KUANTAN, Oct 20 — A 50 per cent discount on East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) fares for eligible passengers positions the rail service as a new, more affordable transport option particularly for families traveling with children and senior citizens.

Civil servant Fairus Mohd, 42, noted that the discount allows her to bring along her three children-aged between three and seven as well as her 75-year-old mother, Jeriah Abdul Rahman, for a trip to Kuala Lumpur via the ECRL.

She mentioned that her family occasionally travels to the capital for various personal matters and to visit relatives.

“With this discount, I can better manage travel expenses especially when traveling with my children and elderly mother while also avoiding road congestion, particularly during festive seasons and school holidays,” she told Bernama.

According to Fairus, ECRL also offers her children a novel experience, allowing them to enjoy a train journey and take in the scenery along the route.

“In my view, the ticket price is reasonable, and the service is expected to offer comfort while shortening travel time. My family and I are looking forward to trying it out, and I hope there will be plenty of tickets available,” said the Pahang native.

She added that while air travel was previously a primary choice for those looking to reach their destinations quickly, the ECRL now provides an additional land-based transport alternative for travel between the East Coast and the Klang Valley.

For 60-year-old senior citizen Noril Azian Jaafar, the 50 per cent fare discount offered by the ECRL service is a highly beneficial initiative that helps save on travel costs, while also providing her with the opportunity to return to Pasir Mas, Kelantan, more frequently to visit relatives.

“Although my parents have passed away, I still frequently travel to Pasir Mas, Kelantan, to visit my older brother. With the ECRL and the discounts being offered, I will be able to make the trip there even more often.

“At my age, comfort is a higher priority for me… by using the ECRL, I can disembark at the Kota Bharu station and be picked up by a relative to continue to Pasir Mas; this makes my travel arrangements much more convenient,” said the individual, who resides here.

Yesterday, the chief executive officer of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, announced that the Cabinet has approved a 50 per cent discount for children aged two to 12, Malaysian senior citizens aged 60 and above, holders of Persons with Disabilities (OKU) cards, and government retirees.

Additionally, students aged 13 to 24 are eligible for a 40 per cent discount.

The economy-class fare for the ECRL service from Gombak to Kota Bharu, a distance of 523 kilometres reportedly starts as low as RM125 one-way, while the express service for the same route starts at RM147.

For the 378-kilometre journey from Gombak to Kuala Terengganu, the transit fare starts at RM95 one-way, while the express service starts at RM110.

For the 209-kilometre  journey from Gombak to KotaSAS, fares start at RM60 for the transit service and RM68 for the express service. — Bernama