KTM Ekspres Selatan 43dn from Kluang to JB Sentral Train Review

Following my Kluang RailCoffee breakfast after alighting from the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn, it was time to continue on my journey to JB Sentral and Singapore with the Ekspres Selatan 43dn following behind. This 2-hour gap in between the southbound trains allowed me for a comfortable window to have breakfast at Kluang RailCoffee.

Kluang Railway Station

The old Kluang Railway Station standing in front of the future Kluang Railway Station. The lunchtime queue to enter Kluang RailCoffee is going strong.

Entry to the temporary platform at Kluang Temporary Railway Station is restricted until the train is about to arrive. Passengers will still need to wait around the old Platform 1 of the old Kluang Railway Station for the gate to the linkbridge to open.

After an announcement had been made by the station master, the gate to the overhead bridge opens for passengers to head up to Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

Heading up the stairs to the old overhead bridge.

The old overhead bridge is also the access for the temporary linkbridge to Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

25 Class Locomotive 25105 Pulau Jerejak will be leading my Ekspres Selatan 43dn.

I was booked in Coach C, at the rear of the train.

ASC (Air-conditioned Second Class)

There is just 1 class of travel on board the Ekspres Selatan 43dn, by ASC (Air-conditioned Second Class).

Seats on the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) are laid out in a 2+2 configuration in a fixed forward or reverse direction. There are 60 seats in total per ASC (Air-conditioned Second Class) coach.

I booked seat 1D at the end of the coach, as it was one of the last remaining seats available for booking.

This gives me unlimited legroom, but this “unlimited legroom” area was taken up by bags belonging to other passengers.

A 3-pin power socket was available at my seat on this ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach. Not all ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches have a power socket by seat 1D.

A toilet bowl and squat toilet are available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).

My Ekspres Selatan 43dn departed from Kluang Temporary Railway Station on time at 12.22pm.

Passing through Mengkibol Railway Station.

Rengam Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Rengam Temporary Railway Station.

Rengam Temporary Railway Station is still using the old Rengam Railway Station building for facilities with just a temporary platform on the elevated tracks. The future Rengam Railway Station is also just adjacent to the old Rengam Railway Station.

The bus terminal is also just adjacent to the old Rengam Railway Station.

Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station.

The future Layang-Layang Railway Station is just after Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

I was surprised to see the old railway line to the old Kempas Baru Railway Station already gone, removed so quickly.

Making a brief stop at the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Kempas Baru Railway Station operates with a closed platform system, and platform access is for passengers with valid tickets only.

Platform 2 is still closed to passengers. However, I hope the remaining platforms remain closed for a long time, as passengers need not cross the overhead bridge this way, and trains will deliver passengers directly to the main entrance on Platform 1 instead.

Heading down from the elevated viaducts after the new Kempas Baru Railway Station.

The old railway line to the old Kempas Baru Railway Station is also already removed here.

Approaching Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) under the RTS Link construction works.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

My Ekspres Selatan 43dn arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) on time at 2.15pm.

I also managed to spot the rare 23 Class locomotive here at JB Sentral, 23110 Jujur, operating as a feeder locomotive to haul the empty rake of Ekspres Selatan 44up in.

Heading up the escalator from the platforms.

The concourse of Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral).

All train arrivals are from Gate B.

Here at the same concourse, I waited at Gate A for my connecting Shuttle Tebrau 83dn back to Singapore.