KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up from Ipoh to Butterworth Train Review
After an afternoon around Ipoh for joyrides and trainspotting, it was time to head off to Butterworth by the last train of the day with KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up. My original plan after alighting from the ETS Express 9006up was to immediately head to Butterworth after lunch in Ipoh, but alas, the arrival of the Eastern & Oriental Express was a good reason to stay longer in and around Ipoh.
Ipoh Railway Station
I was in Ipoh Railway Station for a while to spot the arrival of the Eastern & Oriental Express 31dn.
The KTM Komuter Northern Sector has a dedicated gate on the left of the concourse at Ipoh Railway Station. Makeshift clip-on signs inform passengers when the KTM Komuter Northern Sector train is ready for ticket scanning and boarding.
The gate opened for ticket scanning 12 minutes before departure.
Due to the arrival of the Eastern & Oriental Express on Platform 2, my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up was at Platform 1 with permissive working with the ETS Gold 9035dn to KL Sentral. Both trains will depart at the same time at 6.35pm.
Not every day that you get to see 3 different types of trains like this.
KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up
My KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up was on the ETS platform while the Eastern & Oriental Express 31dn was on the Komuter platform.
83 Class EMU40 is on duty for my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up. I had just taken this same train set earlier in the day to Kuala Kangsar.
The doors remained closed while at the platform, perhaps to deconflict confused ETS passengers from boarding the Komuter train.
The train doors opened at 6.26pm, 9 minutes before departure.
The interior of 83 Class EMU40. EMU40 features full longitudinal seating with blue seat covers. This is not ideal for seated comfort on a long-haul 2-hour journey, but allows for more standing passengers to add to capacity.
For a reality check, my longitudinal seat was directly beside the Eastern & Oriental Express’ Piano Bar Car.
Eastern & Oriental Express’ Piano Bar Car
The Eastern & Oriental Express’ Piano Bar Car also features longitudinal seats but of a class of its own.
But oh well, the Eastern & Oriental Express costs upwards of US$3,410, while I paid only RM12.80 to go to Butterworth.
The new route map on board the KTM Komuter Northern Sector 83 Class EMUs featuring both the Butterworth-Padang Besar Line and Butterworth-Ipoh Line.
I will be taking the full route of the Butterworth-Ipoh Line.
My KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up departed from Ipoh on time at 6.35pm.
The KTM Komuter Northern Sector travels at speeds of up to 120km/h.
Sungai Siput Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Sungai Siput Railway Station.
Kuala Kangsar Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Kuala Kangsar Railway Station.
Padang Rengas Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Padang Rengas Railway Station.
Passing by Gunung Pondok, a large limestone hill in Padang Rengas.
Passing through Bukit Berapit Rail Tunnel. Bukit Berapit Rail Tunnel is the longest rail tunnel in Malaysia at 3.3 kilometers long.
After exiting from Bukit Berapit Rail Tunnel, the sunset gave way to golden and purple skies.
Taiping Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Taiping Railway Station.
The sunset skies along the way.
Kamunting Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Kamunting Railway Station.
The skies got darker after Kamunting.
Bagan Serai Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Bagan Serai Railway Station.
Parit Buntar Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Parit Buntar Railway Station.
Nibong Tebal Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Nibong Tebal Railway Station.
Simpang Ampat Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Simpang Ampat Railway Station.
My KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up was held up at a signal before entering Bukit Mertajam Railway Station, which put my train in a delay. This was possibly due to the KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2985dn from Padang Besar arriving in to the wye junction delayed which caused this domino effect.
Bukit Mertajam Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Bukit Mertajam Railway Station.
Bukit Tengah Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Bukit Tengah Railway Station.
Butterworth Railway Station
My KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up arrived at Butterworth Railway Station at 8.36pm – 5 minutes delayed due to the signal clearance hold up before Bukit Mertajam.
The end of the line at Butterworth Railway Station.
The arriving KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2985dn from Padang Besar was at Platform 4.
Heading up the stairs to the exit.
Scanning through the Automated Control Gate (ACG) with my KTM Komuter Northern Sector ticket purchased on the KTMB Mobile app.
The unpaid area of Butterworth Railway Station is similar to other stations on the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) which has the concourse elevated above the tracks.
From here, I headed directly to Butterworth Penang Sentral Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) to catch the 9pm ferry across to Penang Island.
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