KTM Ekspres Selatan 45dn Train from Gemas to JB Sentral (Connection from ETS from KL Sentral)
Continuing on the train journey from KL to Singapore from the ETS Gold 9321dn, the connecting train waiting just opposite the platform at Gemas is Ekspres Selatan 45dn. This train will bring me from Gemas to JB Sentral before the final leg on to Woodlands CIQ with Shuttle Tebrau 93dn.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):
Gemas Railway Station
25 Class 25104 Pulau Indah leads my Ekspres Selatan 45dn from Gemas to JB Sentral.
The cast nameplate of 25104 Pulau Indah.
From my ETS Gold 9321dn coach A, my Ekspres Selatan 45dn coach A was just across on the same door.
A comfortable transit at Gemas with pretty much just a change in seat.
If changing from the Shuttle Timuran 35dn from Kuala Lipis, depending on the direction of staff, you may either take the bridge directly to Platform 5 or go out to the waiting room first and come in again after scanning your ticket on the Automated Control Gate (ACG).
ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)
The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) attached on the Ekspres Selatan 45dn.
My seat on board at coach A seat 11A.
The legroom available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).
A tray table is provided on rows 2 to 14.
The view of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) from my seat.
The western sitting and Asian squatting toilets available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).
Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach (ABC)
On this daytime train, there is also an Air-Conditioned Buffet Coach (ABC) attached to Ekspres Selatan 45dn.
The canteen was already open during boarding at Gemas. The selection on board the Ekspres Selatan 45dn ABC is not as wide as the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran, but it gets the job done.
My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Gemas on time at 3.20pm.
Heading on the new track of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Tracking Project (EDTP).
Passing by Batu Anam Railway Station which is now used by contractors working on the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Tracking Project (EDTP).
Passing through the future elevated Segamat Railway Station.
Passing through Segamat on the new elevated viaducts.
Crossing over Sungai Segamat over the very high viaduct. The railway won’t be affected by the Sungai Segamat floods any time soon. The road over Sungai Segamat also has a new bridge raising above the river level.
Segamat Temporary Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Segamat Temporary Railway Station.
With the running before time, I headed on to the platform for a few pictures.
The line continues on to another viaduct after Segamat Temporary Railway Station.
Passing through Genuang Railway Station temporary cabin.
The future Genuang Railway Station is taking shape as a freight station.
At tea time after passing through Genuang, I headed over to the ABC for a snack. The ABC is attached between coaches B and C.
The snack turned out to be another Nasi Lemak after my lunch one on board ETS Gold 9321dn.
I ordered the Nasi Lemak (RM4) since it’s in a banana leaf packaging rather than a plastic box, and a Milo Ais (RM3.50).
The Nasi Lemak was microwaved before serving. This caused a bit of plastic from the wrapping paper to stick to each other, but I checked my rice and there was no extra plastik meleleh with it. The Nasi Lemak on board Ekspres Selatan 45dn was plain with sambal and egg, which I thought was pretty pricey for Malaysian standards, but I guess the premium is for the ready meals on board a moving train.
The air-conditioning on board the ABC was down, but thankfully fans were added during the ABC refurbishment, and the fans could circulate the air inside ABC without air-conditioning.
Labis Temporary Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Labis Temporary Railway Station.
The current Labis Temporary Railway Station is apparently a Labis Temporary Temporary Railway Station, as there is another upcoming Labis Temporary Railway Station beside, on the final track alignment itself.
Bekok Temporary Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Bekok Temporary Railway Station.
Bekok Operation Station (Bekok OS)
The Ekspres Selatan 45dn makes a stop at Bekok Operation Station (Bekok OS) for crossing with Ekspres Selatan 44up.
Bekok Operation Station (Bekok OS) is a simple cabin structure controlling a set of crossovers on the new EDTP alignment to allow for train crossings on the single track as the temporary stations at Bekok and Paloh do not have a loop line.
The view out when stopped at the Bekok Operation Station (Bekok OS) loop line, which will be the future down main line.
26 Class Blue Tiger 26120 Tanjung Tuan hauls the Ekspres Selatan 44up from JB Sentral to Gemas.
The Ekspres Selatan 44up does not stop as it passes through the main line, as Bekok Operation Station (Bekok OS) is only for operation and not for passengers.
Continuing on down south after crossing.
Passing through the future Paloh Railway Station with 6 platforms and 4 tracks.
A main line track has already been placed through the future station, though without the top ballast and tamping yet. Looks like the future Paloh Railway Station might be in use sooner than the rest of the Gemas-JB EDTP stations.
Turnouts are also in place.
The future up main line sleepers have been laid beside Paloh Temporary Railway Station on the down main line.
Paloh Temporary Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Paloh Temporary Railway Station. The train was running late due to the delay in crossing at Bekok OS.
The temporary station building from the first Paloh Temporary Railway Station is still in use, with a staircase built from the old platform to link up to the new platform on higher ground.
Heading on the new viaduct into Kluang.
The former road bridge above the railway track has been rebuilt now that the railway floes over the road.
Passing through the future Kluang Railway Station.
Kluang Temporary Railway Station
The Kluang Temporary Railway Station platform was swarmed with passengers waiting to board the Ekspres Selatan 45dn. Most passengers are Malaysian workers heading back to Singapore after the weekend, as my trip was done on a Sunday.
The Ekspres Selatan 45dn filled up to the brim here at Kluang with 100% seat capacity.
Even though the Ekspres Selatan 45dn was delayed, the train still stopped at Kluang for a few minutes as passengers were still making their way on board.
Once all passengers were on board, the Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Kluang.
Making a brief stop at Mengkibol Railway Station for the driver to collect the caution paper.
The future Mengkibol Railway Station is taking shape as a freight station.
Mengkibol Railway Station currently operates out from a temporary cabin.
Renggam Temporary Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Renggam Temporary Railway Station.
The old Renggam Railway Station is still used for all facilities, with passengers directed to the elevated platform only before the train’s departure.
Layang-Layang Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Layang-Layang Railway Station.
A light engine, 24 Class 24117 Indera Gajah, was sitting at the new line leading to the future Layang-Layang Railway Station.
The platforms of the future Layang-Layang Railway Station are taking shape, with the station building still up and coming.
Heading through the future Layang-Layang Railway Station.
Passing by Kulai Centrepoint on approach to the future Kulai Railway Station.
Passing through the future Kulai Railway Station.
The future Kulai Railway Station is located on a higher ground than the former Kulai Railway Station.
Kulai Temporary Railway Station
At Kulai Temporary Railway Station, there were an even number of boarding and alighting passengers due to the seat limit on board the train.
Crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 46up at Kulai Temporary Railway Station, which is on the loop line.
Kempas Baru Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station where some passengers alighted, though less than usual, with the Malaysian workers on board heading back to Singapore for the week continuing on to JB Sentral.
With no signalling currently south of Kempas Baru Railway Station, the shunt signal is issued for the Ekspres Selatan 45dn to depart for JB Sentral, even though it’s not shunting to another line.
Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)
My Ekspres Selatan 45dn arrived at JB Sentral at 7.49pm – 4 minutes late. I could have actually made a connection to the next departing Shuttle Tebrau 91dn at 8.15pm, but I bought my ticket for 93dn instead as the transfer was too close for comfort.
Heading up the escalator?
The escalator up from the platform wasn’t working so passengers had to climb up.
Continuing on the second escalator to the concourse.
Heading out to the concourse of JB Sentral.
There would have been 11 minutes to make the connection to Shuttle Tebrau 91dn, but I bought 1 train later to ride outany delays and to get dinner in JB first before going back.
Conclusion
Overall, the Ekspres Selatan 45dn with 4 ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) attached on a Sunday and an operating ABC made the shuttle journey a bit more comfortable with food and drinks available on board and seeing demand for train services on at least 1 day a week.
I chose to take the train back from KL to Singapore this time not because of the train speed which is way slower than a KL-JB bus, but because of the border crossing time which on a Sunday night would easily take 2 to 3 hours to cross into Singapore had I returned by bus. As such, factoring in the train ride to JB to transfer to the Shuttle Tebrau, my journey from KL to Singapore would at least be on a scheduled fixed time, and I might as well enjoy my train joy ride while at it.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):
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