Kuala Lumpur Metro

KL Monorail

One of the most convenient and fastest ways to get around Kuala Lumpur is by Metro. Many tourists are afraid to use it, believing that it is too difficult, and it is easier to take a taxi. Perhaps it is easier to take a taxi, especially if you plan to stay in the city for one day. But if you want to stay in the city longer and, at the same time, do not go broke, it is better not to find anything. In addition, while the taxi will stand in traffic jams, on the subway you will quickly fly over the congestion. That is why hotel location in Kuala Lumpur we recommend choosing closer to the metro station, and best of all to the LRT metro station.

In the Kuala Lumpur metro, everything is organized simply and logically, and you can use it even without knowledge of English. Below, read about what types of rail transport there are in Kuala Lumpur, how and where to buy tickets and use them, where to get to and everything else about the metro in KL:

Kuala Lumpur metro views

In general, the railway transport of Kuala Lumpur is represented by Whole types:

• Light Rail Transit / Mass Rapid Transit (abbreviated LRT/MRT) – City Metro. The city Metro, covering the main areas of the city, but passing not under the ground, but above it.
• Monorail Line-monorail line. A single monorail subway line complements the city's subway, but there are very few stations.
• KTM Komuter-commuter trains. Mainly used to get out of town and into the suburbs.
• ERL or KLIA Transit and KLIA Express-Aeroexpress to the airport. Only needed to get to/from Kuala Lumpur airport and to travel between airport terminals, but generally more expensive than taking a bus to the airport.

In recent years, the metro in KL has changed and advanced a lot. Previously, each type was separate, with its own payment system. Now the monorail and LRT have merged, and another new type of MRT Line has been added, all this is now called Rapid KL. Now you can buy a ticket at any station of one of these types of Metro to any other, and follow with transfers on one ticket.

However, trains (KTM Komuter) and Aeroexpress (ERL), although intersecting with lines of other types and connected to them by crossings, are still paid separately.

From the point of view of tourists, the metro in KL is still divided by lines and order of use, so more detailed information about each type will be useful to you:

• City Metro LRT/MRT

  SkyTrain in KL

  The city Metro Light Rail Transit / Mass Rapid Transit (abbreviated LRT/MRT or RapidKL LRT) is the most popular and most practical type of Metro in KL, and most likely it is them that you will have to use first. By and large, if you decide to stay in KL for a few days, this mode of transport, supplemented by a single trip to the Batu Caves on the KTM Komuter commuter trains, should be enough for you to get acquainted with all the sights of Kuala Lumpur.

  This is an elevated metro, only 4 stations are underground. Consists of four lines:

  • Type of LRT-elevated: Ampang Line, Kelana Jaya Line, Sri Petaling Line
  • MRT type-terrestrial: Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

  The three LRT lines intersect at Masjid Jamek station in the center. Kelana Jaya Line and Sungai Buloh - Kajang line pass through the main transport hub of the city-KL Sentral station.

  • Inside the carriage
  • City metro station
  • Kuala Lumpur SkyTrain
  • 

• Monorail

  KL Monorail

  The monorail Line in KL consists of only one line passing through the central areas of the city (Brickfields, Bukit Bintang and Chow Kit). The line includes 11 stations, originating at the station KL Sentral. It is integrated into a single payment/ticket system with LRT, and intersects with it in several places using transitions.

  It is very convenient upon arrival in KL from the airport or by train to the KL Sentral station to get to the Imbi, Bukit Bintang or Raja Chulan monorail station, located near the Bukit Bintang area, where most of the budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur are located. If you decide to stay in Chinatown, then you need to drive from KL Sentral two stops to Maharajalela station, and you will get off nearby (400 meters) from the center of Chinatown.

  The use of the monorail is no different from the usual Metro: the same tickets, turnstiles and platforms. Trains run on two rails (each on its own one), towards each other.

  • Inside the monorail car
  • Monorail station

• Commuter trains

  Commuter trains (Komuter Train Service or KTM Komuter) in KL

  Commuter trains (Komuter Train Service or KTM Komuter) are practically the same as our commuter trains. You can get on them to the suburbs of KL and to some neighboring cities of the state. You can also move within the city, but electric trains run infrequently (every 30 minutes). The cost and schedule can be found on the website - http://www.ktmb.com.my

  KTM Komuter consists of two lines passing through the city center (KL-Sentral station) and stretching far beyond it. For tourist purposes, only the Batu Caves-Port Kelang (formerly Sentul-Port Kelang) line is of interest. Firstly, you can get to/from Port Kelang, and secondly, you can get to the famous Batu Caves if you go to the terminus of Batu Caves. The fare KL-Sentral-Batu Cave – RM2. 6.we did not find any other tourist application for suburban trains.

  Trains run every 30 minutes. Driving mode on the Batu Caves-Port Kelang line is from 5: 35 to 22:35.

  Access to the platforms is made in the same way as in the metro: through turnstiles on electronic tickets. Tickets are sold at all stations.

  Keep in mind that trains on different routes can stop at the same station. At the same time, different trains make stops in different places throughout the length of the platform. In order not to miss the train you need, wait for it in the appropriate part of the platform, indicated by a sign.

  As part of the train there are "pink carriages" (marked with pink stickers), intended only for women. Men are not allowed in them.

• Trains to the airport (KLIA Express and KLIA Transit)

  KLIA Express train

  Trains KLIA Express and KLIA Transit, or another ERL, are designed primarily to quickly and conveniently get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city and back, as well as to move between airport terminals. This is the fastest way to get to the airport, but in the city on them you will not get anywhere.

  There are two types of electric trains: KLIA Express and KLIA Transit. Both types carry out communication between the main terminal of the airport and the so-called KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT), which is actually located at the KL Sentral station.:

  • KLIA Express. It takes 28 minutes to reach the final station without stopping. But such a trip will also cost you in RM55 (RM25 for children up to 12 years old; up to 2 years old for free). It's almost $ 15 USD and it's more expensive than a bus ride with Puduraya bus stations. Trains leave every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes the rest of the time. Trains run from 5 am to midnight.
  • KLIA Transit. It differs from the Express in that it makes three stops along the way at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya and Bandar Tasik Selatan, and the total journey time is 35 minutes. The cost from the airport to KL Sentral is also RM55 / 25. Trains depart every 30 minutes.

  You can buy an electronic train ticket in advance here https://www.kliaekspres.com/. Payment by Visa or Mastercard.

Kuala Lumpur metro map / map

An interactive map of all metro types is available at http://www.myrapid.com.my, but unfortunately it doesn't print or download. Download and print the metro map in PDF format here or here (current for 2022). We recommend that you download this map to your smartphone and use it while traveling (you can also check the availability of a more up-to-date map on the website https://www.myrapid.com.my) because even the local paper maps that you can find in hotels, airport and tourist places have not kept up with the changes and may have an old map in them.

On our interactive map of Kuala Lumpur we have placed the most important stations from a tourist point of view, and here is their description.

Inside the Metro (at stations) schemes are everywhere.

Metro Times in Kuala Lumpur

The Metro operates from 6:00 to 11:30 (plus/minus 15 minutes for different lines) on weekdays, and until 11:30 on holidays and weekends.

Metro trains run with a frequency of 2-3 minutes during peak hours, and up to 10 the rest of the time.

Bans and safety in the subway

In the Metro KL a lot of things are prohibited, which is clearly warned by information signs. You can not smoke, eat, litter. Moreover, the fine for violations is 500 ringgit, which is about 8000 rubles! Everything is controlled by video cameras, and the security service is not uncommon.

Metro tickets, fare

Ticket vending machine

Access to the platforms of all metro types is organized using tickets made in the form of plastic cards or tokens (plastic tokens). They are sold at each station in cash registers or vending machines (vending machines accept coins and bills). But recently, more and more stations are switching completely to selling tickets through vending machines, and only money is exchanged at the box office. To buy in the machine you need to specify the departure and arrival station, then "feed" him the desired amount. The machine gives change in coins.

There are one-time, cumulative and travel tickets, and for each type of metro its own. But since 2014, the LRT, MRT and monorail metro systems have been combined into one system, and now you can buy a ticket for any of the Stations of one type, and go to the station of another type, moving from one line to another through the crossings. However, there is a problem with transfers at the KL Sentra station, and if your route will pass with a transfer through this station, it is better to buy tickets for separate sections of the trip.

Turnstiles at the entrance to the Metro

The fare for all types of Metro and tickets depends on the length of the trip, and varies from station to station. When buying, you must name the starting and ending stations of the trip at the checkout or indicate the machine, and pay the specified amount. If you are traveling from the station where you buy tickets, it is enough to specify the destination station. If you do not speak English, you can show the cashier the name of the station on a map or a piece of paper, well, you will also get the price on a piece of paper, the numbers are the same everywhere.

Ticket control takes place in automatic turnstiles at the entrance to the platforms and at the exit. If you get off at the wrong station, the turnstiles will not let you out, and you will have to go to the right Station.

Token ticket

It is most profitable for tourists to use one-time tickets and not bother with buying travel cards. However, if you plan to be in the city for 2 days, but at the same time move a lot, you can purchase a special KL TravelPass. It includes a trip from the airport on the ARL Aeroexpress, and unlimited movement on all types of urban Metro (LRT, MRT and monorail) for two days. Such passes are sold at the Aeroexpress ticket office at the airport, and on the ground floor of the KL Sentral station. The cost is 70 ringgit (Aeroexpress in one direction) and 115 (Aeroexpress in both directions).

Cumulative tickets are purchased for each metro separately, but a single Rapidpass Integrasi pass is valid for LRT, MRT, Monorail and bus routes. The cost of a single travel card: for a month - 150 ringgit (RM), 15 days – RM, 7 days – RM50, 3 days – RM25, for 1 day - RM10.

You will not be able to use a single travel card for two persons! You need to buy everyone their own travel card.