Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn from Tumpat to JB Sentral by Train

The Ekspres Rakyat Timuran is a daily overnight express train between Tumpat and JB Sentral. Heading back to Singapore from the Ekspres Khas Keluarga Malaysia 1028up, I booked Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn to return from Tumpat on the same night immediately to avoid the Causeway jams if I were to return the following day at the end of the long public holiday weekend.

Tumpat Railway Station

I was only staying at the small mamak selling Murtabak opposite Tumpat Railway Station after arriving from the Shuttle Timuran 56up from Pasir Mas as it was raining throughout my time there. I crossed over to the station itself when the rain subsided, and thankfully I did, as it got heavier again just as I reached the sheltered platform.

At about 8pm, half an hour before departure, the shunting process started to bring the empty Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn rake into the platform. As it was still raining, I did not go down to the level crossing to watch the shunting.

The empty Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn rake reversing in to the platform.

After the train stopped, I decided to brave a bit of rain to get a front shot as the locomotive was out of the platform.

24 Class 24104 Mat Salleh leads my Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn from Tumpat to JB Sentral. Here’s the train consist from front to back.

AFC (Air-Conditioned First Class)

1 AFC (Air-Conditioned First Class) coach is attached on board. Seats are facing the direction of travel in a 2+1 configuration.

As compared to the Ekspres Khas Keluarga Malaysia 1028up, there are no additional frills aside from the seat, even though the fare is the highest on board the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn at RM117.

ASC (Air-conditioned Second Class)

4 ASC (Air-conditioned Second Class) coaches are attached on board. Half of the seats are facing the direction of travel and the other half in reverse in a 2+2 configuration.

I’m not sure what technical limitations there are to retype in the coach numbers to have a piece of paper pasted on top of the LED coach number. Maybe the backspace button on the keyboard wasn’t working?

ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach)

1 ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach), also known by most passengers as canteen, is also attached.

The ABC on Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn operates from Tumpat to Kulai.

ADNS (Air-conditioned Day/Night Second)

And of course, the coach that I booked myself in is the ADNS (Air-conditioned Day/Night Second). 3 ADNS (Air-conditioned Day/Night Second) coaches are attached.

My booked Lower Berth 20 in the middle of the coach.

The overall space available on the bottom berth.

A look at the upper berth above me.

The overall space available on the upper berth.

The Asian-style squatting toilet on board the ADNS.

The western-style sitting toilet on board the ADNS.

My Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn departed from Tumpat Railway Station on time at 8.30pm.

Passing by the level crossing before Wakaf Bharu Railway Station.

Wakaf Bharu Railway Station

More passengers boarded at Wakaf Bharu Railway Station.

Pasir Mas Railway Station

More passengers boarded at Pasir Mas Railway Station, a different vibe as compared to a few hours ago on my .

There was a controlled fire going which filled the platform and surroundings with smoke. I’m guessing this is to ward off mosquitoes for the night.

Departing from Pasir Mas Railway Station for the third and final time today.

Tanah Merah Railway Station

More passengers boarded at Tanah Merah Railway Station.

Tanah Merah looks very bright with the additional lighting from the new viaducts.

About half the crowd at the platform were well-wishers.

Krai Railway Station

Krai Railway Station is the last station I decided to stay awake for before I retire for the night. Surprisingly, not many passengers boarded here as I had expected.

I woke up in the morning just as the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn was taking the left curve in to Gemas Railway Station, at the junction of the East Coast Line and Central Line.

Passing by Gemas depot.

Crossing over multiple lines to get to Platform 6.

Gemas Railway Station

Approaching Gemas Railway Station.

The ETS Gold 9420up to KL Sentral, Ipoh, and Padang Besar was already waiting at Platform 5 since the night before after arriving as ETS Gold 9425dn.

93 Class ETS208 would be operating on ETS Gold 9420up from Gemas to KL Sentral, Ipoh, and Padang Besar.

The Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn pulled in to Platform 6 to allow for a cross-platform transfer to for passengers continuing onwards to KL Sentral, Ipoh, and Padang Besar.

There is a lot of padded time in the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn timetable from here on.

Lots of disused coaches and wagons on the siding after Platform 6.

Heading on to the new track after Gemas Railway Station.

Segamat Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Segamat Temporary Railway Station.

The platform length of Segamat Temporary Railway Station is too short for my Coach T8 at the end of the train.

Departing from Segamat Temporary Railway Station.

I headed to the ABC after departing from Segamat to have my breakfast.

I ordered a Kopi Ais (RM3.50), 2 sets of Roti Bakar (RM5.00), and a Hamlet (RM3).

A Hamlet is an egg sandwich grilled like a Roti John but using a hotdog bun instead.

The meals were basic but enough to fill me up for breakfast.

Kluang Temporary Railway Station

Passing through the future Kluang Railway Station.

Making a long stop at Kluang Temporary Railway Station as the was way before time.

As Kluang Temporary Railway Station is located on the elevated viaduct, there’s no chance to run down to Kluang RailCoffee to get more breakfast.

Approaching Mengkibol Railway Station.

The driver picks up the Caution Paper for the next section of cautions from the porter of Mengkibol Railway Station.

Crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 42up at Mengkibol Railway Station.

An ABC is now attached to Ekspres Selatan 42up and Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

Making another long stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

The empty rake of Ekspres Selatan 44up on standby on the main line of Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Most passengers alighted at Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Departing from Kempas Baru Railway Station with a shunt signal as there is no signalling between Kempas Baru and JB Sentral.

The future Kempas Baru Railway Station taking shape.

Taking the left curve out of Kempas Baru Railway Station.

The old line cutting across the future Kempas Baru Railway Station to the depot is now removed.

Approaching the junction to the Pasir Gudang Line.

The junction to the Kempas Baru depot now flies over the junction to the Pasir Gudang Line.

The viaduct will also be the new alignment to the future to the Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Passing under the new alignment.

Approaching the junction to the Kempas Baru depot.

The line to the Kempas Baru depot is also the future main line.

There is a temporary KM0 at this junction while the transition takes place with operations ongoing.

The track side near Danga City Mall has reinforcements by the slope.

Stopping outside JB Sentral while waiting for the points to be set.

Almost all traces of the former Danga City Mall Railway Halt have been removed except for a small stump on the mall exit.

Heading on to JB Sentral with caution.

The construction of Bukit Chagar RTS Link Station is in full swing.

Entering JB Sentral.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

My Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn arrived at JB Sentral right on time at 12.30pm.

24 Class 24104 Mat Salleh with the completed Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn from Tumpat to JB Sentral.

Heading up the escalators to exit the station.

The main concourse of JB Sentral.

Conclusion

Overall, the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn was a comfortable way for me to return back to Singapore overnight, and which was not as busy as usual as I was travelling on Hari Raya Haji itself when passengers would be celebrating at their home towns.

Next, I transferred over to Shuttle Tebrau 81dn after a quick lunch to return to Singapore.