Ekspres Selatan 45dn Train from Gemas to JB Sentral (Connection from Butterworth (ETS Gold 9321dn))

Ekspres Selatan 45dn is a daily afternoon train from Gemas to JB Sentral which connects from the ETS Gold 9321dn from Butterworth and KL Sentral. Continuing on my journey back to Singapore, I crossed the platform at Gemas from my ETS Gold 9321dn from Butterworth to transfer to the Ekspres Selatan 45dn to JB Sentral.

Gemas Railway Station

Gemas Railway Station offers a cross-platform transfer at Platforms 5 and 6 from the ETS Gold 9321dn to the connecting Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

25 Class Locomotive 25104 Pulau Indah would be heading my Ekspres Selatan 45dn from Gemas to JB Sentral.

ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)

Heading to my booked coach at Coach A.

The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).

My booked seat at 11D for this trip.

The legroom available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).

The legroom available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) after someone in front of me reclines his seat. Not ideal.

A toilet bowl and squat toilet are available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).

ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia)

There are also 2 ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia) used on coaches B and E.

The interior of the ASC (ICF-Padu Sedia).

ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach)

There is also an ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach) attached between coaches D and E.

The interior of the ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach).

Simple snack food is available on board the ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach), but there are no mains unlike on board the ETS Bistro.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Gemas on time at 3.20pm.

Crossing over Sungai Gemas, and crossing over from Negeri Sembilan to Johor.

Passing under the new viaduct across the railway tracks to eliminate the level crossing. Interestingly, the sign says that it’s in Segamat, Johor instead of Gemas Baru, Johor, despite being just meters away from Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

The new trackside scenery on the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP).

Passing through Batu Anam Railway Station which is now used as a base for the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP).

Passing by Segamat Central Shopping Mall on the new viaducts.

Passing through the future Segamat Railway Station.

Segamat Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Segamat Temporary Railway Station.

Afternoon Tea at ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach)

After departing from Segamat Temporary Railway Station, I made my way to the ABC (Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach) to get some afternoon tea.

I purchased an egg mayo sandwich (RM5) and hot Teh O (RM2). The Nasi Lemak was already sold out by now, and the egg mayo sandwich was the only non-machine-packaged food available. Ice was also not available, so that leaves just hot drinks.

Following the sandwich, I added on a Maggi Hot Cup Curry instant noodles (RM4).

Labis Temporary Railway Station

Making a long stop at Labis Temporary Railway Station as the Ekspres Selatan 45dn was way before time.

With the long stop, I decided to take a short walk around Labis Temporary Railway Station.

The track now uses the alignment of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) on the down loop line. The former temporary track is now removed, with a link bridge patching the gap across the temporary alignment from the station building location to the temporary platform serving the down loop line.

The waiting area of Labis Temporary Railway Station.

The ticket counter of Labis Temporary Railway Station.

Trains schedules at Labis Temporary Railway Station are posted on the white board at the waiting area.

The lines for the future Labis Railway Station are almost complete.

Departing from Labis Temporary Railway Station.

Passing through the future Labis Railway Station.

Passing by Labis town.

Passing through the future Bekok Railway Station.

Bekok Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bekok Temporary Railway Station.

Bekok Temporary Railway Station only fits 5 coaches on the platform, so the locomotive and coaches A and B need to overrun from the platform.

Bekok Operation Station

Making a brief stop at Bekok Operation Station for scheduled crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 44up.

24 Class Locomotive 24112 Hang Nadim leads the Ekspres Selatan 44up.

Crossing between the Ekspres Selatan 45dn and Ekspres Selatan 44up at Bekok Operation Station.

Passing through the future Paloh Railway Station.

Crossing over the main Jalan Yong Peng-Paloh.

Paloh Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

The new Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) track level at Paloh is much higher than the original level.

Passing through the future Kluang Railway Station.

Kluang Temporary Railway Station

A lot more passengers were waiting at Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

Renggam Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Renggam Temporary Railway Station.

Looking down at the old Renggam Railway Station from Renggam Temporary Railway Station.

Passing through the future Renggam Railway Station.

Entering the up loop line of the future Layang-Layang Railway Station where the Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station is currently at.

Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station.

Passing through the future Layang-Layang Railway Station.

Passing through the future Kulai Railway Station.

Approaching Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

Making a scheduled crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 46up at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

25 Class Locomotive 25204 Mutiara leads the Ekspres Selatan 46up.

Crossing between the Ekspres Selatan 45dn and Ekspres Selatan 46up at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

Passing under Jalan Lapangan Terbang, the road I took to Senai Airport via Causeway Link AA1 to fly to Bangkok for this trip.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Departing from Kempas Baru Railway Station with a shunt signal. There is currently no signalling between Kempas Baru Railway Station and Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ).

Passing by the junction to the KTM Pasir Gudang Line and under the viaducts to the future Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Arriving in to Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) at dusk.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) at 7.36pm – 9 minutes early.

Heading up the escalators from the platform.

Heading out to the concourse.

It was a simple immediate connection here at JB Sentral for me from my Ekspres Selatan 45dn to my connecting Shuttle Tebrau 91dn onwards to Woodlands CIQ. However, the early crowd was still waiting to scan through the Automated Control Gate (ACG) , and I wasn’t going to wait with the crowd.

With the early arrival into JB Sentral, I had about 20 minutes to hop over to Johor Bahru City Square to get a snack before heading back to Singapore.

New 2023 Bangkok to Singapore Train Journey

• Special Express 45 International Express from Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Padang Besar (Malaysia)
• KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2963dn from Padang Besar to Butterworth
• ETS Gold 9321dn from Butterworth to Gemas
• Ekspres Selatan 45dn from Gemas to JB Sentral
• Shuttle Tebrau 91dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ