KUALA LUMPUR: Good news for the thousands of Malaysians using the Tebrau Shuttle to cross the Causeway daily.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has announced a standardised RM5 one-way fare for the rail service which plies between JB Sentral and Woodlands beginning Aug 1.
At present, commuters pay RM5 for a ticket from JB Sentral to Woodlands, but pay S $5 (RM22.50) when they travel from Woodlands to JB Sentral.
KTMB Group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin said the new fare of a RM10 round trip will only apply to Malaysians.
He said in a statement today that the new fare will benefit about 40,000 Malaysians using the Tebrau Shuttle train shuttle between Johor and Singapore daily.
"However, to enjoy this cheaper shuttle fare, Malaysians must first register an account on the KTMB mobile application (KITS) and verify their identity card first at a ticket kiosk (TVM) or any KTMB ticket counter.
"This identification verification process is vital for all Malaysian commuters to avoid any possible abuse of this special privilege accorded to only Malaysians," he said adding it is also a security measure to prevent irresponsible parties from abusing cheaper fare.
Mohd Rani said KTMB will also open an additional counter at JB Sentral between Feb 19 to March 1 to ensure the smoothness of the identity verification process.
"While this announcement delights local commuters, foreigners other than Malaysians would still be required to pay the present fare, which is RM5 from JB Sentral to Woodlands and S$5 for the return train shuttle from Singapore to Johor.
"If a round trip for Malaysians from JB Sentral - Woodlands- JB Sentral or Woodlands- JB Sentral-Woodlands cost RM 10 for Malaysians, for non-citizens it would cost RM 5 + S $5 (RM22.50) and S $5+ S$5 for the same round trip, respectively."
He advised users to register for the KITS account so that they will be able to make ticket payment via KTM Wallet, Touch & Go and Boost e-wallets, debit card and credit card easily.
Ticket sales for this new fare will start on Feb 29.
For more information, please contact the KTM Bhd Call Centre at 03 2267 1200 or log on to KTMB's official Facebook Messenger.