Hello, New Kempas Baru Railway Station!
The new Kempas Baru Railway Station has opened on 6 February 2024, along the new Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) track alignment. I paid a combo visit to Kempas Baru on 6 February, to bid goodbye to the old Kempas Baru Railway Station, and to visit the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.
Walking to New Kempas Baru Railway Station
The walk to the new Kempas Baru Railway Station is not pedestrian friendly at all, with most parts of the walk possible only directly on the road. On the left, there are many trees and bushes, and on the right, there are 2 types of drains to fall in to.
Walk north until approaching a new roundabout.
The roundabout is still lined with construction barricades, but otherwise it is already opened for road traffic.
Finally, a pavement is seen at the roundabout.
Turn left to the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.
New Kempas Baru Railway Station
The entrance to the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.
Ah, the pavement ends at the end of the roundabout.
Tracks on the old railway line from the old Kempas Baru Railway Station have already been removed.
This is to facilitate connecting the station access road across the old railway alignment.
Looking down to the old Kempas Baru Railway Station.
The new station access road and pavement begins again after the former railway alignment.
Heading up to the new Kempas Baru Railway Station by the walkway.
The main road gate of the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.
Another design flaw here, a wall is built for the main gate right at the pavement. The pavement kindly slopes down before the wall for a lower step back on to the road for pedestrians to walk around the wall blocking the pavement.
The new Kempas Baru Railway Station has 4 lines through the station with 6 platforms.
Looking back down at the old Kempas Baru Railway Station.
The new Kempas Baru Railway Station has a good potential of road facilities with many car park lots, a pick-up drop-off porch, a taxi stand, and a bus stop.
A sheltered linkway connects branches of the car park to the main station building.
The façade of the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.
Taxi Stand
A taxi stand is available at the new Kempas Baru Railway Station. However, the sign can only be seen from the road.
Bus Stop
A bus stop is also available at the new Kempas Baru Railway Station. However, the sign can only be seen from the road.
The taxi stand and bus stop is located on a traffic island, connected by a sheltered walkway from the main station building.
Car Park
There is a big car park outside of the station building, connected with a network of covered walkways.
Pick-up/Drop-off Porch
A pick-up drop-off driveway leads directly to the station entrance and concourse.
Concourse
The concourse of the new Kempas Baru Railway Station is basic with a small waiting area and a ticket counter.
The ticket counter is of the usual design of upgraded stations.
Entry to the platform is through the gate, which only passengers with valid tickets can access.
The gate will be manned and opened when a train is arriving and departing.
There are power sockets located on the floor by the gate, provisions for future installation of Automated Control Gates (ACG). There looks to be 1 wide gate and 3 regular gates in future.
New notices are posted on the wall at the concourse.
The so-called “KTMB Railway Network Map” was off as it only showed the route of the Ekspres Selatan, and is definitely not the network of KTM. Genuang and Mengkibol were also listed, but covered with a white tape. Both are freight and operational stations only, with no passenger services.
Retail
There is 1 stall and 1 food outlet for rent outside the station concourse. As of the opening date, both units were still unoccupied.
Platform
The new Kempas Baru Railway Station has 6 platforms with 4 tracks. Currently, only Platform 1 is in operation.
The up loop line caters to Platforms 1 and 2.
As the other platforms are not for passenger services yet, the overhead bridge is still out of bounds to passengers.
However, the tracks are all in place and in use already. Nevertheless, Platform 1 is the most useful as passengers do not need to climb up and down the overhead bridge, and can access the platform immediately after passing through the boarding gate.
Departing from New Kempas Baru Railway Station
I concluded my visit to the new Kempas Baru Railway Station out to JB Sentral. Watch my YouTube video for the journey!