Last train out of Tanjung Pagar, Singapore

From The Star:

SINGAPORE: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) historic train service which has been operating from the Tanjung Pagar station here for the last 79 years has ended with a royal send-off.

The train was driven for the last time out of the station by Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at 11pm last night, carrying more than 500 passengers on its coaches.

The handing over of the Tanjong Pagar station, built in 1932, follows an agreement made between Singapore and Malaysia last year which includes Singapore taking possession of KTM land here.

In return, Malaysia was offered 60% control of projects developed at prime land parcels around Marina Bay and Ophir Rochor.

More: Last train out gets royal send-off..The Star

KTM to end KL-Ipoh shuttle train service on July 1

From The Star..

KUALA LUMPUR: KTM Berhad will end its Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur shuttle train service on July 1.

The coaches on that service will be switched to routes that have a higher passenger density, KTM said in statement on Monday.

Passengers using the service to be terminated will have the choice of using Ekspress Rakyat, Ekspress Sinaran Utara, Ekspress Senandung Langkawi and Ekspress Senandung Mutiara from KL Sentral to Ipoh and Ipoh to KL Sentral.

Passengers can use the ETS fast train, which also operates this route.

For details on these services, passengers can check www.ets-train.com.my or www.ktmb.com.my or www.ktmintercity.com.my.

Train services restored on most routes

In a statement, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) said two train services were cancelled Wednesday, the Ekspres Sinaran Selatan from Kuala Lumpur Sentral-Singapore and the Gemas-Singapore-Gemas shuttle.

KTMB advised passengers affected by the cancellation to change their travel date or claim their ticket refund at the nearest KTM Intercity counter.

Meanwhile, repair works to restore the damaged tracks on the South and East Coast sectors are expected to take another two days to complete, weather permitting and flood conditions at the locations.

As reported in The Star, the following train services have been rescheduled:

* Ekspres Rakyat: Butterworth-Singapore-Butterworth (service from Butterworth-Kuala Lumpur Sentral-Butterworth only)

* Ekspres Sinaran Selatan: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Sentral (Singapore to Labis only)

* Ekspres Sinaran Timur: Singapore-Tumpat-Singapore (Tumpat-Gemas-Tumpat only)

* Ekspres Senandung Sutera: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Sentral-Singapore (Singapore-Labis-Singapore only)

* Ekspres Senandung Timuran: Singapore-Tumpat (Singapore to Labis only)

* Ekspres Senandung Timuran: Tumpat-Singapore (Tumpat to Triang only)

* Shuttle service: Kuala Lipis-Singapore-Kuala Lipis (Kuala Lipis-Gemas-Kuala Lipis only)

For enquiries and further information, the public can call KTMB's Customer Service Centre at 1-300-88-5862. - Bernama

Free train ride for a week from Sentul to Batu Caves

Commuters travelling on the Sentul-Batu Caves route will be able to enjoy free rides for a week when the service starts on July 29.

The new route covers five stations — Sentul, Batu Kentomen, Kg Batu, Taman Wahyu and Batu Caves and is expected to reduce traffic congestion, especially during the Thaipusam festival.

Weekly passes can be bought at a 20% discount while monthly tickets at a 33% discount. Tickets for a trip from Sentul to Batu Caves is RM2.

Concession tickets are available at half price for children aged between four and 12, senior citizens (with KTM Komuter senior citizen card) and disabled people who are registered with the Welfare Department.

For more information, visit www.ktmkomuter.com.my or call 1300 88 5862 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1300 88 5862      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1300 88 5862      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email komuter4u@ktmb.com.my.

Source: The Star

Kelantan floods disrupt train schedules

If you are heading out by rail to the east coast, i.e., Kelantan, the article below from The Star may be helpful.

Departure and arrival times of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad's (KTMB) intercity train services for the east coast sector, including the Wau and Timuran express services, are likely to delayed between 30 minutes and an hour on Monday.

KTMB corporate communications manager Fazil Ismail said this was because the trains had slow down in areas hit by foods in Kelantan.

"Bukit Abu and Manik Urai in Kelantan are among the flood-prone areas where disruption of train services usually occur," he told Bernama when contacted here Monday.

Apart from the intercity trains, he said the local train service between Tumpat and Gua Musang had to be temporarily halted due to silting caused by landslides.

At present, he said, KTMB had to conduct routine inspections of the track at 5pm and 8pm daily and that the management could not anticipate whether the train service for the east coast sector would run smoothly by the time Aidiladha is celebrated on Nov 27.

"Nevertheless, we are providing shuttle bus services at a few selected stations to transport passengers in case the train services are disrupted along the route.

"KTMB will inform the passengers of the latest development from time to time and we apologise for all inconvenience caused," he added. - Bernama

KTMB offers discounts during Mega Sale

The Star today reported that KTM Bhd will be offering discounts of up to 25% for inter-city tickets bought between July 5 and Aug 20.

The promotion, held in conjunction with the Malaysian Mega Sale which will end on Aug 31, will not be applicable for travel on Fridays and weekends or for KTM Komuter trains.

To qualify for the discount, a single receipt worth at least RM100 from any shopping complex has to accompany an individual ticket purchase.

The discount is valid for one-way or return trips for all sectors and classes. For more details, please contact the KTMB Call Centre at 03-2267 1200 or the nearest inter-city station.

Butterworth-Bangkok train services disrupted

If you have bought train tickets to or from Bangkok, this information is for you.

The Star reported that

The train services from Butterworth to Bangkok and vice-versa have been temporarily disrupted, following a strike by railway workers in Thailand.

KTMB Butterworth station master Ahmad Yusof Salim said the daily International Express which usually departed Butterworth at 2.20pm, had been suspended indefinitely since Monday.

The services of the Express Senandung Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur to Haadyai that leaves Butterworth at 5.19am daily will only go up to Padang Besar for the time being.

Those returning to Malaysia from Thailand are advised to find their way to Padang Besar to board this train back to Butterworth, he said in an interview Tuesday.

On Monday, international news agencies reported that thousands of travellers were stranded after Thailands railway workers went on strike, halting travel and cargo services nationwide.

They were said to have protested against government plans to restructure the heavily indebted, loss-making railway authority.

Ahmad Yusof said KTMB would wait for further notice from the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) before resuming operations of the International Express train.

He, however, noted that the monthly Eastern & Oriental Express (E&O) train services was not affected, as there were no schedules for it this month.

The next E&O train en route Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Butterworth-Bangkok was scheduled for July 11, he said.

Ahmad Yusof said those who had bought tickets to board the particular trains that were suspended were being given full refunds since Monday.

For details, contact KTMB at 03-22671200 or 04-3237962/ 3312796.

KTM starts Seremban-KL train shuttle

Many people commute to work from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur. By road, this commute takes between 45 minutes to one hour. Due to popular demand, train service between these two cities will begin Feb 17. Below are details from The Star:

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) start shuttle train services from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur from Feb 17 due to heavy demand for that route.

The shuttle will run from Monday to Friday, five times daily, KTM said in a statement on Saturday.

The shuttle will leave Seremban at 6.55am, 10.15am, 1.35pm, 4.55pm and 8.35pm and stop at Kajang and Kuala Lumpur Central only.

The shuttle will leave Kuala Lumpur Station at 8.06am, 11.26am, 2.46pm, 6.06pm and 9.45pm

Ticket prices range from RM1 to RM 6.10 and can be bought at any Intercity KTM station and KTM stations at Seremban, Kajang, Kuala Lumpur Central and Kuala Lumpur Station.

For further information, call KTM at 03-22671200.

More Trains from Butterworth to KL and vice-versa

The Star reported that

KTM Bhd has increased its intercity services (north-bound) from today until Feb 1 to cater to the large crowd during the festive season. Trains heading towards Butterworth will leave Kuala Lumpur at 9.30am and 10.30pm daily, while trains heading towards Kuala Lumpur will leave Butterworth at 10am and 5.56am daily. For tickets, call 03-2267 1200.

Johor Baru Shuttle Train Service begins on Monday

This is good news for travellers and commuters going from Johor Baru to Singapore or vice-versa. The Star has the story:

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru-Singapore shuttle train service will start operations on Monday and provide travellers with an alternative way of transportation.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul G hani Othman said the service would ease congestion at the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.

Introductory tickets are priced at RM3 each from the mall to Tanjung Pagar station in Singapore and S$3 return. There will be five trips daily between 5.30am and 8.08pm from Johor Baru and 5.35am and 10pm from Singapore.

Tickets are sold at Danga City Mall level 2. For enquiries, call 07 - 223 4727/07 - 223 3040.