When you just arrived in Kuala Lumpur, you may noticed that the traffic jams are a major problem, especially
between 8-9am in the morning and 5-7pm in the afternoon. Thus, renting a car to get around the unfamiliar roads
and highways of Kuala Lumpur is not recommended.
If you decided to go around Kuala Lumpur without renting a car, you can familiarize yourself with the modes of public transportation that are offered throughout Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur is the hub of transportation for Malaysia and is rapidly undergoing an infrastructure overhaul. The Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station is the nucleus of Kuala Lumpur’s transportation needs. It integrates the bus, train, light rail transit (LRT) and air transportation systems.
You will have no trouble getting around Kuala Lumpur using the city's public transport and taxis. The public transportation may be not as efficient as that of Singapore and Hong Kong, but the Kuala Lumpur transport is still far better than other cities around Southeast Asia.
Taxis
Taxis are plentiful in Kuala Lumpur and are usually the easiest way to travel around Kuala Lumpur. Taxis can be hailed from almost anywhere in the city or hired from taxi stands which are available in most areas, especially near shopping or business centres. Kuala Lumpur taxis are more efficient and convenient than a public bus.
It's worth to note that there are two types of taxis -- standard and premium. Standard taxis are usually red and white in colors and you can find them quite easily. Premium taxis are bright yellow and usually can be found queuing for fares at 5 star hotels. Standard rate for a standard taxi is RM2 for the first kilometre then 10 sen for each additional 200 meters. Standard rate for a premium taxi is RM4.
Once you get into the taxi, it is advisable to confirm with the taxi driver that the meter will be used. Be sure also to check that the meter is running. There have been many incidents of taxi drivers charging extravagant fares.
Most taxi drivers will use fare meters but sometimes you will have unlucky encounter with unscrupulous driver who just simply resist to use the metre, even if you insist. If you find yourself in this situation, just get out and hail another cab. Another point worth mentioning is that taxis can be hard to get during Friday prayer time and during shift changes.
You will be charged RM1 for each bag placed in the boot. There is a RM1 surcharge for taking a taxi from a queue at a hotel. As well there is a 50% surcharge levied between 12.00 midnight and 6.00am and a 20 sen surcharge per additional passenger.
Bus
There are several bus companies in Kuala Lumpur: the government owned Rapid KL, as well as privately owned Metrobus, Intrakota, Cityliner, Triton, Len Seng etc. The buses are usually air-conditioned but the bus system may be a bit confusing to the inexperienced.
Rapid KL operates 134 routes in the Klang Valley including the suburban feeder service to complement the LRT systems. This service covers the Kelana Jaya line (formerly the Putra line) and the Ampang and Sri Petaling lines (formerly the STAR line).
Kuala Lumpur bus fares vary by the company - some practices a standard flat fare and some bus company have different fares for different distances. Bus tickets can be purchased when entering a bus, either from a bus conductor, a ticketing machine or by depositing the fare in coins into a machine next to the driver. If you decided to use the bus around Kuala Lumpur, remeber to have plenty of small change on hand for your fare.
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Rail
Kuala Lumpur's rail-based transit system consists of three light rail transit (LRT) lines, one monorail, one commuter rail system consisting two lines, and two high-speed airport rail links.
- The three lines used by the LRT are Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line and Kelana Jaya Line.
- The two commuter rail lines, known as KTM Komuter are the Sentul-Port Klang Line and the Rawang-Seremban Line.
- The sole monorail line is known as the Kuala Lumpur Monorail.
- The high speed KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit lines connect Kuala Lumpur to the international airport.
Kuala Lumpur rail system were developed by different companies at different phase of time. Therefore, you may find that the rail system is not fully integrated with each other. Initially, you'll feel that it's incovenient to move from one system to another because it requires you to do a lot of walking, stair-climbing and crossing busy roads. However, once you are familiar with the rail services, you will find it's really worth it. I use to feel the same way but I've overcome the hassle by planning my journey well. Just study the rail routes and take notes of the nearest station to the places you're going. You'll be in good shape!
There is also no common ticket for all systems, forcing you to buy new tickets when transferring. However, the LRT, monorail, and commuter rail systems now accept the Touch 'n Go stored value farecard, easing the hassle. Also, Rapid KL, the operator of the three LRT lines as well as Rapid KL buses (which cover about 70% of the Klang Valley's bus network), has come up with a daily ticket which can be used on both its LRT and bus services which only costs RM7.
Light Rail Transit
The three line metro system is the jam-free mode of transport within the city. The Light Rail Transit (LRT) network - Ampang Line and Kelana Jaya Line, and KL Monorail connect some key districts where banks, offices, hotels and shopping malls are concentrated in Kuala Lumpur. The modern, fast and clean Kuala Lumpur's Light Rail Train system is an interesting and economical way of traveling around the city centre.
- Ampang Line & Sri Petaling Line (formerly STAR)
The yellow doors on the trains used by the STAR system have become a landmark in Kuala Lumpur. The Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines are the new names for STAR LINE LRT system or simple STAR LRT. Previously, a company called STAR (Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd) managed the 27 km track that comprises of a north-south line and another going eastward.
Ampang Line, Petaling Line and Kelana Jaya line is now operated by Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (Rapid KL). Ampang Line and Sri Petaling Line run between Sentul Timur in the north and Ampang in the east of Kuala Lumpur. It has 18 stations including the two end stations.
The Ampang Line and Sri Petaling Line share the same tracks between Sentul Timur and Chan Sow Lin stations, where they diverge. At the common stations, trains to Ampang and those to Sri Petaling arrive alternately, i.e. a train to Ampang is always followed by a train to Sri Petaling and vice versa. LED display panels are installed in the stations to provide information about the destination of the train coming into the station.
If you're travelling from the Ampang direction and heading towards Sri Petaling, you can easily transfer at Chan Sow Lin because it is a cross-platform transfer. Trains are also timed to meet each other, cutting waiting time to a minimum.
The Ampang Line & Sri Petaling Line train service starts at all stations at 6.00am. The last trains from Ampang and Sri Petaling to Sentul Timur leave at 11.30pm whereas the last trains from Sentul Timur to Ampang and Sri Petaling leave at 11.30pm.
Some stations provide feeder bus facilities from the station to nearby neighbourhoods for your convenience. The stations providing such services are Sentul, Chan Sow Lin, Maluri, Pandan Jaya, Cempaka, Ampang, Cheras, Salak Selatan, Bukit Jalil and Sri Petaling.
Click here for the Ampang Line Rail Map
Click here for the Sri Petaling Line Rail Map
- Kelana Jaya Line (formerly PUTRA)
The Kelana Jaya Line was formerly known as PUTRA Line LRT system or simply PUTRA LRT (which stood for Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik Sdn Bhd, the company which developed and operated it). Now, it is managed by Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (Rapid KL).
The system, which is 29 km long, is the third longest fully-automated driverless metro system in the world, after the SkyTrain in Vancouver and the VAL in Lille, France.
With the network of 21 stations covering the Klang Valley, Putra LRT links the city with the most happening places of the city. The Kelana Jaya Line connects the eastern and western suburbs of Kuala Lumpur while servicing some of Kuala Lumpur's most affluent and heavily populated areas.
The total alignment which starts from the Depot in Lembah Subang and ends at Gombak is 29km in length. Total travel time on the 29km route is 45 minutes cutting short the travel period by car by at least an hour.
Featuring the state-of-the-art transport system, The Kelana Jaya Line operates with 35 two-car units traveling at an average of 40 km per hour. All trains are fully air-conditioned and provide the service from 6.00 a.m until 12.00 midnight, on Monday - Saturday, and 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. on Sunday and Public Holidays.
For your convenience, Kelana Jaya Line provides dedicated feeder bus service within 3-km radius from each station. Bus schedules are posted at major bus stops. The operational hours coincides with the LRT operation hours.
Click here for the Kelana Jaya Line Rail Map
- KL Monorail
KL Monorail is an inner-city public transit system that serves the central business, hotel and shopping district of Kuala Lumpur. The 8.6km long, dual guideway, straddle-beam elevated monorail system starts from the Pekeliling bus Terminal at Jalan Tun Razak in the north, pass through Kuala Lumpur's 'Golden Triangle' (central business district) before reaching KL Sentral in Brickfields.
Fully elevated with 11 conveniently placed stations - each between 600 to 1000 meters apart - the KL Monorail is capable of handling up to 18,000 passengers per hour per direction, operating at up to 2 minutes headway between trains. Traveling time along the from Titiwangsa station to the KL Sentral station would take about 19 minutes.
Click here for the KL Monorail Rail Map
- KLIA Express
KLIA Ekspres is a non-stop, airport rail link service between Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral) and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. The non-stop 57 kilometres trip between KL Sentral and KLIA takes around 28 minutes with the trains departing at 15-minute intervals during peak hours and 20-minute intervals during off-peak hours.
If you're travelling from KL Sentral to KLIA, you can purchase your ticket at the KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT) which is an integral part of the KL Sentral. You can buy the ticket at the automated ticketing machines or from the ticketing staff at the stations. A one-way trip would cost RM35 while the two-way trip would cost RM70. If you purchase the two-way tickets, you're are entitled to a 1-day free parking at the KL Sentral covered car park.
The KLIA Ekspres shares its tracks with the KLIA Transit, a commuter train service which also runs between KL Sentral and KLIA but stops at three intermediate stations. Both KLIA Transit and KLIA Ekspres services are often reffered to by Malaysians simply as ERL.
- KLIA Transit
KLIA Transit is a rail service linking Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). It shares the same tracks as the KLIA Ekspres but unlike the direct airport express service, KLIA Transit stops at three other stations. There are five stations served by KLIA Transit. They are (from north to south):
- KL Sentral
- Bandar Tasik Selatan
- Cyberjaya / Putrajaya
- Salak Tinggi
- KLIA
Click here for the KL Transit Rail Map
KTM Commuter
KTM Komuter is an electrified commuter train service first introduced in 1995, catering especially to commuters in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding suburban areas. It is a popular mode of transportation for commuters working in Kuala Lumpur, as they can travel to the city without the hassle of traffic congestion. Coaches are modern and air-conditioned. For those who drive to the stations/halts, 'Park & Ride' facility is provided at a nominal charge.
The KTM Commuter service is quite restrictive for visitors wanting to travel within the city centre as it serves more the outlying states. It is more useful if you are planning a day trip out of Kuala Lumpur. Plans are underway to integrate the multiple operators of the trains and light rail trains to all converge at the new KL Central Station. When this would materialize is anyone's guess but integrating the system would certainly be a welcome development.
KTM Komuter's 153 km network has 42 stations and consists of two lines, namely the Sentul-Port Klang and Rawang-Seremban lines.
Transfers between the two lines can be done at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur and Putra stations. Stair-climbing or escalator-use may be required at KL Sentral and Putra, while cross-platform transfers can be conveniently done at Kuala Lumpur.
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