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SEVERE congestion caused by racegoers departing the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) following the opening day of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix spilled over into Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) yesterday, resulting in long queues for the Express Rail Link (ERL).
Footage shared on social media showed lines of passengers filling the second floor of KLIA2, with crowds consisting largely of spectators seeking to complete their journeys home after leaving the circuit.
Some visitors claimed they were only able to board shuttle buses around 9:00 PM despite joining the queues as early as 5pm.
Threads user @ishvinderjitsingh stated that he departed from SIC around 7:00 PM but only arrived at KLIA2 at approximately 9:30 PM.
"7:00 PM from SIC, at KLIA Terminal 2 by 9:30 PM and now I have to wait for the ERL," Harina Metro cited him posting.
"After more than three hours, I am still around KLIA and Sepang. Oh God, please make it easier," he added.
In the comment section, the user further claimed that e-hailing fares spiked to over RM90 at the time, prompting him to remain waiting for public transport.
Another user questioned the operational frequency of the ERL service, claiming trains were running only every 20 minutes despite the high passenger volume.
Similar frustrations were shared by Threads user @userww4687, who noted that the journey home was compounded by double delays at both SIC and KLIA2.
"From day to night, that was the issue. In the end, to get home, taking a Grab cost up to RM150 from KLIA2 because the ERL was also congested," the user stated.
"Crowd management should have been prepared earlier, and there should be a dedicated lane either for the public or shuttle buses," the user added.
Earlier, social media platforms were flooded with posts from attendees reporting extraordinary congestion when exiting the circuit, with many claiming to have waited hours for shuttle buses to reach nearby car parks and transport hubs.
The situation has sparked widespread calls for improved traffic management, increased shuttle bus capacity, and enhanced public transport coordination to handle the large influx of visitors throughout the event. - October 3, 2026
