KTM Ekspres Selatan 44up from JB Sentral to Paloh by Train Review

KTM Ekspres Selatan 44up is a daily afternoon train departing from JB Sentral and serving all passenger stations en route to Gemas. For this day trip, I will be taking Ekspres Selatan 44up on a short half-day joyride to Paloh, before u-turning back to JB Sentral after the scheduled crossing with Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

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

Construction works outside Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) for the upcoming RTS Link to Woodlands North, Singapore is currently under way.

The up-riding escalators at JB Sentral were not working during my trip, so everyone had to use the stairs.

All Ekspres Selatan trains depart from JB Sentral Gate B.

Boarding commenced at 2.20pm, 20 minutes before departure.

Tickets are checked by the conductor at Gate B before going down to the platform.

Heading down to the platforms.

There are some temporary line and platform changes in JB Sentral due to the construction of the RTS Link on the southern end of the station. Temporary signs are in place to direct passengers to the correct trains.

KTM Ekspres Selatan 44up

My Ekspres Selatan 44up will be departing from Platform 2, which is now a siding with no point links on the southern end of the tracks.

For this journey on a Saturday, the Ekspres Selatan 44up runs with 2 extra coaches, D, and E, to cater to a higher passenger load. The Ekspres Selatan 44up runs with 3 coaches 6 days a week, with the extended 5-coach train on Saturdays.

KTM 24 Class Locomotive 24112 Hang Nadim is on duty for my Ekspres Selatan 44up.

The name plate of 24112 Hang Nadim.

The builder plate on 24112 Hang Nadim, manufactured by Toshiba and Kawasaki.

The tracks at Platforms 1 and 2 are now sidings with the link to the points ahead cut off for RTS Link construction works.

As the locomotive cannot run around using Platform 2, KTM 25 Class Locomotive 25204 Mutiara operates as the feeder locomotive to haul the empty rake from Kempas Baru Depot before starting the train service.

ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)

The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach. The Ekspres Selatan 44up is fully formed of ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches.

My booked seat at 1D. As the train was quite full, I decided to book the front-most seat so I had extra legroom.

The unlimited legroom available at my seat 1D. This was later taken up with many passengers’ luggage.

A trade-off for having legroom is that I get just a small window view.

A 3-pin power socket is available on the bulkhead in front of my seat.

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

My Ekspres Selatan 44up departed from JB Sentral on time at 2.40pm.

Passing by the future Bukit Chagar RTS Link Station.

Heading past the upcoming second track of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Project (EDTP).

Passing by Danga City Mall and the former Danga City Mall Railway Halt.

Looking back at the longer Ekspres Selatan 44up 5-coach train.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station where more passengers boarded.

Passing by the future Kempas Baru EMU Depot.

The line at the current Kempas Baru Railway Station is still running on the old alignment, with the future double-track line moving outwards for a straighter alignment, through the future Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Heading along the new tracks towards Kulai.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

The locomotive and PGC overruns the temporary platform so that passengers can access the temporary station building easily.

Most of the onward line has since been upgraded to the new tracks already.

Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station

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

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

It started to rain after departing from Layang-Layang Temporary 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.

Rengam Bus Station is just beside the old Rengam Railway Station, now served by Bas Muafakat Johor (BMJ) buses for Malaysians only.

Heading along palm plantations.

Approaching Kluang.

Kluang Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kluang Temporary Railway Station where many passengers alighted.

The future Kluang Railway Station is just ahead from the platform at Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

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

Approaching Paloh, now on an elevated curve. The old track alignment is now a surface water drain.

Paloh Temporary Railway Station

My Ekspres Selatan 44up arrived at Paloh Temporary Railway Station at 5.02pm – 3 minutes early. This is the new platform on the new track alignment, which was previously on street level. The old Paloh Temporary Railway Station remains at street level.

My Ekspres Selatan 44up continues on to Gemas, where it terminates.

Heading down the temporary staircase and walkway to the old Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

The station building of Paloh Temporary Railway Station. The old platform is now a walkway.

The façade of Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

Here, I waited for my return Ekspres Selatan 45dn as the 2 trains would cross at Bekok Operation Station, about 5 minutes away, which is not for passenger service.