Commuters heading to and from the Batu Caves KTM Komuter station can enjoy free rides in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival on February 11.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that all trips within the Klang Valley to and from Batu Caves will be free from midnight to 11:59 PM, starting on February 10 and running through February 11, as reported by Berita Harian.
KTM Komuter services will run for 24 hours
On top of that, Loke also mentioned that KTM Komuter services will run 24/7 for four days, from February 9 to 12, and the Port Klang-Tanjung Malim-Port Klang route will be fully operational throughout the celebration.
He added that 118 extra train trips will be made over those four days, bringing the total to 494 trips during the celebration period.
“This extra service will kick off after the last train each day, starting as early as 9:55 PM from Pulau Sebang Station to Batu Caves, and as early as 9:30 PM from Pelabuhan Klang Station to Batu Caves,” he said.
For passengers from KL Sentral, the additional trains will be running between the usual schedules, starting from 11 AM and improving the frequency to every 30 minutes, instead of the usual 1-hour gap on normal days.
Charges will be waived upon checkout
This initiative is meant to meet the needs of passengers, especially Hindu devotees, tourists, and anyone who wants to experience the unique Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves.
Loke also reminded commuters that they can use cashless payment methods like the KTMB Mobile app, Komuter Link card, Touch ‘n Go card, or debit/credit cards, and the charges will be waived when they check out.
“Physical tickets with a QR code can also be picked up at the counters for free on those two days,” he said.
Free shuttle bus services will also be provided
Meanwhile, Loke mentioned that Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, through RapidKL and RapidPenang, will be offering free shuttle bus services during this period to make getting around easier for Thaipusam.
He said 30 buses will run from Pasar Seni City Hub, LRT Gombak, and MRT Kampung Batu to Batu Caves, with buses coming every 10 minutes on Monday and Tuesday.
For passengers in Penang, RapidPenang will have 12 buses running with intervals ranging from 20 to 60 minutes, going from the ferry terminal to Adventist.
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