By Sofiah Husaini

Ramadan always changes the travel rhythm. One minute you’re planning buka puasa and bazaar runs, the next you’re already thinking about balik kampung, and the roads getting heavier as Raya gets closer.

For most Malaysians, travelling from the Klang Valley to the East Coast is a familiar mental checklist: leave at dawn or risk the jam, pack snacks for a long drive, and accept that a “quick weekend trip” usually isn’t that quick.

But with the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) now over 91 per cent complete and on track for commercial operations in January 2027, that balik kampung routine could look very different.

The arrival of the first passenger train sets is also a clear sign this is moving beyond plans and into reality.

So, what could this mean for everyday Malaysians? Here are five ways next year’s Raya journey home could feel easier:

1. Balik kampung feels less like an endurance test

Instead of mentally preparing for hours behind the wheel, the idea of boarding a comfortable train changes the whole mood of the trip.

The ECRL will link Kota Bharu to Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, connecting East Coast and Klang Valley through a 665-km rail line.

When festive seasons come around, it could mean less stress over traffic and more energy saved for what matters: family time, food, and rest.

2. When Raya leave is tight, time matters

Not everyone gets a long Raya break. For many working adults, leave is tight, and the hardest part isn’t the desire to go home, it’s the time cost.

When the journey takes most of the day, a “quick balik kampung” can end up swallowing half your holiday.

But a faster rail option could change that. If an express trip can bring Gombak to Kota Bharu down to around four hours, the journey becomes far more time-optimised: you could travel after work, spend more of Raya with family, and still make a meaningful visit even with a short window off. Instead of choosing between rest and going home, next Raya could make it possible to do both.

3. Next Raya, plan the reunion, not the route

Next Raya doesn’t have to be just rushing home and rushing back. With smoother travel, it could also mean a proper family holiday or reunion trip, without the long-drive stress.

The East Coast already has everything for an easy break, beaches, heritage towns, keropok lekor, laid-back cafés, slower mornings; it just often feels “too far” during peak Raya traffic.

Better rail connectivity could bring it closer, making quick getaways, cousin reunions, and family bonding much easier to plan.

4. More comfortable for families, and the whole “rombongan” Raya

Train travel only feels “easy” if the little things are taken care of. And the ECRL trains are planned with practical features that matter in real life: toilets, luggage racks, food and beverage counter, surau with ablution facilities, and special needs-friendly features.

When you’re travelling with kids, elderly parents, or the full Raya crew, pak long, mak ngah, tok wan, plus bags and gifts, those details really matter.

They make the journey easier to manage and far less draining, so everyone arrives with energy left for Raya.

5. Serinya Raya tahun depan, with more ways to balik kampung

Driving will always have its place, especially for road trips. But having a train option gives people flexibility. Imagine Serinya Raya tahun depan not starting with a long crawl on the highway, but with a calmer journey, arriving in time for the real Raya moments, family catch-ups, makan together, and open house hopping.

Some days you want the freedom of a car. Other times, you want to sit back, scroll, nap, snack, and arrive without the fatigue.

The ECRL isn’t about replacing driving, it’s about giving Malaysians another way to move depending on the moment, the season, and the mood.

-- BERNAMA

Sofiah Husaini is a communications consultant at a private consultancy firm based in Kuala Lumpur.