How to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train

There is no direct train service from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, so this guide shows how to make the journey by two different trains.

Getting the train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur used to be a straightforward affair. The train would leave Tanjong Pagar railway station (near downtown Singapore), clear immigration for both countries at Woodlands, and then continue on the same train to Kuala Lumpur. I did this journey in 2009 and it was a great way to travel overland.

In 2011 the service from Tanjong Pagar was discontinued and the train service then began at Woodlands, near the Singapore-Malaysia border. The railway corridor from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands has since been turned into a park (the Singapore Rail Corridor) so it’s unlikely that this line will ever be restored.

Then in 2015 the Woodlands-KL service was discontinued, and a shuttle train from Woodlands to Johor Bahru was introduced.

Also in 2015, the ETS (Electric Train Service) began operations from Kuala Lumpur to Gemas (which is about halfway to Johor Bahru). The electric train service was extended Johor Bahru in December 2025, so it now takes two trains to go from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

You need to book tickets individually as the train booking sites don’t book multiple sections on one ticket. Here is how to book train tickets from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

[The old Johor Bahru Station.]

Tickets to book for Singapore-Kuala Lumpur train

Tickets for each segment need to be booked individually, so it’s best to open a browser tab for each segment to make sure there is a seat available on every segment first before committing to a single ticket.

To do this, go to online.ktmb.com.my and do a search for each leg on separate browsers. You can also book via the online booking agent Baolau.

Train combinations from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

Shuttle Tebrau 72: Woodlands – Johor Bahru (Shuttle Tebrau)

Depart Woodlands 08:30
Arrive JB Sentral 08:35

The first shuttle train to JB Sentral is not timed to connect to the JB-KL train.

Train 9510: Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) – Kluang (Intercity)

Depart Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) 08:40
Arrive Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) 13:00

If you want to get this morning service from JB, then you will need to cross the border by bus.

An alternative itinerary would be to stay in Johor Bahru overnight. That gives you a chance to explore the JB old town and not having to leave Singapore so early.

The second train of the day leaves in the afternoon, so you get the have the morning in Singapore

Shuttle Tebrau – 82
Depart Woodlands 15:00
Arrive JB Sentral 15:05

Platinum – 9532
Depart Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) 16:20
Arrive Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) 20:40

There are plans to add more ETS trains, so there should be a better morning connection in the future.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore

Here is my guide on how to go from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by train.

Bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

If you’ve read all this and it all sounds too complicated, then book one of the many direct bus services from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

Read more about railways in Malaysia and other train travel articles.

Read more about the railways of Southeast Asia.