Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas
Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 is a local bus service plying between Kota Bharu and Rantau Panjang via Pasir Mas, making it quite a trunk bus service with a high catchment of key towns in Kelantan, along with international travellers heading to Thailand’s Sungai Golok. This is evident with the higher frequency and number of buses catered on this route, as compared to other Mutiara Rentas Desa bus routes. For this research trip to Pasir Mas, I took Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Kota Bharu, in order to compare it with Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 6 later on my return journey.
Kota Bharu Bus Station
The façade of Kota Bharu Bus Station.
The bus shelter at Kota Bharu Bus Station which Mutiara Rentas Desa operates out from.
Mutiara Rentas Desa bus route infomation is displayed at this bus shelter.
Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 has 12 departures a day in each direction, with buses leaving every 30 to 90 minutes.
My 10.45am Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 was ready for boarding when I arrived at 10.30am.
The interior of the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus.
The handheld ticket machine was not ready, but the driver collected the fare first.
My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 bus fare from Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas costed RM2.40. No ticket was issued.
The legroom is surprisingly good on board the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus for a local bus service.
Handgrips and bus stopping buzzers are installed on board the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus to cater for standees and to alert the bus driver when a stop is requested.
My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 departed on time at 10.45am from Kota Bharu Bus Station.
Passing by local bus stops on the way out of Kota Bharu.
Turning right at the junction of Malaysia Federal Route 8 and Malaysia Federal Route 3 adjacent to KB Mall.
Passing by Lotus’s Kota Bharu.
Crossing the Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge over the Kelantan River.
Turning left at the Pasir Pekan Roundabout for a direct route to Pasir Mas via Malaysia Federal Route 3.
Tendong
Passing through Tendong.
The distance remaining for the bus ride can be easily seen as Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 follows Malaysia Federal Route 3 all the way to Rantau Panjang.
Pasir Mas
Entering Pasir Mas.
I pressed the buzzer when the bus entered the main square around Pasir Mas, but the driver said he can’t stop anywhere here and the drop-off will be at the bus terminal at Uptown. That answers my research perfectly, as the purpose of me taking Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 on this trip to Pasir Mas was to find out where to board the bus from Pasir Mas when heading to Rantau Panjang.
Looping around the main square around Pasir Mas.
Keeping left after the traffic light junction, and meeting my connecting Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 6.
Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop
My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 ride from Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas took 29 minutes. Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop by the road side is located just before the former SKMK Pasir Mas Bus Terminal.
The next batch of Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 passengers to Rantau Panjang were also ready to board here, confirming my hypothesis that Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 serves Uptown Pasir Mas on both bounds.
Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop is also located adjacent to Pasir Mas Taxi Stand and Pasir Mas Railway Station.
Conclusion
It’s great that essential local bus services have been restored by Mutiara Rentas Desa with the demise of SKMK and Cityliner in Kelantan. Demand on my bus was low, but this is related to my trip being on Hari Raya Aidiladha day itself, when people would be at the mosques and at home. However, the 12 daily trips set by Mutiara Rentas Desa possibly reflects the demand of Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29. Hopefully this passenger demand maintains so that such essential bus services will remain for the foreseeable future.