KTM Ekspres Selatan 45dn from Gemas to JB Sentral Train Review

Following my arriving Shuttle Timuran 35dn from Kuala Lipis at Gemas Railway Station Platform 2, my connecting Ekspres Selatan 45dn to JB Sentral was already at Platform 5. Ekspres Selatan 45dn is the daily afternoon train from Gemas to JB Sentral. For this one-day joyride, I used Ekspres Selatan 45dn as a connection Shuttle Timuran 35dn for a 1-transfer trip back south.

Gemas Railway Station

With the Ekspres Selatan 45dn ready to connect, I headed directly to Platform 5 to board my Ekspres Selatan 45dn onwards to JB Sentral.

Heading down the stairs to Platform 5.

KTM Ekspres Selatan 45dn

24 Class Locomotive 24121 Tun Perak will be leading my Ekspres Selatan 45dn from Gemas to JB Sentral.

The name plate of 24121 Tun Perak.

ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)

For this weekday Ekspres Selatan 45dn, 3 ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches are attached.

The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) has 60 seats in a 2+2 configuration in a fixed forward or reverse direction.

My booked seat at 9D. 9D is a forward facing window seat in the middle of the coach at the split of directions, so this offers me a guilt-free recline when seated.

The legroom available on board the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia).

A tray table is located on the seat back in front.

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

ABC (Air-conditioned Buffet Coach)

An ABC (Air-conditioned Buffet Coach), also known by most passengers as canteen, is also attached on the Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

ETS Gold 9321dn

Ekspres Selatan 45dn connects with the ETS Gold 9321dn from Butterworth and KL Sentral.

A cross-platform transfer is provided from ETS Gold 9321dn to Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

The arriving ETS Gold 9321dn will form the northbound ETS Gold 9322up to Butterworth.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed together with the ETS Gold 9322up on time at 3.20pm.

Crossing the border from Negeri Sembilan to Johor.

Heading along the new tracks on the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP).

Passing by Batu Anam Railway Station.

The low-lying sectors around Segamat are now elevated to avoid any flooding causing future disruption to train services.

Segamat Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Segamat Temporary Railway Station.

Segamat Temporary Railway Station is located at Kampung Sedeng which is quite inconvenient for passengers without a car.

Although Segamat Temporary Railway Station is parallel with the main Jalan Segamat, there is no throughfare from the station to the main road, and pedestrians will have to walk for 2.2km (30 minutes) around the fences and tracks to get across. The bus stop is served by the infrequent Yow Hoe Bus.

I headed to the ABC (Air-conditioned Buffet Coach) after departing from Segamat to get an afternoon snack.

The ABC (Air-conditioned Buffet Coach) sells a variety of food and drinks.

There are also some new cream cakes on sale.

I ordered a Chocolate Cake (RM8) and a hot Teh O Kosong (RM2) for my afternoon tea.

The Chocolate Cake (RM8) was quite heavy on cream, lined both on the outside and inside. Nevertheless, it paired well with my hot tea without sugar.

The scenery from the ABC (Air-conditioned Buffet Coach) while enjoying my afternoon tea.

Labis Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Labis Temporary Railway Station.

The station building of Labis Temporary Railway Station is located on the future siding, while the platform of Labis Temporary Railway Station is located on the main line. A linkway connects both facilities across the future crossover from the down main line to the down loop line.

The future Labis Railway Station is in the center of town, ahead from Labis Temporary Railway Station.

Bekok Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bekok Temporary Railway Station.

The future Bekok Railway Station is slightly away from the center of town, before Bekok Temporary Railway Station.

Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S)

Entering Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S).

I had expected that it would be a regular crossing stop at Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S), but was not expecting what is to come.

The scenery around Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S). There will be no more stop here once the future Paloh Railway Station is ready for passenger service.

There seemed to be an issue at Bekok O/S as it had already been half an hour since I had arrived, the station staff were on the tracks checking on something, and the crossing Ekspres Selatan 44up was still nowhere to be seen.

This was a point issue and the points had to be changed manually by hand by the side of the tracks.

When the crossing Ekspres Selatan 44up was ready, the station master held a red flag signalling for the Ekspres Selatan 44up to stop. The signals were all at danger too.

Crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 44up at Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S). The driver of the Ekspres Selatan 44up probably had to sign on a ticket for him to proceed past the danger signals.

The Ekspres Selatan 44up then departed from Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S) after a brief stop.

After a few more minutes, the station master then rode a motorcycle to my locomotive to clear my Ekspres Selatan 45dn to depart.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S) at 5.59pm.

Paloh Temporary Railway Station

Making a very brief stop at Paloh Temporary Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late. My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Paloh Temporary Railway Station at 6.09pm – 52 minutes delayed.

Passing by the noise barriers on the viaducts on approach to Kluang.

Kluang Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kluang Temporary Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late. My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Kluang Temporary Railway Station at 6.32pm – 38 minutes delayed.

The view of Gunung Belumut when departing from Kluang.

Passing by the future Mengkibol Railway Station.

Rengam Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Rengam Temporary Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Rengam Temporary Railway Station at 6.50pm – 30 minutes delayed.

Stopping at a signal while waiting to enter the down loop line at Layang-Layang Railway Station.

Cleared to enter the down loop line.

Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station at 7.04pm – 29 minutes delayed. The future Layang-Layang Railway Station is just after Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station.

Approaching Kulai Temporary Railway Station and crossing with the Ekspres Selatan 46up.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late. My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Kulai Temporary Railway Station at 7.29pm – 27 minutes delayed.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late. My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Kempas Baru Railway Station at 7.51pm – 22 minutes delayed.

This also marks the last time that I passed through the old Kempas Baru Railway Station. The new Kempas Baru Railway Station and new track alignment through it has opened on 6 February 2024.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) at 8.10pm – 25 minutes delayed.

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

Conclusion

While my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was delayed at Bekok Operation Station (Bekok O/S) for almost an hour, the train still managed to catch up some time on the way to JB Sentral, arriving only 25 minutes delayed. This shows the extra time allowances padded into the current timetable, the current speed allowance on the new tracks, and the speed potential of future train services on the line. Hopefully with the advent of ETS services in Johor, travel times will be much further sped up, and the train can be a viable mode of transport between KL and JB.