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

Paloh is the most northerly station that I could travel to with the Ekspres Selatan 44up for a joyride in order to catch this southbound Ekspres Selatan 45dn back to JB Sentral. The crossing for both trains will be at Bekok Operation Station, which is not for passenger service, so I had to stop 1 station before.

Paloh Temporary Railway Station

The façade of Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

The current station building is the former Paloh Temporary Railway Station on street level which is still in use for passenger service without the original street level platform. A sheltered walkway and staircase is built to extend the reach from the former platform to the new high level platform on the new Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) alignment.

The former street level platform of Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

Timetables are displayed in Paloh Temporary Railway Station, served by Ekspres Selatan trains only.

The future Paloh Railway Station is north of the town on an elevated alignment. The station entrance will still be on street level.

Heading to the platform via the sheltered walkway.

The current high level platform of Paloh Temporary Railway Station.

Paloh Temporary Railway Station is located before the points to the loop lines of the future Paloh Railway Station.

KTM Ekspres Selatan 45dn

24 Class Locomotive 24121 Tun Perak leads my Ekspres Selatan 45dn today.

The Ekspres Selatan 45dn was running late, due to the tight crossing time at Bekok Operation Station, so it was a quick boarding before the train set off the moment all passengers had boarded.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn departed from Paloh Temporary Railway Station at 5.23pm – 6 minutes delayed.

ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)

The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach. The Ekspres Selatan 45dn is fully formed of ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches.

My booked seat at 9A.

9A 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 and hook on a handle is provided at the seat back in front, except for the end rows at 1 and 15.

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) is also attached on the Ekspres Selatan 45dn.

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

For a late-afternoon meal, I ordered a Nasi Lemak (RM8) and a hot Teh (RM3).

Both meals were served hot, with the Teh freshly prepared upon order, and the Nasi Lemak freshly microwaved upon order.

The Nasi Lemak was basic with just ikan bilis, peanuts, sambal, and a fried egg. As everything was microwaved together, it did not taste good at all, with the ikan bilis and peanuts soggy, and the fried egg tasting plasticky. The sambal was also quite spicy with no other taste other than the spicy feeling, and the Nasi Lemak tasted more of ginger than coconut lemak.

Can’t recommend this for RM8.

Arriving at Kluang Temporary Railway Station on the elevated viaduct.

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

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.

Looking down at Kluang town from Kluang Temporary Railway Station.

Passing through Mengkibol Railway Station.

Rengam Temporary Railway Station

The platform at Rengam Temporary Railway Station was too short to accommodate my extended Ekspres Selatan 45dn 7-coach train consisting of 6 ASCs and 1 ABC.

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 sun was quite strong this afternoon, so I’m glad my coach’s air-conditioning was working with lots of power.

Heading along the new tracks.

Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station

The platform at Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station was also too short to accommodate my extended Ekspres Selatan 45dn 7-coach train. As this stop was brief due to the train running a bit late, I didn’t make it onto the platform for a picture.

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

The sun was setting as my Ekspres Selatan 45dn was heading into Kulai.

Kulai Temporary Railway Station

Crossing with the northbound Ekspres Selatan 46up at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Kulai Temporary Railway Station.

The platform at Layang-Layang Temporary Railway Station was also too short to accommodate my extended Ekspres Selatan 45dn 7-coach train. As this stop was brief due to the train running a bit late, I didn’t make it onto the platform for a picture.

Passing by the upcoming Kempas Baru EMU Depot.

Kempas Baru Railway Station

Making a slightly longer stop at Kempas Baru Railway Station.

Unfortunately, the empty rake of Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 26up from Kempas Baru had not cleared the line between Kempas Baru and JB Sentral, so my Ekspres Selatan 45dn had to wait since the line has no active signals and the whole sector has become 1 very long block.

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn only departed from Kempas Baru Railway Station at 7.39pm – 10 minutes delayed.

Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)

My Ekspres Selatan 45dn arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) at 7.54pm – 9 minutes delayed.

Heading to the escalator in the middle of the platform to exit.

Heading up the escalator to the exit.

The exit for all arriving trains is at JB Sentral Gate B.

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