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Ipoh guide

KL to Ipoh: train, bus or car

The ETS train from KL Sentral is the quickest way from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh, taking about 2 to 2.5 hours, with weekday one-way fares of about RM40–55 that rise at weekends and holidays (checked Nov 2026). Express buses take about 3 to 3.5 hours from about RM19. Driving the North–South Expressway is about 205 km, around 2–2.5 hours.

By D Eastern front desk · Updated 2026-11-06

For most people the ETS train from KL Sentral is the easiest way to reach Ipoh. It takes about 2 hours on the Express service and up to about 2 hours 35 minutes on Gold, and weekday one-way fares are about RM40–55, rising at weekends and in school holidays (checked Nov 2026). Express buses cost less, from about RM19, but take about 3–3.5 hours and arrive at a terminal well outside the centre. Driving is about 205 km on the North–South Expressway and takes around 2–2.5 hours without heavy traffic.

How long is the train from KL to Ipoh?

The ETS (Electric Train Service) runs from KL Sentral to Ipoh Railway Station. KTMB's current timetable (effective 1 June 2026) gives these typical journey times (checked Nov 2026):

ClassJourney time
Express (fewest stops)about 2h 00m
Platinumabout 2h 25m
Gold (more stops)about 2h 30m–2h 35m

The same timetable shows about 18 departures a day from KL Sentral to Ipoh, from about 7.20am until a late-evening Platinum service at about 10.50pm that reaches Ipoh after 1am. Times can change, so check the KTMB app or website on the day. Malaysian children aged 4–12 and seniors aged 60 and over can get 50% off, but they first have to register for the concession with KTMB.

For a midweek trip, one-way adult fares seen in 2026 ranged from about RM40 on Gold to about RM55 on Express (checked Nov 2026). Fares are flexible: KTMB prices ETS seats by route, date, time and how early you book, so treat these figures as a guide, not a quote.

How do I book ETS tickets?

  • Online: on KTMB's booking system, KITS, at online.ktmb.com.my, linked from ktmb.com.my.
  • App: KTMB's official app, on the App Store and Google Play. It is listed as KTMB Mobile on the App Store, and some 2026 articles call it the KITS app.
  • In person: at station counters and ticket kiosks.

Online sales close 15 minutes before departure, and counters close 10 minutes before. Book early for weekends, school holidays and festivals. For Chinese New Year 2027, KTMB opened sales for January–February 2027 trains on 2 November 2026. Sales for March 2027 open on 1 December 2026.

Is there an express bus from KL to Ipoh?

Yes, and many operators run it. Most leave from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), next to Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station. Some services also leave from Hentian Duta and KL Sentral.

  • Journey time: about 3 to 3.5 hours (Plusliner and Transnasional list about 3h00 from Hentian Duta, 3h15 from KL Sentral and 3h30 from TBS). Traffic leaving southern KL can add time.
  • Fares: from about RM19 one way from TBS (checked Nov 2026). Prices vary by operator and date.
  • Departures: buses run through the day. Plusliner and Transnasional alone list 18 trips a day between 9:00 and 21:30.

Where does the bus arrive in Ipoh?

Intercity buses from KL arrive at Terminal Amanjaya, which is also called Terminal Meru Raya. It is north of the city, about 8 km from Jalan Sultan Idris Shah in a straight line and further by road.

From Amanjaya to the city centre:

  • Grab or taxi: the Grab app shows the fare before you book. It is a longer ride than from the railway station, so expect to pay more.
  • City bus: Perak Transit's BAS.MY routes A30A and A30B (formerly T30A/T30B) run between Terminal Meru Raya and Medan Kidd, the local bus station. BAS.MY says its main Ipoh routes run about every 30–60 minutes; check the BAS.MY app for times on the day. From Medan Kidd it is about 1.2 km (straight line) to Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, about a 16-minute walk, or a short Grab ride.

How long is the drive from KL to Ipoh?

The usual route is north on the North–South Expressway (E1/E2, run by PLUS) from the Jalan Duta toll plaza to the Ipoh exits.

  • Distance: about 205 km.
  • Time: about 2 to 2.5 hours in normal traffic.
  • Tolls: about RM21.73 one way for a car (Class 1) from Jalan Duta to Ipoh, per 2026 toll lists (checked Nov 2026). Roads inside KL add separate tolls, and the amount depends on your exit, so check the PLUS toll calculator at plus.com.my.

Parking: D Eastern has free private parking on site at the rear. You don't need to reserve: spaces are first come, first served.

How do I get from Ipoh Railway Station to the hotel?

Ipoh Railway Station is about 1.4 km from the hotel. That's a short Grab ride, or about an 18-minute walk. Grab is the easier choice with luggage or in the midday heat, and the front desk can help you book one.

Which option should I choose?

  • Fastest and most comfortable: ETS Express or Platinum.
  • Cheapest: express bus from TBS, but allow time for the transfer from Amanjaya.
  • Most flexible: driving, especially if you plan day trips around Perak.

Ask the front desk on WhatsApp

Sources