How to buy ETS tickets for senior citizens?

If you are visiting Malaysia on a budget, one of the cheapest ways to traverse the picturesque landscapes of this tropical country is by train. The KTMB ETS train service offers the fastest option for intercity and interstate travel for locals and tourists visiting the country. There are several ways to buy ETS tickets.

Senior citizens can buy ETS tickets either through the online ticketing system on the KTMB website, using the KTMB mobile app, in person at ticket counters, or via authorized agents. To book your ticket online, go to online.ktmb.com.my and enter your travel information. You will see the available trains, schedule, and fare. Once you make payment, you will receive a booking confirmation via email which you can print or collect at the train station. You can also buy the ticket directly from ticket counters at train stations, and remember to ask for a senior discount.

How to purchase ETS train tickets

The easier way to purchase an ETS ticket is via online booking on the KTMB website. Go to the online ticketing system at online.ktmb.com.my and enter your journey details, including departing train station, destination, departure time, return date, and number of passengers. You will see the available trains, schedule, available seats, and the fare.

Proceed to pay via debit/credit card or online wallet, and you will get an email confirmation of your ticket. You can print the ticket at home or collect it at the ticket counters at the train station. Your passport will be your boarding pass, and it must have an expiry date of at least 30 days before the departure date.

Alternatively, you can purchase the ETS train ticket via the KTMB mobile app. You can download the app on the Google Play store for Android devices or on the App Store for iOS devices.

Do senior citizens get discounts on ETS?

Senior citizens are eligible for senior discounts on ETS tickets when traveling by KTM trains. However, the amount of discounts may vary across the year, and they are usually set by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), the ETS train operator.

In the year ending December 2023, seniors who were registered on the KTMB mobile app for all train and bus services were eligible for half-price tickets. They were also eligible for an additional RM5 discount on all ETS services, including economy and business class seats. Visit the KTMB website to check 2024 senior discounts and promotional tickets.

KTMB also offers concession fare to a certain category of people. Seniors aged 60 and over, government pensioners (and their wives), disabled people, and children (4 to 12 years) are eligible for a 20% discount off the adult ticket fee. However, the concession is only available to Malaysian citizens; foreigners are not eligible for the concession fare.

When purchasing ETS train tickets either online or at ticket counters, you should indicate you are eligible for senior citizen discounts so that the appropriate discounts are applied at checkout.

What are the different types of ETS trains?

The three types of ETS services include ETS Silver, ETS Gold, and ETS Platinum. ETS Silver is the cheapest fare among the ETS services, and it offers almost all-stop services between KL Sentral and Ipoh. The train takes a slightly longer time to reach the final destination due to the many stops along the way.

The ETS Gold train service has fewer stops compared to ETS Silver, and it is also slightly faster. On the other hand, the ETS Platinum trains are the fastest of the three train services, and they only stop at the main stations along the way. This train also serves complimentary snacks to passengers on board.

Can I buy an ETS ticket at the counter?

You can buy ETS tickets in person from the ticket counters at train stations operated by KTMB. This option is available to passengers who are unable to use the online booking option to purchase a ticket, and it allows them to buy the tickets at the train station on the day of travel.

Once you get to the train station from which you plan to take your train, look for the ticketing area where passengers can purchase tickets for various train services, including ETS. If there is a queue, you will need to wait for your turn. At the ticket counter, you will need to provide your travel information, including your name, passport number, departure station, destination, travel date, and number of passengers.

If you plan to purchase tickets at the train station, you should arrive early ahead of your departure time. The ticket counters will stop selling tickets 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Also, ticket purchases via the counter are limited to 4 tickets per purchase.

Amtrak tickets senior discounts

The equivalent of the ETS trains in the United States is the Amtrak train service. When you are traveling across cities or states covered by Amtrak, you will be eligible to receive a senior discount on train tickets.

Seniors aged 65 and over are eligible to claim a 10% discount on most Amtrak trains. For cross-border travel via trains operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, you will be eligible for a 10% senior discount if you are 60 and over.

However, the senior discount does not apply to non-Acela First Class, Business Class, or sleeping accommodation. Also, the senior discount cannot be combined with other promotional discounts offered by Amtrak.

Keep in mind that you will be required to provide proof of age to get the senior discount when purchasing train tickets and onboard the trains.