Kota Bharu ECRL hub to get bus station under Budget 2027 plans

Malaysia plans to add a bus station to Kota Bharu’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) hub under Budget 2027. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the project alongside RM270 million for improvements to stage bus services across major cities, covering connections to 15 East Coast stations before the railway begins operating.

Pembawa committee member Laili Ismail told Bernama that linking the two transport services would encourage more passengers to use buses and lessen dependence on private vehicles. Rail passengers could continue to their destinations without first having to reach another terminal, he said, while operators could extend services on heavily used routes.

Laili said the planned facility could relieve pressure on Kota Bharu’s main bus terminal at Lembah Sireh during holidays and busy hours. That terminal currently accommodates around 150 trips each day from Monday to Thursday in normal weeks, compared with between 180 and 200 daily trips during peak seasons.

He called for bus departures to be aligned with train services so passengers would not face lengthy waits. Planning should also address waiting areas, ticket counters, passenger collection and drop-off points, and orderly routes for buses entering and leaving the station.

Resident Ainy Md Yunos, 74, said a nearby bus connection would help people without vehicles avoid asking relatives for lifts or paying extra for onward transport. Muhammad Bukhari Ab Ghaffar, 30, wanted services to extend into rural areas, helping Kelantan residents reach their villages, particularly during festive periods.