KTM ETS Gold 9321dn Train from KL Sentral to Gemas (Connection to Ekspres Selatan to JB Sentral)
ETS Gold 9321dn is a daytime train from KL Sentral to Gemas which connects with Ekspres Selatan 45dn, originating from Butterworth. Following the Malayan Railway Fan Club’s talk at Rail Technology Expo (RTX) 2022, I headed straight from the talk to board ETS Gold 9321dn for my journey back to Singapore.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):
Sentral Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (KL Sentral)
I arrived at Level 2 of KL Sentral in good time for my ETS Gold 9321dn to Gemas.
My ticket was checked by the Polis Bantuan before entering the passenger waiting area at Gate B.
The queue for the Automated Control Gate (ACG) at KL Sentral.
13 minutes before departure time, the Automated Control Gate (ACG) opened for ETS Gold 9321dn.
Scanning my ticket from the KTMB Mobile app on my phone at the Automated Control Gate (ACG).
My ETS Gold 9321dn train details on the Automated Control Gate (ACG) after successfully scanning the QR code.
Heading down the escalator to the platform.
My ETS Gold 9321dn train would be departing from Platform 2, the southbound intercity platform.
My coach A is at the front of the train.
The passenger information screen at Platform 2 was surprisingly working as compared to many other screens around the Klang Valley, including the opposing one at Platform 1.
At 12.14pm, the ETS Gold 9321dn arrived on time at KL Sentral from Butterworth. The train stops at the rear of the platform to alight passengers to Gate A.
After passengers for KL Sentral have alighted at Gate A, the train then moves forward to pick up passengers for Gemas from Gate B.
93 Class ETS 207 is on duty for my ETS Gold 9321dn train from KL Sentral to Gemas.
Boarding ETS 207 at the front-most door.
The interior of 93 Class ETS 207. There is only 1 class of seating on board the 93 Class ETS.
My seat at 7A.
The legroom available on board the 93 Class ETS.
A tray table is available at most seats except for the front/rear most or table seats where actual tables are fitted instead.
The view of the coach from my seat.
My ETS Gold 9321dn departed from KL Sentral at 12.20pm – 1 minute late.
Despite being a window seat, the view from seat 7A was poor and close to non-existent.
Although poor for taking pictures, you can still look out of other windows around the train.
A 3-pin power socket is available below each pair of seats.
Passing by the reason for slow KTM Komuter Central Sector train services between KL Sentral and Kajang, both in frequency and speed.
The southbound platform at MidValley Railway Halt is closed to passenger while Klang Valley Double Tracking Phase 2 (KVDT2) works are being carried out.
Passing by the KL city skyline.
Here, the line is now single-tracked with KVDT2 works being carried out.
Passing over the SMART Expressway.
At Salak Selatan Railway Station, no tracks are on the southbound platform too.
Passing by on the main line while crossing with KTM Komuter Central Sector 2024up.
Bandar Tasik Selatan Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Bandar Tasik Selatan Railway Station where surprisingly quite a number of passengers alighted.
My ETS Gold 9321dn coach A was half empty from Bandar Tasik Selatan Railway Station.
Kajang Railway Station
Approaching Kajang Railway Station.
Crossing with KTM Komuter Central Sector 2028up at Kajang Railway Station.
More passengers alighted at Kajang, though not as many as Bandar Tasik Selatan.
After departing from Kajang, I headed to the ETS Bistro to get lunch.
ETS Bistro at Coach C
The ETS Bistro is located at Coach C.
Some passengers like sitting in Coach C for the convenience of having the ETS Bistro just behind, but I don’t as the coach is always busy with passengers walking up and down the aisles or crowding around at the ETS Bistro.
The ETS Bistro counter.
2 small tables of 2 seats are available in front of the ETS Bistro.
4 mains were available on my journey, namely, Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang, Nasi Goreng Kampung, Nasi Dagang Terengganu, and Nasi Minyak dengan Ayam Masak Merah.
Instant noodles and hot drinks are also available.
Cold drinks are also available in the refrigerator.
The menu on board the ETS Bistro.
As the Bistro area was not crowded, I took a seat at the Bistro dining area for lunch.
Ironically, the small Bistro seat offered me a better view than my own seat.
Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang
I ordered a Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang (RM10) and a can of Nescafé Mocha (RM2.80) for lunch.
The Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang was, well, a microwaved meal after all. The egg was dry and the rice at the sides of the square were crispy. But other than that, the Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang tasted fine for a microwaved meal on board a train for convenience.
Surau at Coach C
A surau is also available in Coach C, just beside the ETS Bistro.
A wheelchair-accessible toilet is available at Coach D.
Toilets are also available at Coaches B and E.
Seremban Railway Station
More passengers alighted at Seremban Railway Station.
Here, my ETS Gold 9321dn made a longer stop as it arrived 8 before time.
My ETS Gold 9321dn at Seremban Railway Station.
Passing by Seremban EMU Depot.
The end of Seremban EMU Depot follows the old alignment to the Port Dickson line.
Passing by palm plantations along the way.
Zooming past Rembau.
The ETS Gold 9321dn averages at a speed of 120km/h on this section.
Pulau Sebang Railway Station (Tampin Railway Station)
More passengers alighted at Pulau Sebang Railway Station (Tampin Railway Station). Notably, not many passengers boarded the from all the above stations, which means the ETS Gold 9321dn train just got emptier and emptier towards Gemas.
The ETS Gold 9321dn was still running before time.
Batang Melaka Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Batang Melaka Railway Station.
The ETS Gold 9321dn was still running before time.
With the ETS Gold 9321dn mostly empty now, I could take some additional seat pictures. Here’s the overall space you get with a recline or with a tray table folded out.
Passing by the Gemas wye junction linking the Central Line directly to the East Coast Line without passing through the station.
Approaching the junction of the Southern Line and East Coast Line.
The view of Gemas depot from afar.
The Shuttle Timuran 35dn from Kuala Lipis was also entering Gemas Railway Station way before time, and both my ETS Gold 9321dn and Shuttle Timuran 35dn entered together.
The Shuttle Timuran 35dn was heading to Platform 2.
Passing by disused BSC coaches on the loop line.
Approaching Gemas Railway Station.
Gemas Railway Station
Arriving at Platform 6 of Gemas Railway Station.
My connecting Ekspres Selatan 45dn onwards to JB Sentral was already waiting at Platform 5 for a cross-platform transfer.
My ETS Gold 9321dn arrived at Gemas Railway Station at 2.49pm – 3 minutes before time.
Looking back at the now-empty interior of the 93 Class ETS.
93 Class ETS 207 at Gemas Railway Station after completing the ETS Gold 9321dn run. This same train will return back up north to Butterworth as ETS Gold 9322up at 3.20pm.
Transfer to Ekspres Selatan 45dn
With the ETS Gold 9321dn at Platform 6, transfer to Ekspres Selatan 45dn at Platform 5 is seamless as a cross-platform transfer is provided on the island platform of Platforms 5 and 6.
Conclusion
Overall, the ETS Gold 9321dn works for this KL to Singapore journey that I am taking, as the connection at Gemas is not too long at just slightly half an hour based on schedule. The ETS Gold 9321dn ran with lots of space after Bandar Tasik Selatan and got emptier with every stop. It’s not the fastest way from KL to Singapore, but it might be one of the most comfortable with ready food options and toilets on board.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):
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