ECRL Jerteh station is the East Coast Rail Link stop closest to Kuala Besut jetty, the main departure point for boats to the Perhentian Islands — about 23 km away, or 30 to 35 minutes by road. It is not in Jerteh town: the station sits inland at Kampung Alor Keladi, roughly 8 km by road south of the town centre. Passenger services between Gombak in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu, including this station, are targeted to start on 12 December 2026, subject to safety and regulatory approvals.
Mind the season. That opening date falls in the northeast monsoon. From about November to February, sometimes into March, most Perhentian chalets close and boats cross only on calm days. If the train is your plan for an island holiday, aim for April to September.
We live about half an hour from the station, in Kampung Jabi, and this is what we would tell a friend. Baca dalam Bahasa Melayu: Stesen ECRL Jerteh
Train or fly into Kota Bharu?
Until now, the quick way to the Perhentians has been a one-hour flight to Kota Bharu and a taxi south. The ECRL adds a second option. Here is how they compare on what has been published so far:
| ECRL to Jerteh | Fly to Kota Bharu (KBR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | ECRL Gombak station, next to Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, north Kuala Lumpur | KLIA or Subang airport |
| Main leg | Transit train; Jerteh time not yet published, but between 3 h 51 min and 5 h | About 1 hour in the air |
| To Kuala Besut jetty | About 23 km, 30–35 min | About 57 km, 1 h to 1 h 15 min |
| Fare | From RM114 one way (Transit, economy), dynamic pricing | Varies by airline and date |
Our take: the train drops you much closer to the jetty and skips the airport, but whether it suits a same-day boat depends on a timetable not yet published. Boats run from around 8am until late afternoon, never at night, so you need a train that reaches Jerteh by early afternoon. If yours arrives late, sleep near the jetty and take a morning boat.
Where exactly is ECRL Jerteh station?
For Waze or Google Maps, use the coordinates 5.7008, 102.4832.
- Spelling. Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), the project owner, spells the station Jertih — an alternative spelling of Jerteh. On Google Maps the pin is labelled "ECRL STN03 JERTIH".
- Location. On Jalan Jerteh–Keruak, between Kampung Alor Keladi and Kampung Alor Belanga — about 4 km south of Jerteh town as the crow flies, 8 km by road. You cannot walk to town.
- Place on the line. From the north: Kota Bharu → Pasir Puteh → Jertih → Bandar Permaisuri → Kuala Terengganu, then south to Gombak. It is the northernmost ECRL station in Terengganu.
- One road out. Almost everywhere in this guide is reached by driving north towards Jerteh town first.
Before the station opens, map apps may still show construction-site labels. Check that your pin is south of Jerteh town, near Kampung Alor Keladi.
When does the ECRL open?
The original schedule for Phase 1 (Kota Bharu to Gombak) was January 2027. On 6 October 2026, MRL brought the target forward to mid-December, after the Transport Ministry asked for trains to run during the year-end school holidays. On 20 October, Transport Minister Anthony Loke named 12 December. Fault-free test runs began on 23 October, with trial operations through November.
Jertih is one of the 16 Phase 1 Transit stations, so it opens with the rest of the line. Treat the date as a target until services actually begin.
Journey times and fares
The Express does not stop at Jerteh. According to MRL, Express trains call only at Gombak, KotaSAS (Kuantan), Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. For Besut, take the all-stops Transit train.
| Journey | Express | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Gombak – Kuala Terengganu | 2 h 54 min | 3 h 51 min |
| Gombak – Kota Bharu | about 4 h | nearly 5 h |
| Gombak – Jerteh | does not stop | not yet published |
| Kota Bharu – Jerteh | does not stop | not yet published |
Because Jerteh lies between Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu, the Transit run from Gombak must take longer than 3 h 51 min and less than 5 hours. That is our arithmetic from the official figures, not an MRL timetable. Reported frequency is 12 trains a day Monday to Thursday and 16 Friday to Sunday, both directions combined; how many are Transit services stopping at Jerteh has not been announced.
Fares announced on 19 October 2026 (one way, starting prices): Gombak–Kota Bharu from RM125 (Transit) or RM147 (Express); Gombak–Kuala Terengganu from RM95 or RM110. Fares are dynamic, rising with demand like airline tickets. ECRL then posted starting fares from Gombak to every station on its official Facebook and Instagram: Gombak–Jertih is from RM114 one way on the Transit train (Bandar Permaisuri RM107, Pasir Puteh RM118). Fares between other pairs of stations, such as Jerteh–Kota Bharu, have not been published; tables online that work them out by subtraction are estimates.
Concessions: 50% off for children aged 2–12, Malaysian seniors aged 60 and over, OKU card holders and government pensioners; 40% off for students aged 13–24. Economy tickets are 30% off in the first month for passengers without other concessions.
From the station to Kuala Besut jetty
The drive is simple: Jalan Jerteh–Keruak north to Jerteh, then the Kampung Raja road to Kuala Besut — about 23 km, 30 to 35 minutes. The hard part is finding a car.
As of late October 2026, no feeder bus, shuttle or public bus route to ECRL Jerteh station has been announced, and neither have parking rates. Your options:
- A transfer arranged in advance. Ask your island resort, or your guesthouse near the jetty, whether they can meet the train. This is the most reliable option.
- Local taxi. There is a taxi stand near Jerteh bus station, about 7 km from the ECRL station. Whether taxis will wait at the ECRL station is not yet known. Agree the fare before you get in.
- E-hailing (Grab). Works well in Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu, but coverage around Jerteh is patchy. Don't make it your only plan, especially in the evening.
Then follow our Perhentian Islands jetty guide for boat tickets, marine park fees and parking.
Distances from ECRL Jerteh station
Routed from the station using OpenStreetMap data, fastest road. Times are traffic-free estimates rounded up; heavy rain, peak hours and festive seasons add more.
| Destination | Road distance (approx.) | Driving time | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Besut, Jerteh | 6 km | 10–15 min | District hospital |
| Jerteh town | 8 km | 10–15 min | Bus station, banks, hotels, food |
| Pekan Jabi | 19 km | 25–30 min | Village centre: market, shops, mosque |
| Gaiatimur Homestay, Jabi | 20 km | 25–35 min | Whole-house stay |
| MRSM Besut | 20 km | 25–30 min | Boarding school |
| Pantai Air Tawar, Kuala Besut | 22 km | 25–35 min | Quiet, open beach |
| Kuala Besut jetty | 23 km | 30–35 min | Boats to the Perhentian Islands |
| MRSM Kota Putra | 23 km | 30–40 min | Boarding school |
| Politeknik Besut (Bukit Keluang campus) | 23 km | 30–40 min | Polytechnic |
| Bukit Keluang | 24 km | 30–40 min | Beach, sea caves, wooden boardwalk |
| Pasir Puteh town, Kelantan | 26 km | 25–35 min | Kelantan border town |
| UniSZA Besut campus (Tembila) | 28 km | 35–45 min | Public university |
If the islands are closed, Bukit Keluang and Pantai Air Tawar still make a good mainland day. See our Malay guide to places to visit in Besut.
Where to stay nearby
- Kuala Besut — walking distance to the boats; the easy choice before an early crossing.
- Jerteh — about 8 km from the station, with more hotels, banks and places to eat.
- Kampung Jabi — a quiet village about 20 km from the station. Gaiatimur Homestay is a whole house with a kitchen and parking, and our map of Kampung Jabi shows where to eat and shop.
Frequently Asked Questions: ECRL Jerteh Station
Where is ECRL Jerteh station? At Kampung Alor Keladi in Besut, Terengganu, on Jalan Jerteh–Keruak, about 8 km by road south of Jerteh town. The coordinates are 5.7008, 102.4832. MRL spells the station Jertih.
When will the ECRL start running? Passenger services between Gombak and Kota Bharu, including Jerteh, are targeted to begin on 12 December 2026, subject to safety and regulatory approvals. The original schedule was January 2027.
Does the express train stop at Jerteh? No. Express trains stop only at Gombak, KotaSAS, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. Take the Transit train, which calls at every station. Its Gombak–Jerteh time is not yet published but falls between 3 hours 51 minutes and 5 hours.
How far is ECRL Jerteh station from Kuala Besut jetty? About 23 km by road, or 30 to 35 minutes by car. No feeder bus has been announced, so arrange a transfer, a local taxi or a lift in advance.
Can I take the ECRL to the Perhentian Islands? Not directly. Take the train to Jerteh, drive about 23 km to Kuala Besut jetty, then take a speedboat for 30 to 45 minutes. Avoid November to February, when most island chalets close for the monsoon.
How much is the ECRL fare from Gombak to Jerteh? From RM114 one way on the Transit train in economy class, according to ECRL's official fare list; Express trains do not stop at Jerteh. Fares are dynamic, so they rise with demand. A 30% discount applies in the first month of operations, and concessions of up to 50% for children, seniors and disabled card holders.
A word from up the road
Jabi Ops is a village platform from Kampung Jabi, about 20 km from the new station. It began with one family's farms and family tree, and is growing into a digital home for the village — and a set of honest guides to this corner of Terengganu. Many of our own relatives will soon come home by this train. We'll ride it too, and update this guide when the service starts.
Correct as of 26 October 2026. Distances and driving times are routed from the station coordinates with OpenStreetMap data (October 2026), traffic-free and rounded up. ECRL details come from MRL and Transport Ministry statements as reported by Bernama, The Star, The Edge and Free Malaysia Today, 6–20 October 2026, and from the fare list on ECRL's official social media. Opening dates, timetables and fares can change — confirm at ecrl.com.my before booking.