Malaysians are increasingly opting for the ETS train to avoid festive traffic jams, citing comfort, time savings, and convenience as key reasons for the shift from driving.
JOHOR BAHRU: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaching, many Malaysians are forgoing congested highways for the comfort of the Electric Train Service (ETS).
Passengers at JB Sentral highlighted the train’s advantages over traditional road travel during the busy festive period.
Arif Noor Zaman, 28, from Pasir Gudang, is taking the ETS to Butterworth before continuing to Kedah after direct tickets sold out.
He said driving home could take up to 12 hours, while the ETS journey is roughly nine hours.
“It’s more comfortable because we don’t have to worry about traffic. We just sit back and relax,” he said, noting this was his second such trip from Johor Bahru.
Siti Nur Shahidah Hashim, 43, chose the train from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur to avoid traffic, especially while travelling with her children.
“Festive travel by car or bus usually takes longer due to heavy congestion, so the ETS is a more practical option,” said the private company manager.
She added that the ETS is very comfortable for her first-time journey to celebrate Raya in Kuala Lumpur.
Yana, a 24-year-old F&B worker from Singapore, is taking the ETS to Seremban to avoid the stress of driving.
“I used to drive, but I chose the train to avoid traffic. It’s more comfortable, and I booked a business-class seat,” said the solo traveller.
She noted the added benefit of not worrying about fuel, tolls, or long delays during her week-long break.
