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British tourists say Malaysia’s MRT is cleaner, cheaper and cooler than London Underground

Sandy Verma | August 15, 2025 3:24 PM CST

People travel on a London Underground train during hot weather in London, Britain, June 17, 2022. Photo by Reuters

A British couple visiting Kuala Lumpur has gone viral after praising Malaysia’s mass rapid transit system as cleaner, safer, and far more comfortable than London’s Underground.

In their TikTok video posted early this month with over 66,000 likes and 1,700 shares, the tourists said the MRT “genuinely blew us away” after just a few rides, prompting them to compare every aspect of the modern network with London’s “famous, yet antiquated Underground.”

They highlighted spotless stations and trains, cool air-conditioning, and fares at a fraction of London’s — just RM2.85 (US$0.67).

“So much cleaner, so much tidier, and it has aircon! London needs to up its game,” they said.

The couple also praised safety features such as women-only sections, gapless platforms, and platform barriers that open in sync with train doors, as well as the MRT’s driverless system, which they noted would not be affected by strikes like those in the U.K.

However, the tourists also complained that passengers can’t tap in with regular contactless payment on Malaysia’s MRT and must buy a separate Touch ‘n Go card.

“But other than that, the MRT in Kuala Lumpur really does blow London’s Underground system out the water, and the U.K. could learn a thing or two from Malaysia,” they said.

The London Underground, commonly referred to as the Underground or the Tube, is a rapid transit system that serves Greater London and parts of the neighboring counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire in England.

Malaysia’s MRT system is a key part of the country’s public transportation network. It’s a high-capacity rail system designed to improve connectivity and ease congestion in urban areas.