Transport in Malaysia: what to ride and how to save

As soon as you arrive to study in Kuala Lumpur, the local transport system can really scare you: a variety of modes of transport run along many routes here and huge traffic jams form on the roads. In fact, as soon as you understand this web, you will realize that the transport system of Malaysia is very convenient and efficient!

What do students usually travel to in Malaysia and how do they save on travel?

Kuala Lumpur Railway Network

Rail transport is the most convenient and popular in the Malaysian capital.

The extensive transport network of Kuala Lumpur is represented by the following modes of transport:

Light Rail Transit / Mass Rapid Transit (LRT / MRT) - urban underground metro covering the main areas of the city

Monorail Line - monorail line

KTM Komuter - commuter trains

ERL / KLIA Transit / KLIA Express - Aeroexpress to the airport

It is these types of transport in Kuala Lumpur that are on schedule and are especially popular among the most punctual students and working professionals.

The cost of a single ticket covering metro, monorail and city buses is $ 37 per month.

Bus and taxi

The system of bus routes in Kuala Lumpur is extensive and covers all areas of the city, but it has its drawbacks - buses in the capital run quite randomly and are not on schedule. You can wait for the bus at the bus stop for 40 minutes.

But there is good news, a bus ride is inexpensive, only from $ 0.20 to $ 1.20!

In the cities of Malaysia also runs a lot of official and private taxis. A taxi ride in Kuala Lumpur costs from $ 0.70 for landing and the first kilometer and from $ 0.20 for each next kilometer. Most taxis are equipped with counters, which continue to tick even in traffic jams, though much more slowly. In addition, a taxi ride at night costs more.

Travels and trips around the country and abroad

You can ride in Malaysia, whether for study or for tourist purposes, on different types of transport.

For example, the KTM railway (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) connects the main cities on the Malay Peninsula and extends to Thailand and Singapore.

In the evenings, Langkawi Express leaves Kuala Lumpur heading north. In the morning he arrives in Aarau, Kedah state, and then follows to Thai Hat Yai. This is a great option for students for the weekend!

You can also travel on intercity buses, whose routes pass through different settlements and states. A ticket for such a bus costs from $ 8.60.

In addition, boats and small river boats are widely used in Sabah and Sarawak, especially when you need to get to remote villages. Local companies organize sea and river cruises.

From Malaysia it is also convenient to travel to other countries. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is an hour's drive from the capital and serves flights from more than 40 airlines around the world.

Malaysia also has several international seaports - Penang, Port Klang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. There are ferries between Penang and Butterworth, transporting passengers and vehicles from the mainland to the island. It offers tourists in Malaysia a whole network of ferry services connecting the mainland with the islands and islands between them.

How to save on transport in Malaysia?

Compared to other countries, public transport services in Malaysia are inexpensive, but even with this expense item, local students manage to save.

Here are some ways to save your finances:

Having a student status, in Kuala Lumpur, you can arrange a single student-type My Rapid Touch 'n Go ticket, which gives a discount of up to 50% for travel on all major types of public transport.

Taxis in Malaysia vary in color. So, getting a blue taxi costs the most, and students are better off choosing orange-white and red-white cars — getting into them costs a little cheaper.

Using taxi services, try to make trips before 12 o’clock in the morning or after 6 o’clock in the morning, otherwise you will have to pay 50% more.

There are completely free buses in Kuala Lumpur! We are talking about Go KL buses, which were originally created for tourists, but over time, local residents also chose them. Of course, the routes of such buses go mainly through the city center and attractions, but this is quite enough for some residents of the capital.

If you prefer to use one-time travel cards, carefully plan your movement on the map and through special sites in advance, because the cost of the trip will be directly seen from its route.