KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up Additional Shuttle Train from KL Sentral to Kampung Batu

KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up is a newly-added once-a-day additional shuttle train from KL Sentral to Batu Caves in 1 direction only in the weekday evening peak, which also serves Kampung Batu Interchange to the new MRT Putrajaya Line.

This 1 additional shuttle train was added by KTM after a viral letter on New Straits Times by Alan Bligh made rounds on Malaysia social media discussing the missed opportunity by KTM Komuter to provide connectivity to Kuala Lumpur from the new MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1.

This also happened around the same time as the viral statement made by KTM Berhad CEO YBrs. Encik Mohd Rani Hisham bin Samsudin saying that highway jams are “linked to the attitude of the public who are not interested in using public transport which is claimed to be difficult and slow”.

This new once-a-day additional shuttle train reduces the weekday peak hour interval from KL Sentral to Batu Caves by half from 88 minutes to 42-45 minutes during peak hours.

For this journey, I will be taking KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up from KL Sentral to Kampung Batu to try out the new access by KTM Komuter to MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1.

Sentral Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (KL Sentral)

There are some platform changes at KL Sentral, and trains to Batu Caves now depart from Platform 5.

My KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up was already waiting at KL Sentral Platform 5 about 25 minutes before departure.

The updated direction map of trains at KL Sentral Platforms 5 and 6.

The new once-a-day KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up additional shuttle train reduces the weekday peak hour interval from KL Sentral to Batu Caves to around 45 minutes during peak hours. There were previously no trains between 5.42pm and 7.10pm – an interval of 88 minutes.

92 Class EMU SCS32 was operating on my KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up.

The interior of Coaches A and F of the 92 Class EMU.

The interior of Coaches B, C, D, and E of the 92 Class EMU.

The on board dynamic route map flashes the full route of the KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up additional shuttle train from KL Sentral to Batu Caves.

My KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up departed at 6.27pm – 2 minutes delayed from schedule.

Heading out of KL Sentral slowly.

Approaching Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.

Crossing with another KTM Komuter 92 Class EMU train at Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, which shows that there is a double track ready.

Yup, definitely ready. Signals were also showing green on the opposite side but no further trains passed by, leaving the track empty during peak hours.

Approaching Bank Negara Railway Halt.

Bank Negara Railway Halt

Making a brief stop at Bank Negara Railway Halt.

Passing by Bandaraya LRT Station and SOGO Kuala Lumpur. The connecting stations at Bandaraya LRT Station and Bank Negara Railway Halt are currently not feasible for a regular interchange due to the poor frequency of KTM Komuter Central Sector trains.

Approaching Putra Railway Station.

Putra Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Putra Railway Station.

Entering Simpang Batu.

Simpang Batu looks fixed up already. I’m not sure why frequency is still so low even with a fully rehabilitated and reinstated electrified double track between KL Sentral and Batu Caves.

The evening traffic jam going on beside the railway line. If only there were more trains serving this empty fully-rehabilitated electrified double track on a trunk commuter route. Realistically though, it might still have been faster to get stuck in the jam than to wait from 42 to 88 minutes for the next train.

Approaching Sentul Railway Station.

Sentul Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sentul Railway Station.

Passing by Kem Batu Kentonmen.

There is a short branch line in to Kem Batu Kentonmen just before Batu Kentonmen Railway Station.

Approaching Batu Kentonmen Railway Station.

Batu Kentonmen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Batu Kentonmen Railway Station.

More buildings in Kem Batu Kentonmen by the railway line.

Approaching Kampung Batu Railway Station with the MRT Putrajaya Line viaducts flying above the railway tracks. Change here for the MRT Putrajaya Line to Kwasa Damansara.

Kampung Batu Railway Station

My KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up train arrived at Kampung Batu Railway Station at 6.50pm – 1 minute delayed from schedule.

Some mandatory stock photos of the KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up at Kampung Batu Railway Station.

The KTM Komuter Central Sector 2048up then continued its journey towards Batu Caves, departing from Kampung Batu Railway Station at 6.51pm – 2 minute delayed from schedule.

The new Kampung Batu MRT Station is located just beside Kampung Batu Railway Station.

However, there are no new transfer connections at the northern end of Kampung Batu Railway Station, and access in and out of Kampung Batu Railway Station is still by the existing fare gates and entrance.

Heading up the escalator to the concourse.

Tapping out of the fare gates at Kampung Batu Railway Station. The Adult Cashless fare from KL Sentral to Kampung Batu costs RM2.00.

MRT Putrajaya Line Kampung Batu MRT Station

MRT Putrajaya Line Kampung Batu MRT Station can be seen from the Kampung Batu Railway Station concourse.

New signs point towards Kampung Batu MRT Station from Kampung Batu Railway Station concourse. Interestingly, the MRT Corp logo is used despite Rapid KL being the operator.

Heading down the staircase to exit Kampung Batu Railway Station.

There is a new sheltered walkway between Kampung Batu Railway Station and Kampung Batu MRT Station.

The walk between Kampung Batu Railway Station and Kampung Batu MRT Station takes less than 30 seconds.

MRT Putrajaya Line Kampung Batu MRT Station Entrance A

Kampung Batu Railway Station is now connected to Kampung Batu MRT Station Entrance A but the sheltered walkway.

Conclusion

A once-a-day shuttle train on a fully electrified and double-tracked commuter line in a major capital city is very poor frequency to feed a new MRT line. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the KTM Komuter Central Sector is an extremely poor link between the MRT Putrajaya Line and Kuala Lumpur city with only up to 21 pairs of trains daily on a weekday timetable.

I don’t understand why more frequent shuttle trains cannot be implemented to feed a new MRT line now when Sentul-Batu Caves Shuttle Trains and KTM Komuter Rail Replacement Bus Service KTM1 were done previously on a regular day without a trunk transport feeder function.

The new MRT Putrajaya Line will not be successful with such a poor onward link, and the effects of changing travel patterns on the new MRT Putrajaya Line can only be seen when Phase 2 opens.

It is indeed a missed chance for KTM Komuter to change the attitude of the public who are not interested in using public transport by only adding a knee-jerk 1 extra shuttle train per weekday, and only confirms to the public that travelling by KTM Komuter is indeed difficult and slow even on a fully rehabilitated electrified double track after EDTP works have been fully completed.