Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 is a trunk local bus service operating between Rantau Panjang and Kota Bharu via Pasir Mas, linking the key towns and the border with Thailand. Heading to Pasir Mas which is the nearest point to continue on my train journey, I took Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train

• Special Express 10 Uttrawithi from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Hua Lamphong by Train
• Special Express 37 Thaksin Express from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Sungai Golok by Train in First Class (Air-Conditioned First Class Day & Night Coach (ANF))
• Cross-Border Walk from Sungai Golok (Thailand) to Rantau Panjang (Malaysia)
• Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas by Bus
• KTM Shuttle Timuran 56up from Pasir Mas to Tumpat by Train (61 Class DMU02 / 61102 Kota Bharu)
• KTM Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn from Tumpat to JB Sentral by Train
• KTM Shuttle Tebrau 79dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ by Train

Rantau Panjang Bus Station

I first headed to Rantau Panjang Bus Station as I assumed that the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 would be terminating there.

After enquiring at the E-Mutiara counter, I was told that the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 would be stopping on the main road closer to the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.

Oops.

I headed to the main road nonetheless to see when the bus would be arriving first.

And I finally spot the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29, operated by a former Konsortium E-Mutiara express bus with a new logo for stage bus services. Surprisingly for me, the bus also did not make a u-turn at the end of the road at the ICQS, but continued along the small road into the duty-free zone.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 finally returned back, and stopped along the sheltered walkway between the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex and Rantau Panjang Bus Station, as shown in this picture. There is no marked bus stop for Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 at Rantau Panjang.

The fare is payable directly to the driver upon boarding. Tell the driver your destination and he will tell you the price. The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 fare from from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas costs RM3.10.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 operated with a 44-seater bus which was formerly a Konsortium E-Mutiara express bus.

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 passes through Banggol Kulim, Chabang Empat Salam, and Simpang Lubuk Jong on the way to Pasir Mas.

Bus bells have been installed above the seats along this former express bus.

There are bus stops along the route, though they look quite overgrown since they remain relatively unused by pasengers.

Entering Pasir Mas.

Crossing over Sungai Lubuk Jong.

Pasir Mas Tasek Raja Bus Terminal

Turning in to Pasir Mas Tasek Raja Bus Terminal.

There is a bus-stop-looking shelter on the left, though I’m not sure of its exact function.

The terminal building is in the middle of the Pasir Mas Tasek Raja Bus Terminal grounds.

Heading out of Pasir Mas Tasek Raja Bus Terminal.

Crossing over the KTM East Coast Line railway tracks.

Heading on to Bulatan Lemal Roundabout.

Just 2 more kilometers to go.

Passing under the Lemal Flyover.

Entering the main town of Pasir Mas with the welcome sign and railway bridge in the background.

Passing by Pasir Mas Railway Station.

Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop

My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 ride from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas took 33 minutes. Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop by the road side is located just before the former SKMK Pasir Mas Bus Terminal.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 will continue on to Kota Bharu where it terminates.

Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop is in front of a night market with food and drinks.

Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop is also located adjacent to Pasir Mas Taxi Stand and Pasir Mas Railway Station.

Talking the sheltered walkway from Uptown Pasir Mas Bus Stop to Pasir Mas Railway Station.

Pasir Mas Railway Station

From here, I headed up to Tumpat first with the KTM Shuttle Timuran 56up to reach the end of the KTM East Coast Line before heading back down to JB with the KTM Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train

• Special Express 10 Uttrawithi from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Hua Lamphong by Train
• Special Express 37 Thaksin Express from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Sungai Golok by Train in First Class (Air-Conditioned First Class Day & Night Coach (ANF))
• Cross-Border Walk from Sungai Golok (Thailand) to Rantau Panjang (Malaysia)
• Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 from Rantau Panjang to Pasir Mas by Bus
• KTM Shuttle Timuran 56up from Pasir Mas to Tumpat by Train (61 Class DMU02 / 61102 Kota Bharu)
• KTM Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn from Tumpat to JB Sentral by Train
• KTM Shuttle Tebrau 79dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ by Train