Sentral-Tumpat train via Gemas on the ‘jungle railway’, with sleeper berths. Shuttle Timuran runs local East Coast Line services, and seasonal MySawasdee trains go to Hat Yai.
- Gemas-Kuala Lipis got two extra services from 1 Jan 2026, making six daily.
What you will see
- Overnight JB Sentral-Gemas-Tumpat through the interior rainforest of Pahang and Kelantan (the ‘jungle line’).
Route map
Starting from Cormar Suites
From Cormar Suites, take a Grab or the Monorail to KL Sentral, then the ETS to Gemas to join the jungle line.
Staying in central KL makes all of this easy. Cormar Suites has spacious serviced apartments with kitchens, Parry Road Café downstairs, and a rooftop infinity pool. Book direct for our best available rate.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the jungle railway start?
The overnight Ekspres Rakyat Timuran runs from JB Sentral via Gemas to Tumpat in Kelantan. From KL, take the ETS to Gemas to connect.
Sources
Checked on 11 October 2026. Fares, timetables and services change, so always confirm on the official site before you travel.