Ekspres Selatan 41dn Overnight Train from Gemas to JB Sentral

Ekspres Selatan 41dn is the overnight train from Gemas to JB Sentral departing in the wee hours of the morning at 2am. I had planned this trip as Ekspres Selatan 41dn would be the first domestic passenger train to enter JB Sentral after the JB Sentral-Kempas Baru sector closure, but the train service restart was actually done earlier on 19 June 2022 together with the Shuttle Tebrau restart. With a ticket purchased in hand already though, I decided to proceed for this overnight trip anyway, and extend my annual KTM Singapore Sector anniversary trip from Gemas instead of the usual Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ).

Gemas Railway Station

After a short walk around Gemas after alighting from Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 26up, I returned back to Gemas Railway Station about half an hour before departure.

The KITS gate for Ekspres Selatan 41dn was open 15 minutes before departure. Passengers must scan their ticket on the KITS gate to enter.

Heading across the linkbridge to Platform 2.

Heading down the staircase to Platform 2.

My Ekspres Selatan 41dn was formed with a rake of 3 ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia) Air-conditioned Second Class coaches.

24 Class 24121 Tun Perak leads my Ekspres Selatan 41dn from Gemas to JB Sentral.

ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia)

Doors to the passenger seating area are manual with physical retract.

The interior of the ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia). Half of the seats are facing the direction of travel and the other half in reverse in a 2+2 configuration.

The space available on board the ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia) with the tray table and recline fully extended.

The legroom on board the ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia). The ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia) offers more legroom than the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia). as it was formerly the EPLUS with 74 seats, as compared to the original ASC (Hyundai) with 52 seats.

A tray table is available for all seats except Rows 1 and 15.

Both toilets on board the ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia) are Western-style toilet bowls.

My Ekspres Selatan 41dn departed from Gemas on time at 2.00am.

Unsurprisingly, the Ekspres Selatan 41dn ran almost empty throughout the entire journey at this weird timing.

Segamat Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Segamat Railway Station.

Labis Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Labis Railway Station.

Bekok Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bekok Railway Station.

Paloh Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Paloh Railway Station.

Surprisingly, 1 passenger alighted at Paloh.

Kluang Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Kluang Railway Station as the Ekspres Selatan 41dn was running before time.

Mengkibol Railway Station (Operational Stop)

The Ekspres Selatan 41dn made an operational stop at Mengkibol Railway Station which was longer than usual. As such, the Ekspres Selatan 41dn got delayed by a few minutes.

Renggam Railway Station

The Ekspres Selatan 41dn only stopped at Renggam Railway Station for a few seconds due to the delay, and I was unable to take a photo.

Layang-Layang Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Layang-Layang Railway Station.

Kulai Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kulai Railway Station.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Most passengers alighted at Kempas Baru Railway Station. Only 3 passengers including me remained on board for the last leg to JB Sentral.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

Entering JB Sentral.

My Ekspres Selatan 41dn arrived at JB Sentral at 6.38am – 13 minutes delayed.

Heading up the escalators to the concourse.

No Electrical Signalling and Trackside Equipment at JB Sentral

I headed to the flyover north of KOMTAR JBCC to spot the new operations at JB Sentral to round loco.

There is currently no electrical signalling at JB Sentral.

27 minutes after arrival, at 6.55am, 24121 finally appeared on the northern end of JB Sentral. A sign of how long things take now without electrical trackside equipment.

A signalman now rides the light engine to the point which needs to be switched.

Points are now changed manually by hand crank. Each point requires manual effort and switches take a few minutes to be set.

After the track has been set, the signalman rides the light engine back to the platform. 24121 will then bring the empty rake back to Kempas Baru depot.

Conclusion

Overall, it was a quiet and slow-paced train ride in the wee hours of the morning. Now to begin my annual KTM Singapore Sector visit with Shuttle Tebrau 73dn.