From "Train to Busan" to Dedicated Bus Lanes: How Sepang Fixed Its F1 Exit Chaos Overnight

F1's return to Sepang drew a huge crowd. On Friday night, getting that crowd home went badly wrong.

After Friday practice, spectators at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix described waiting hours for shuttle buses, gridlocked roads and very little crowd control. By Saturday, fans were posting about a much smoother exit, which is encouraging news before today's race.

What happened on Friday

Malay Mail reported that British content creator Ryan Howlett left the circuit at 5.45pm and did not board a shuttle until 9pm, a wait of 3 hours 15 minutes. He called it "one of the craziest things" he had seen. Online, fans explained the bottleneck: "Apparently private cars and Grabs are blocked at the perimeter, so everyone funnels into shuttle hubs at Mitsui outlet and KLIA T2," one user wrote.

GrandPrix.com, citing Free Malaysia Today, said one fan's trip from the circuit to the KLIA rail station took three hours instead of the usual 20 minutes. Thousands were still waiting after 8pm, and some walked along the highway emergency lane. There were also complaints about how hard it was to get drinking water in the heat.

Videos of fans in team merchandise walking beside traffic in the dark spread quickly. TRP noted social media comparisons to the zombie film Train to Busan. TRP also pointed to the scale of the problem: Bahrain's own circuit usually plans for about 37,000 spectators, while Sepang's weekend sales were heading towards 100,000.

Who is responsible?

The Bahrain International Circuit is the event promoter. TRP reported that Sepang International Circuit said transport operations "fell under the Bahrain event promoter's jurisdiction." Sepang MP Aiman Athirah Sabu said that "the priority should be operational coordination rather than assigning blame between the Bahrain International Circuit and local agencies," according to GrandPrix.com.

What changed on Saturday

Bernama reported that SIC chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif was on the ground overseeing bus flow on day two, and fans noticed the difference.

• "Good job on crowd control today. Smooth queue, no tug of war. Dedicated lane for shuttle buses," wrote one fan.
• Another praised KLIA Transit staff: "the line is super fast, so much bus queueing up for us and there's a lot of staff guiding us."
• Howlett himself posted: "Shuttle buses have their own dedicated lanes, lots of traffic police organising traffic, crowds a lot less."

TRP reported that KLIA Ekspres services were extended to 1am, with trains every 15 to 20 minutes. Rapid KL's 95 free shuttle buses run from KLIA Terminal 2, Mitsui Outlet Park and Bandar Baru Enstek between 7am and midnight. Police have 822 officers at eight checkpoints, with traffic diversions around KLIA from 8am to 11pm daily until today, according to Malay Mail.

Tips for race day

Today's crowd is expected to be the biggest of the weekend. Plan your trip home before you leave in the morning, bring water, and expect queues after the chequered flag around 5pm. KLIA has also advised visitors to use public transport wherever possible.

Key takeaways

• Friday's exit left fans waiting more than three hours, and some walked along highway shoulders.
• Dedicated bus lanes, more staff and police, and later trains made Saturday much smoother.
• SIC says transport falls under the Bahrain promoter. The Sepang MP called for coordination over blame.
• Shuttles run 7am to midnight from KLIA T2, Mitsui Outlet Park and Bandar Baru Enstek.

FAQ

Are the Sepang F1 shuttle buses free? Yes. Rapid KL is running 95 free shuttle buses from three hubs between 7am and midnight.

Can I take a Grab to the circuit? Fans reported that private cars and e-hailing vehicles were stopped at the perimeter, so the shuttle hubs are the most reliable option.

How late does KLIA Ekspres run during F1 weekend? TRP reported services extended to 1am, with trains every 15 to 20 minutes.

Sources: Malay Mail, Bernama, TRP (The Rakyat Post), GrandPrix.com, Free Malaysia Today