Plan your trip – modes of transportation

Malaysia is home to some of the most diverse and efficient modes of transportation.

The transportation network ranges from buses, light rapid transit (LRT) trains, monorail, mass rapid transit (MRT) trains, commuter trains (KTM), metered taxis, and e-hailing taxis (Grab). Travelling around cities is made easier due to the various transport options. KL is a big city and if you have an important meeting or class, your trip may take you longer than expected. Start learning how to plan trips once you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, this will enable you to estimate your travel time better over time.

Train

If you are considering cost and efficiency then trains are the best way to get around cities. The waiting time varies according to the train service. For LRT, the waiting time is less than 2 minutes during peak periods, and at least 5 minutes during off-peak periods.

Bus

Buses are inexpensive and they are available in most areas. It is advisable to locate the nearest bus stop to your institution or residential area. You can also find information on the buses that travel to, or through your area by visiting the bus company websites. Alternatively you can ask other students about the bus schedule information.

(Free) Bus 🙂 

You can also travel around KL for free using the GO KL bus which has four circular routes in the centre of KL city. You can choose the green line, purple line, red line or blue line, depending on where you want to go. The green route goes from KLCC to Bukit Bintang, the purple route goes from Pasar Seni to Bukit Bintang, the red route goes from KL Sentral to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and the blue route goes from Medan MARA to Bukit Bintang.

Metered Taxis

There are some areas which do not have bus services available. For such areas you can use taxis to get around. Taxis can be found at the side of the road in many places. Taxis can be either metered or you can opt for the e-hailing taxis. For e-hailing taxis you need to download the app on your device and register your mobile number before booking a cab. The fare will be displayed prior to your booking confirmation. In some places the taxis do not use meters. For such scenarios the driver will give you a fixed fare for your destination. However before you haggle you may need to check with other students what a fair price should be.

Grab

You can also use an e-hailing taxi service. Just use the Grab app to get a driver. The great thing about these apps is that you will generally get a guideline of how much the trip will cost you before you make a booking. Even if there is a surge in pricing, the app will inform you and you can make an informed decision.

Planning your trip when using public transport

One of the best ways to plan your trip is to go to google maps, set your current location and planned destinations, then select the option for public transport. The app should give you a number of options for making connections by bus or train. Bus schedules can be irregular, so we suggest that you try and use the train that takes you nearest your destination, then plan to take a taxi from there to your destination. Trains help you to beat the jam as you will normally go underground, overhead or on a dedicated rail line. Careful planning can save you a lot of money and time.