The Ekspres Selatan is a series of shuttle trains in the state of Johor charging express fares, with some trains extending up to Pulau Sebang (Tampin) in Melaka. The night train, 44up from JB Sentral, travels up to Pulau Sebang (Tampin) to allow passengers to transfer to the KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector to continue onwards to Kuala Lumpur and beyond. This time though, the transfer was a little bit different and disastrous.
Northbound KTM Intercity trains from JB Sentral depart from Gate B.
The queue to board slowly formed about 40 minutes before departure.
My ticket for the 44up Ekspres Selatan from JB Sentral to Pulau Sebang (Tampin).
Queuing up to board the train. Surprisingly, the train was quite crowded, which was not what I was expecting.
Welp.
Heading down to the platform via the staircase.
Heading to Platform 2.
Welp. The escalator was not working here too.
Walking down the escalator to Platform 2 where my 44up Ekspres Selatan is.
Boarding my ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach at R2.
As the 44up Ekspres Selatan was a night train, I opted to get the front row of seats to stretch out since there won’t be any views out of the window.
The legroom of Seat 15A on the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).
Lots of space to stretch out here.
The view of the coach from my seat.
A power socket was mounted in the middle of the bulkhead, but I didn’t use it as this will cause my phone to dangle and I would be drifting in and out of sleep, so there might be a risk of losing my phone.
The view of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach from my seat.
Heading to the front of the train to take the picture of the locomotive.
24102 “Mat Kilau” leads the way for my 44up Ekspres Selatan train to Pulau Sebang (Tampin). Right?
The cast nameplate of 24102 “Mat Kilau”.
Surprisingly, the 44up Ekspres Selatan train was using the new INKA PGC rather than the usual UMW ones.
The coupling between the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) and the new INKA PGC.
The 44up Ekspres Selatan departed on time from JB Sentral at 10.40pm.
Making a brief stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station.
The toilets on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).
Making a brief stop at Kulai Railway Station.
Crossing with the 45dn Ekspres Selatan at Kluang Railway Station.
The 45dn Ekspres Selatan is also formed of ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches.
Passengers started to get off the train from Kluang and stations onwards. Looks like not many are actually heading to KL by train any more.
Making a brief stop at Gemas on time with the seemingly abandoned Blue Train coaches sitting on the freight line.
A while later, a few minutes after the actual departure time of 3.15am, I felt a strange slight jerk on the coach. I went out to see the locomotive departing.
Great.
What’s left of my 44up Ekspres Selatan. Definitely not going to be moving for a while now.
The rake of the 44up Ekspres Selatan with the switched off ETS 91 Class.
A while later, headcounts and announcements were made by the staff that the train was broken down and will be terminating at Gemas. “Another train” will be taking us to Pulau Sebang (Tampin).
Passengers could wait at the platform or on board the train. But by then, not many passengers were still on the train anyway as they have dropped off in Johorean towns.
A long while later, the locomotive came back, presumably back from repairs in the yard, to form the 41dn Ekspres Selatan back to JB Sentral.
The train conductor calling for passengers on the 44up to exit the train as they were about to board passengers for the 41dn.
The 41dn Ekspres Selatan passengers who were from the ETS coming down to the platform to board the train. (Why would you do such a transfer?)
The 41dn Ekspres Selatan from Pulau Sebang (Tampin), formed of SCS05, arriving at Platform 3.
The electric 41dn Ekspres Selatan terminates here, with passengers crossing over to Platform 4 to board the diesel 41dn Ekspres Selatan.
SCS05 now forms my 44up Ekspres Selatan to Pulau Sebang (Tampin).
The 41dn Ekspres Selatan and 44up Ekspres Selatan at Gemas. Which is which?
Boarding the new 44up Ekspres Selatan to Pulau Sebang (Tampin).
The interior of the KTM Komuter SCS 92 Class EMU operating on this KTM Intercity service. The 44up Ekspres Selatan departed from Gemas at 5.43am – 148 minutes late.
The dynamic route map of the KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector.
The route information of the 44up Ekspres Selatan from Gemas to Pulau Sebang (Tampin).
Making a brief stop at Batang Melaka.
The 44up Ekspres Selatan arrived at Pulau Sebang (Tampin) Railway Station at 6.11am – 136 minutes late.
Heading up the stairs from the platform to the linkbridge.
The linkbridge of Pulau Sebang (Tampin) Railway Station with the national and state flags flying.
Heading through the open gate beside the KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector fare gates to exit to the waiting area.
The waiting area of Pulau Sebang (Tampin) Railway Station in front of the ticket gates.
The counter was still closed as the next KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector train was not departing so soon yet.
The closed ticket line of Pulau Sebang (Tampin) Railway Station once all the 44up Ekspres Selatan passengers have exited from the platform.
Heading out of the station to hopefully find some early breakfast as it had been a really long ride from JB Sentral and by right I’m supposed to be somewhere near Batang Benar already.
Hmm… Tampin is gone from the main station sign.
Unfortunately, the food stalls outside Pulau Sebang (Tampin) Railway Station were still closed at 6.20am. So breakfast would only be in KL then.
Overall, a rather crappy ride with KTM Intercity with the ridiculous delay. Ironically, the SCS 92 Class EMU was more comfortable than the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) as it offered ample space to stretch out. With so many people waiting at Tampin, it should be wise to operate an additional KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector train at least just to Sungai Gadut for the 44up Ekspres Selatan passengers to connect to the 7.01am KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector service originating there to minimise further waiting time for all the 44up Ekspres Selatan passengers now stranded at Tampin after getting stranded at Gemas.
Now let’s see how long more it would take me to get to KL.
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