ETS Platinum Train from Taiping to Butterworth

Heading back to Butterworth, I had to take the more expensive ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up as catching the earlier KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2906up would leave me no time to explore Old Taiping Railway Station. With the higher fare though, I will get the use of a power socket and a proper long-distance transverse seat, so I took it as a consolation and bit the bullet for a premium ride from Taiping to Butterworth.

Taiping Railway Station

From the Old Taiping Railway Station, I took the sheltered walkway and side entrance to enter Taiping Railway Station.

The waiting area of Taiping Railway Station.

I had pre-purchased my ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up ticket from on the KTMB Mobile App, so I headed straight to the Automated Control Gate (ACG).

Scanning my KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) ticket on the Automated Control Gate (ACG).

My train details are displayed on the Automated Control Gate (ACG) on entry.

With my early entry, I was able to spot ETS Gold 9420up arriving at Taiping Railway Station Platform 2. This train is bound for Padang Besar Railway Station.

Old Taiping Railway Station as seen from the current Taiping Railway Station.

Heading up the staircase to the overhead bridge to cross over to Platform 2.

Heading on the overhead bridge across the tracks.

Heading down the staircase to Platform 2.

Heading to the front end of the platform nearer to my coach E, and to take a picture of the arriving ETS Platinum 9174up.

Looking north out of Taiping Railway Station.

My ETS Platinum 9174up  arrived 1 minute early at Taiping Railway Station. 93/2 Class ETS213 is operating on my ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up.

Boarding the ETS Platinum 9174up at Coach F first since this will be a quick stop.

The interior of the ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up.

My seat at Coach E Seat 5D. It’s in reverse, but that’s what I got for buying my ticket at the last minute.

The legroom available on board ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up.

2 USB power sockets and 1 3-pin power socket are available between each pair of ETS Platinum Standard Class seats.

A tray table is also available at most ETS Platinum Standard Class airline seats except the front-most where a flip-up table is provided.

My ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up departed from Taiping right on time at 2.25pm.

During the Merdeka period, songs were played on the screens throughout the train, though in silent mode.

Approaching Bukit Merah Lake.

Crossing over Bukit Merah Lake with a view of the old track parallel beside.

The clean toilet on board ETS Platinum Standard Class Coach E.

Approaching Parit Buntar Railway Station while passing by the old Parit Buntar Railway Station beside.

Parit Buntar Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Parit Buntar Railway Station.

Approaching the Bukit Mertajam wye junction.

Heading straight on as the main line alignment does not require changing tracks from the south towards Butterworth Railway Station.

The bypass to Padang Besar splits off here.

Continuing straight towards Butterworth.

Merging with the line from Padang Besar.

Bukit Mertajam Railway Station

Approaching Bukit Mertajam Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Bukit Mertajam Railway Station.

Approaching Bukit Tengah Railway Station.

I’m not sure why, but my ETS Platinum 9174up made a stop at Bukit Tengah Railway Station. This was not for passenger service as only Coach F and a little bit of Coach E made it into the platform.

Departing from Bukit Tengah Railway Station with a view of Bukit Tengah Depot.

Passing by Mydin Bukit Mertajam.

Approaching Multi Modal Freight Services, Prai (New Yard).

25201 Zamrud is on duty at Multi Modal Freight Services, Prai (New Yard).

Passing by Multi Modal Freight Services, Prai (New Yard).

Approaching the Prai Swing Bridge.

Crossing over the Prai Swing Bridge.

Approaching Butterworth Railway Station.

Butterworth Railway Station

My ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up arrived at Butterworth Railway Station right on time at 3.23pm.

Disembarking from ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up.

93/2 Class ETS213 at Butterworth Railway Station after completing her ETS Platinum 9174up duties.

Heading up the staircase to exit.

Queuing at the Automated Control Gate (ACG) to exit the paid area.

Scanning my KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) ticket on the Automated Control Gate (ACG).

Heading out of Butterworth Railway Station via the overhead bridge.

From here, I headed on via the temporary walkway to Penang Sentral to catch the Penang Fast Ferry back to Penang Island for my AirAsia AK1729 flight to Singapore.

Conclusion

The ETS Platinum Standard Class 9174up is expectedly a more comfortable ride than the KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2905dn from Butterworth to Taiping since I paid a premium for the ETS ride. Since it’s not every day that I would be travelling from from Taiping to Butterworth, it was fine for me to pay the premium, but the very low frequency on the KTM Komuter Northern Sector Butterworth-Padang Rengas Line should be adjusted upwards to cater for more frequent commuters to provide a better public transport service in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).