JB Sentral, KTM & ETS Trains from Twin Tower

JB Sentral ETS trains have changed how Johor Bahru connects with the rest of Peninsular Malaysia. Since December 2025, electric ETS services run all the way from JB Sentral to KL Sentral, and since early 2026 to Butterworth and Padang Besar too. For residents of Twin Tower Residence, JB Sentral is within walking distance, which puts Malaysia’s fastest intercity trains, local Komuter services and the Shuttle Tebrau to Singapore all a short walk from home. This guide explains each service, how to book and how it fits with the RTS Link from 2027.

What is JB Sentral?

JB Sentral is Johor Bahru’s main railway station and the southern terminus of KTM’s West Coast Line. It opened as part of the Southern Integrated Gateway in 2008, alongside the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar CIQ complex and a large bus terminal. A pedestrian bridge connects it with Johor Bahru City Square, and public sources describe a walkway of about 400 m to the Bukit Chagar RTS station.

For Twin Tower Residence, a freehold serviced residence completed in 2023 in Bukit Chagar, JB Sentral is one of several transport points within walking distance. That makes the building a practical base for anyone who travels by rail within Malaysia as well as across the border.

Which trains run from JB Sentral?

Timetables, journey times and trip counts change; always check KTMB’s latest schedule.

How does the ETS to Kuala Lumpur work?

The ETS (Electric Train Service) uses ETS3 (Class 94) trains on the electrified double-track line. The final Gemas–Johor Bahru section, about 192 km, was completed in 2025, finishing the electrified trunk line between the Thai and Singapore borders. Trains run at up to 140 km/h in service.

Stops between JB and KL

The southern ETS Platinum service stops at 17 stations: KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kajang, Seremban, Pulau Sebang (Tampin), Batang Melaka, Gemas, Segamat, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai, Kempas Baru and JB Sentral. That makes it useful not just for KL trips but also for Seremban, Melaka (via Pulau Sebang/Batang Melaka) and towns across Johor.

Fares and booking

At launch, KL Sentral–JB Sentral fares started from RM82 one-way, according to rail travel sites. Fares vary by class and date, so check before booking. Tickets are sold through the KTMB mobile app (KITS), KTMB’s website and station kiosks, with advance sales typically opening months ahead.

Worked example: ETS vs driving to KL

Driving between JB and KL takes several hours on the North–South Expressway, depending on traffic and stops, plus tolls, fuel and parking, and it is tiring for the driver. The ETS takes about 4 hours 20 minutes station to station. For a Twin Tower resident, the walk to JB Sentral replaces the drive out of the city, and at the KL end you arrive at KL Sentral, the city’s main rail hub. For a family of three paying a fare of, say, RM82 each, the one-way rail cost is 3 × RM82 = RM246; compare that with your own fuel, toll and parking costs, and the value of being able to rest or work on the way.

What is the KTM Shuttle Selatan?

Launched on 16 June 2026, the Shuttle Selatan is a Komuter-style service for daily travel within Johor. It links JB Sentral with Kempas Baru and Kulai, and from 8 August 2026 was extended to Layang-Layang, Rengam, Kluang and Paloh, with 10 trains a day (5 each way). Passengers for Pasir Gudang change at Kempas Baru. A Paloh–JB Sentral trip takes about two hours; the normal fare quoted for that leg was RM15.30, with a lower interim fare of RM7.70 while the current trains are in use.

The service is useful for Twin Tower residents who work, study or have family in Kulai, Kluang or Kempas. In October 2026, Malaysia’s transport minister said cheaper Shuttle Selatan fares would be announced in Budget 2027; check KTMB for the latest prices.

What about the Shuttle Tebrau to Singapore?

The Shuttle Tebrau has linked JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint since July 2015. The ride takes about five minutes and costs RM5 one-way from JB and S$5 from Woodlands. You clear Malaysian immigration at JB Sentral and Singapore immigration at Woodlands.

Under the bilateral agreement, the Shuttle Tebrau will be discontinued six months after the RTS Link starts operations. With RTS service expected from February 2027, Twin Tower residents can use both for a period, and then switch to the RTS at Bukit Chagar beside the building. See our RTS Link guide.

How do ETS and RTS work together?

Once the RTS Link opens, JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar together become a rail interchange between Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. KTMB’s acting CEO said in December 2025 that commuters would be able to switch between ETS and RTS services. In August 2026, the government also approved an RM60 million bridge to give Komuter passengers direct access to the RTS station, expected to take about 12 months.

For Twin Tower residents, that means a single address with walking access to:

• The RTS Link to Woodlands North (about 5 minutes) and the Thomson–East Coast Line.
• The ETS north to Kluang, Segamat, Seremban, KL and beyond.
• The Shuttle Selatan for Kulai, Kempas Baru and central Johor.
• The JB Sentral bus terminal and the CIQ for cross-border buses.

What does rail access mean for property value?

In most cities, homes close to a major station enjoy steadier rental demand and a wider pool of buyers. The JB Sentral area is unusual because so many networks meet there: intercity ETS, the Shuttle Selatan, the Shuttle Tebrau, the bus terminal and the CIQ, with the RTS added in 2027. Transport is only one factor, alongside unit condition, building management and the market cycle, but it is one of the most durable. For current asking prices and psf, see the Twin Tower price guide.

Who benefits most?

If you split your week between JB, KL and Singapore

Business owners and managers who cover all three cities can live at Twin Tower and reach Singapore by RTS or KL by ETS without driving. It is the most connected base in southern Johor for that kind of schedule.

If you are a family with relatives elsewhere in Malaysia

Parents or grandparents in Seremban, Melaka or Kluang can visit by train and walk from JB Sentral to your home, with no airport transfer or long drive.

If you are a tenant without a car

Rail access is a big draw for tenants who do not want the cost of a car. Portal asking rents seen in October 2026 for Twin Tower were roughly RM2,300–3,000 for studios (599 sq ft) and RM3,000–3,500 for 2-bedroom units (882 sq ft), indicative asking figures only. See the rent guide.

If you are an investor

A location served by intercity rail, local rail and a cross-border train gives a broad tenant pool. Combined with freehold tenure and a completed building, it supports long-term demand. Read is Twin Tower a good investment?

Three sample trips from Twin Tower

Friday night to KL. From 2027, a Singapore-based professional can take the RTS back to Bukit Chagar, drop a bag at home, then walk to JB Sentral for an evening ETS north and arrive at KL Sentral the same night.

Parents visiting from Seremban. They board the ETS at Seremban and ride straight to JB Sentral. You walk over to meet them at the station; no parking, no airport run.

Working in Kulai, weekends in Singapore. Use the Shuttle Selatan on weekdays and the Shuttle Tebrau or RTS at weekends, all from the same address.

Practical checklist for rail travel from Twin Tower

1. Download the KTMB app (KITS) and create an account before you need it.
2. Book ETS seats early for weekends and festivals.
3. For the Shuttle Tebrau, arrive early enough to clear Malaysian immigration before departure.
4. Bring your passport for any cross-border trip; your MyKad or passport for concession fares if eligible.
5. Allow extra walking time with luggage, and check which mall or station connections are open at your travel time.

Want a home with this level of rail access? WhatsApp Darren for the latest available Twin Tower Residence units and floor plans, or browse current listings and the location section.

Conclusion

JB Sentral has become one of Malaysia’s most important rail stations, with electric ETS trains to KL, Butterworth and Padang Besar, the new Shuttle Selatan across Johor, and the Shuttle Tebrau to Singapore. From Twin Tower Residence, all of it is within walking distance, and the RTS Link beside the building completes the picture from 2027.

Sources

• Wikipedia – KTM ETS
• RailTravel Station – ETS3 JB Sentral to KL Sentral launching 12 December 2025
• SAYS – KTMB doubles KL–JB ETS trips to 8 daily from 2026 (17 Dec 2025)
• Malay Mail – KL–JB ETS service to start Dec 12 (10 Dec 2025)
• RailTravel Station – Shuttle Selatan extended to Paloh from 8 August 2026
• Bernama – Southern Shuttle fares and Tebrau Shuttle (8 Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia – Southern Integrated Gateway
• Malay Mail – RM60m bridge to RTS station approved (18 Aug 2026)