The KTM ETS2 Business Class is the latest premium hard product by KTM Berhad ever since the Koc Selesa was introduced on the Senandung Malam between Singapore Tanjung Pagar and Kuala Lumpur, bringing the single-class ETS service to a new generation of true premium travel of both passenger comfort and speed. Launched on 11 October 2019, with seats on the first train strangely fully sold out or blocked when I was trying to book my ticket the entire day on 12 September 2019 when tickets were supposedly launched, I settled for the second day of service on 12 October 2019 to get a rather empty coach when booking 30 days before departure.
I arrived at KL Sentral early to prepare for my first ETS 93/2 Class ride on board the Business Class coach.
Announcements are made in the station for Business Class passengers to head up to the 1st Class Lounge on Level 3 to wait for the 9274up train to Padang Besar.
Signs are posted before the escalator up to the 3rd Floor.
Heading up the escalator to the 3rd Floor.
Heading into a path that I haven’t been on for years.
Signs follow in the lift lobby towards the 1st Class Lounge. I’m still a bit triggered that KTM didn’t simply rename it to the Business Class Lounge though, since neither the AFC, 2PLUS or Koc Selesa serves KL Sentral any more.
The Business Class pull-up banners before the 1st Class Lounge.
Ahem, it has arrived.
Heading into the 1st Class Lounge.
The opening hours of the 1st Class Lounge for Business Class passengers.
Check-in for Business Class passengers is done at the 1st Class Lounge, which is a new procedure. After checking for tickets, the staff ticks off your name on the passenger manifest.
Brochures on the ETS2 Business Class are available on the cocktail table beside the check-in counter.
Despite haven’t been inside the 1st Class Lounge for years, nothing has changed.
The ETS Platinum 9274up is not shown on the departure screens.
Heading to grab a seat in the 1st Class Lounge to wait for my train.
ETS Platinum Standard passengers wait at Gate B as per normal.
There is a dedicated lift in the 1st Class Lounge for Business Class passengers to head down to the platform.
Once the train is ready for boarding, the staff calls out for passengers to head down to the platform. The lift would require 2 trips to send Business Class passengers down.
As Business Class passengers head down to the train, boarding is not open for ETS Platinum Standard passengers yet. Gate B is only opened when all Business Class passengers have arrived at the platform.
Behold, the brand new ETS 93/2 Class ETS211 operating as ETS Platinum 9274up from KL Sentral to Padang Besar.
The new ETS logo on the side of ETS211.
A very Chinese-looking destination sign on Coach F.
The usual LED sign in the middle of the car.
The interior of the ETS Platinum Standard coach.
The 9274up train departure is not flashed on the platform screen as well.
Boarding for ETS Platinum Standard passengers commenced 3 minutes prior to departure.
Heading back to my Business Class coach of Coach A at the rear of the train.
A whiteboard in use for the Business Class platform sign.
Boarding the Business Class coach at Coach A.
Th interior of the ETS2 Business Class.
What looks like a welcome mat is actually part of the carpet pattern on board the ETS2 Business Class.
My seat for the journey to Padang Besar at single Seat 7A.
USB and 2-pin power sockets are available on the wall beside the seat.
The legroom available on board the ETS2 Business Class.
The ETS2 Business Class seat comes with a spring-up legrest.
The rear cab door on ETS2 Business Class Coach A.
Luggage racks are available by the door nearest to the driving cab.
The builder sticker of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd..
The sticker before the door at the gangway.
The glass door leading to the seating cabin has a Business Class sticker on it.
The other “welcome mat” at the end of the train.
Heading back to my seat before the train departure.
The ETS2 Business Class seat comes with a ticket holder.
A seat hook is also available.
On the solo seat, the tray table is found beneath the right armrest.
On the solo seat, the entertainment screen is found beneath the left armrest.
The interface of the entertainment system in the ETS2 Business Class.
When in-train announcements are made, the in-train entertainment system (ITE?) freezes up annoyingly just like on board a plane.
Heading out of KL Sentral.
The central screens also freeze up when an announcement is made.
A better shot of the power sockets provided.
Making a brief stop in Kuala Lumpur.
I was pleasantly surprised that food can be ordered from the entertainment system.
At Kuala Lumpur, the Elite Steward heads out headsets to all passengers for use on the entertainment system.
The provided headsets for the train journey. I would have liked if KTM were to have their own branding on it for more premium and free advertising when a passenger uses the headphones elsewhere after the train journey.
Case in point, headphone branding for passengers to bring along wherever they go. Thank you Singapore Airlines.
Crossing with an ETS 91 Class heading to KL Sentral.
The seat pocket contains various collateral on the ETS2 Business Class.
The view from my seat when flipping out the tray table.
The view from my seat when flipping out both the tray table and entertainment screen.
My seat number of 7A without any labels of window or aisle.
A reading light is also available, though this provided general brightness rather than an actual targeted light.
Departing from Kuala Lumpur.
The movie selection on the entertainment system.
The music selection on the entertainment system.
The meal selection on the entertainment system. Surprisingly, the system does not come loaded with the full menu, but rather, stuff that people don’t usually order. The popular Nasi Lemak is not available on the ordering system, along with sandwiches.
The entertainment system also allows for surfing the internet, though it comes with a vert strange warning.
In case you can’t see it: “Long-term Internet access is not good for your eyesight, please go online”
My Googling was interrupted by an in-train announcement.
At this point of time, a steward came around to check everyone from the manifest. Tickets are not checked again here.
There are various .pdf files to view under the Promotion & Information page.
I decided to check out the ETS timetable.
Uh, not very helpful with the super small font. Zooming can only be done on the zoom button.
Zooming in doesn’t help too with the low resolution and non-movable .pdf file. Unless you are only looking for a KL-Ipoh train in the middle of the .pdf document, the timetable on the entertainment screen is pretty much of no help.
The route map of the ETS Platinum 9274up to Padang Besar.
When the seat in front of fully reclined, it does not hit the entertainment screen.
Checking out YouTube to test the internet.
Loading…
And loading…
Unfortunately I couldn’t get the video to start playing for even 1 second even though I’ve waited for 5 minutes already.
Pro-tip: Just stick to the mobile network on your phone if you want to surf the net.
The USB charger is useful for maintaining your phone battery to surf the net.
Flipping the hook open to place some belongings.
The hook is rather stable for small stuff, though there is a safe working load of 3kg.
My ticket for the ETS Platinum 9274up from Sentral Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar by ETS2 Business Class
The KTM ticket, however, does not fit within the China standard of credit card-sized train tickets for the ticket holder.
The best I could do for the ticket holder without folding my paper KTM ticket.
The ticket holder fits a credit card-sized ticket like for China Railway perfectly.
Passing Sungai Buloh MRT Station.
The legroom available when facing the ETS2 Business Class seats together.
The ETS logo embossed onto the headrest.
Shortly after, the crew serves a welcome snack.
The welcome snack consists of a box of desserts of a Madeline-like sponge cake, a chocolate tart and a red velvet kek lapis, along with a box of orange juice at room temperature.
The cakes tasted pretty good, perfectly with the right amount of sweetness. The chocolate tart is the best though, with the moist chocolate flowing in my mouth.
I decided to give a movie a shot, choosing The_Hunger_Games. However, instead of the 2012 movie, it was actually The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Yup, that’s Katniss. Movie works.
The nearest toilet for the ETS2 Business Class coach is at Coach B, but thankfully it’s located at the gangway immediately after Coach A.
The interior of the toilet at Coach B.
There is a hopper window for ventilation in the toilet, however, it was locked.
The crowded coach on board ETS Platinum Standard Coach B.
The ETS Cafe is located in Coach C.
There are airline-style refreshment trolleys for refreshment service in the train, or for Business Class service.
The seating area by the ETS Cafe now comes with circular rigid metal stools.
The overview of the counter frontage of the ETS Cafe.
A better menu layout on board the ETS 93/2 Class ETS Cafe with proper A4 frames rather than the old style of pasting A4 paper everywhere.
The variety of hot meals on board. There are no more combo sets which comes with a drink. All items are not a la carte.
The snack menu on board.
A variety of drinks on board.
As you can see, the menu on the entertainment system versus the actual menu is clearly different.
Looking back at the ETS Cafe from the gangway.
The universally accessible toilet is located in Coach D.
The door controls of the universally-accessible toilet on the ETS 93/2 Class are finally electric, rather than the manual pulling in the ETS 93 Class.
The sink area of the universally-accessible toilet by the door.
The Surau is now located in Coach D of the ETS 93/2 Class set.
The entrance to the Surau.
There is an electronic sign featuring the occupancy of the Surau.
There is a serious design flaw in the Surau on board the ETS 93/2 Class where it is necessary to step into the prayer area first with your shoes before shutting the main door to access the wudhu washing area. The only option to bypass this is to go barefoot on the coach corridor first, which may not be a good idea.
Hooks and a holding bar (which are of no use when the door is open) is available at the wudhu area.
Prayer mats and cloths are provided in the Surau.
The prayer area can fit 2 people comfortably.
The overall interior of the prayer area.
Heading into Coach D, there is a dedicated area for passengers in wheelchairs.
The wide space marked for wheelchair storage.
Passengers in wheelchairs may choose to take a seat on the dedicated foldable seats, or to lock their wheelchair on it should they prefer sitting in the wheelchair. A pair of seats can accommodate a seated and buckled wheelchair.
The dedicated OKU seats face away from the main cabin towards the wheelchair.
The buckle for wheelchairs on the special fold-down seats.
The immense legroom on the special OKU seats. However, these seats do not recline.
No seat number is assigned to these special OKU seats.
There is no more private crew room on board the ETS 93/2 Class, now replaced with a crew area on Coaches A and F.
Row 1 in Coach A is blacklisted to me as it offers a full wall view instead of a window.
The legroom available on board the ETS Platinum Standard.
The ETS Platinum Standard comes with a spring-up legrest too.
The safety card is pasted on the back of the tray table in ETS Platinum Standard.
The ETS Platinum Standard seats on the ETS 93/2 Class is a lot more comfortable than the standard ETS Platinum seats on the ETS 93 Class.
A hook is also available in ETS Platinum Standard.
The amount of recline you get in ETS Platinum Standard.
The amount of space you get with the tray table out in an upright seat position.
The interior of the half-full Coach F. I hope it’s not because of KTM’s late opening of tickets as usual.
Making a long stop at Kampar as the train was almost 20 minutes before time. Seems to be a scheduling problem to put too much backup time in the timetable.
Passing by Batu Gajah Depot.
Another ETS 93/2 Class set resting in Batu Gajah.
The ETS 93/2 Class parked in front of her older sisters.
Passing by the freshly refurbished Tren Aral Batu Gajah.
Hmm, if only KTM would maintain existing passenger coaches as much as they maintain this Tren Aral Batu Gajah.
Seems like a pleasant ride on the Tren Aral Batu Gajah even in the old PV.
Approaching the junction to the locomotive depot and CRRC workshop.
Making a brief stop at Batu Gajah.
Arriving at Ipoh.
The train made a brief stop at Ipoh, surprisingly for a cabin crew change too.
Been a long time since I stepped foot in Ipoh.
The nose of the ETS 93/2 Class at Ipoh.
Business Class passengers are served only by Elite crew members. Only 36 such crew in total are promoted to this new rank, with 4 staff attending to Business Class at any one time. Elite crew members can be distinguished by this new badge.
Departing from Ipoh.
After departing from Ipoh, I gave the food ordering system a shot, ordering a Chicken La. The only other dishes available to order are the Chicken Nu and the Fried Meeh, thanks to the 10 character limit on the screen.
The dish name for Chicken Lasagna with Tomato Sauce is split into 3 lines on the order summary screen. For whatever reason, the ordering system requires a lot of personal details. Trust me, almost no one knows which is the ticket reference ID on the ticket except for serious railway fans.
After submitting my name, email and phone number to KTM to order a Chicken La, I confirmed by order with the only payment mode as cash on delivery.
The confirmation screen of my order, with the status as “undisposed”.
Arriving at Kuala Kangsar.
Making a brief stop at Kuala Kangsar.
There is a call button to the crew just below the seat recline button.
As my food order status still had not changed after 15 minutes, I used the call button to ask a crew to help me check on it. The crew also advised me if I wanted to cancel my order or wait first in case my order hasn’t been prepared as lunch was about to be served, to which I agreed to hold my order if it’s not being prepared yet.
Bypassing a mixed cargo train parked on the main line at Padang Rengas.
Heading onto KTM Komuter Northern Sector territory.
Passing through the Bukit Berapit Tunnel.
After popping out of the tunnel, lunch is being served.
Lunch is served from the airline trolley.
The Elite TC also joins in the lunch service.
Nasi Dalcha with Chicken is served for lunch today, along with a cup of mineral water.
The Nasi Dalcha also comes with a small side omelette and a small cup of curry.
The meal was surprisingly flavourful, though I wish it would have been served a bit warmer instead of almost room temperature. Nevertheless, the curry helped to blend with the rice very nicely.
Arriving in Taiping.
Passing over Bukit Merah Lake.
After the meal, the crew came around to collect the empty meal trays.
Making a brief stop at Parit Buntar.
After everyone had finished their meals, the drinks and dessert trolley came around.
Hot coffee and tea is served after the meal.
Coffee and tea is surprisingly served airline style too, rather than simply putting in a packet of instant coffee powder or a tea bag into a cup of hot water.
My coffee and dessert of the day. The coffee is served with white sugar, brown sugar, and creamer.
The dessert of the day is Bubur Kacang Hijau or Green Bean Soup. I remember seeing the dessert in the meal trolley, and by the time it was served after the meal, it had already turned cold. But nevertheless, it still tasted alright.
Approaching Bukit Mertajam Bypass to continue on to Padang Besar.
Passing by the paddy fields of Perlis.
There is a new safety video being played, though it comes without sound and in the middle of the journey.
After the provided dessert and drink, I proceeded to request for the Chicken La. This took about 15 minutes to arrive after asking the crew to help me order it as the food ordering system on the entertainment system was not working.
The Chicken Lasagna tasted rather dry this time unfortunately, different from the last time I had it to Gemas. But nevertheless, it still tasted quite alright.
Heading parallel by the North–South Expressway.
As passengers started to clear out from the train from Sungai Petani onwards, I decided to explore the other seat types.
The amount of space you get on the double seat.
A power socket in front of the double seat is provided for the aisle seat passenger who doesn’t have access to the power socket on the wall.
The power socket on the wall for the window seat passenger.
The amount of space you get on the double seat.
Next station, Alor Setar.
Zooming past speeding vehicles on the North–South Expressway.
Making a brief stop at Alor Setar.
The new ETS2 Business Class passing by the Alor Setar Tower.
Passing by Alor Setar Sultan Abdul Halim Airport.
Seats on the ETS2 Business Class can be turned to face the direction of travel or to form facing bays of seats.
The legroom available on board the ETS2 Business Class when seats are rotated to facing bays.
The vast scenery of Perlis.
Heading back to the ETS Platinum Standard coach, it has also almost emptied out.
The route map of ETS services.
There are cluster seats of a facing bay of 4 with a rigid table in the middle of each coach.
Groups of 4 may consider picking these seats, though I wouldn’t recommended it for groups of less than 3 people as it would feel rather awkward.
Power sockets can be found underneath each pair of seats on ETS Platinum Standard.
The embossed ETS logo on each headrest in ETS Platinum Standard.
The view when seated in ETS Platinum Standard.
Luggage racks are also available in ETS Platinum Standard.
Making a brief stop at Arau.
Uh… The old station sticker shadow is showing. Not such a nice gift for the Sultan.
Continuing on to Padang Besar.
Approaching the final destination of this train.
Passing by Padang Besar Depot.
Er… Did you lose your way?
The coupling between the DMU 61 Class sets. This train is formed of 3 coupled sets to form a 12-car train.
My Special Express 46 International Express rake parked beside the 12-car DMU set.
If only the DMU 61 Class could be parked at the platform too, or the line beside it.
The empty interior of the ETS2 Business Class Coach A after everyone had alighted.
The single seat column with suffix A.
The double seat column with suffix B for the aisle seat and suffix C for the window seat.
The empty interior of the ETS Platinum Standard Coach B after everyone had alighted.
Seats on the ETS 93/2 Class are inward facing towards the middle of the coach like the AEC instead of outward facing towards the ends of the coach like the ASC or the ETS 93 Class.
The ETS 93/2 Class ETS211 at Padang Besar after completing the second-ever revenue run from KL Sentral.
KTM’s newest trains meeting at Padang Besar.
The signs on the ETS 93/2 Class ETS211 for my 9274up.
The new DMU 61 Class with the SRT coaches for the Special Express 46 International Express.
Heading out of the platform.
Here, I headed into the State Railway of Thailand office to ask about some future tickets, including my next train where I was especially concerned about immigration times.
Overall, an excellent improvement of train services by KTM Berhad with the new ETS2 Business Class with premium service, both on the hardware of the seat and software of the newly promoted Elite crew. This new ETS2 Business Class could finally bring KTM out of the usual sleepy progress over the past few years into a new true era of premium travel, both by speed and services. Hopefully, with more ETS 93/2 Class sets on the way, more improvements can be made on inter-city travel on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, once the Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) track renewal, signalling and electrification system upgrades and engineering works are out of the way in 5 years time.
I’m English and I am just about to book my first Malaysian rail journey, KL to Butterworth, I found your blog really very interesting and helpful. I do wonder though how generous the seats in Business Class are in width as we westerners do tend to be larger than our Eastern counterparts?
Similar to the 3 abreast First Class on National Rail.
Hi, thanks for the review. How long is the actual total journey from KL Sentral to Padang Besar for your ride? (sorry if its in your website and I missed). Is it possible to stop somewhere in between for sightseeing and re-join the next train and continue the journey?
Thanks for much!
The journey takes 5 hours and 50 minutes. You have to buy separate tickets for each leg should you wish to drop-off and sightsee. Do note that the next ETS Business Class train departs in 24 hours, it’s a once-a-day service.
Hi may I know, for business class ticket seat single, it facing to northbound or southbound?
It faces the direction of travel or wherever you want.
Hi I’m sorry but can you tell me how to buy a ticket for business class?
https://railtravelstation.com/ktm-berhad/ktmb-integrated-ticketing-system/