Places to be: Travellers walking through KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: As Deepavali approaches, public transport operators are urging travellers to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment. To entice potential passengers, several operators are offering discounts and additional services.
Intercity bus operator Mara Liner Sdn Bhd has announced special discounts for return trips and selected seats.
In a recent Facebook post, the company reminded travellers to make their bookings promptly and offered a 5% discount on return trips and 10% on selected seats.
The bus operator also wished travellers a safe holiday in the post tagged #cutideepavali and reminded potential customers that, “Abang bas MARALINER ready nak bawak korang jalan-jalan!” (Our bus drivers are ready to take you on your journey!).
KTM Bhd (KTMB) has also stepped up to meet the expected surge in travellers during the festive season.
The company has announced two additional ETS train services on the KL Sentral-Padang Besar route from Oct 30 to Nov 3. These services will offer 630 tickets per day, totalling 3,150 additional tickets over five days.
KTMB’s initiative is aimed at easing congestion on the roads and providing passengers with a smoother, more comfortable journey during Deepavali.
Tickets for these additional services went on sale on Oct 10.
Travellers are encouraged to purchase their tickets early through the KTMB Mobile app (KITS) or the official KTMB website to enjoy flexible fares and avoid last-minute price hikes.
“Passengers are also reminded to arrive at the station well in advance, as gates will close five minutes before departure.
“KTMB advises passengers to plan their journeys ahead and take advantage of flexible fare options for more affordable travel,” KTMB said in a statement.
Many passengers have already secured their tickets well in advance to avoid the rush.
C. Priya, 28, who will be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Johor, said, “I booked my tickets a month ago to avoid last-minute hassle. I prefer taking a premium bus for comfort since it’s going to be quite a long journey.”
N. Prem, 31, a graphic artist, shared a similar sentiment.
“I booked my train tickets a couple of weeks ago. I do this every year because I had a bad experience of not being able to get any ticket years ago due to last-minute booking.”
