The Shuttle Tebrau is arguably the most popular mode of transport between Woodlands and Johor Bahru despite passenger numbers not showing, mainly because plenty of people can’t buy a ticket even if they wanted to as there is very little supply of seats. Due to the popular demand, KTM Berhad had to introduce a new KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticketing System just for the Shuttle Tebrau to cater to ticketing demands as it would send their servers on a frenzy every morning at 8.30am, 30 days before departure of the opened trains. I took this trip from JB on the Shuttle Tebrau 85dn specially to test out the new system after the migration to the new KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticketing System.
The queue for the already starts 45 minutes before departure. However, instead of standing in line, I decided to just take a seat until the crowd clears. Gates are opened 30 minutes before departure, and closed 10 minutes before departure.
My ticket for the Shuttle Tebrau 85dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ. The new KTM Shuttle Tebrau Ticketing System now operates with a new ticketless system, using each individual’s passport for boarding.
After the bulk of the queue had cleared, I decided to ready myself for boarding. The new Shuttle Tebrau ticketless system will automatically close the gates precisely 10 minutes before departure, and the departure board will count down by the second till the gate closing time.
Heading to Gate A to board the Shuttle Tebrau.
Plenty of signs around remind everyone to come more than 10 minutes before departure.
Heading to the new Shuttle Tebrau ticket gate for the first time.
The new Shuttle Tebrau ticket gate has a passport reader and a QR code scanner. I’m not sure if the gate will accept the QR code on the ticket, or the staff around the gates will even allow you to scan the QR code on the ticket.
Scanning my passport on the Shuttle Tebrau ticket gate, which opened instantly.
The screen on the Shuttle Tebrau ticket gate also features my name on it.
Heading down the escalator for Malaysia immigration.
Back at the waiting hall to wait for my Shuttle Tebrau 85dn train.
About 4 minutes to departure, the gates to the platform opened.
Heading down to Platform 4 via working down the escalator.
23111 Maju leads the Shuttle Tebrau 85dn from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral with 23101 Amanah on the northern end.
Boarding the front coach of the Shuttle Tebrau 85dn.
The interior of the ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coach, which seem to be a permanent rake of the Shuttle Tebrau. The front coach is usually empty as it is the furthest away from the immigration counters, which means that if you stick around here, you will be the last to clear immigration. But I always go to the front anyway for a lot more space on the train for a peaceful 5-minute ride across the border.
Departing from JB Sentral on time.
Passing by the Meldrum area.
Heading out of JB Sentral vicinity.
Turning right towards the Johor–Singapore Causeway, away from the spur line towards the future (?) crooked bridge’s swing bridge.
Heading onto the Johor–Singapore Causeway.
Passing by R&F Princess Cove.
Speeding up towards Singapore.
Heading past a strangely empty road with no buses, which could only mean a massive human Sunday jam at the checkpoints, both in the immigration queues and bus queues.
Crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border.
The little bit of railway left in Singapore.
Passing by Woodlands Waterfront.
Entering Woodlands Checkpoint.
The new 1 July 2011 sign placed before Woodlands CIQ reminding the driver about the end of track after Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
With the Sunday Shuttle Tebrau 85dn, I guess I cut short my border crossing time from 3 hours down to 30 minutes including all immigration and travelling procedures.
Overall, a huge improvement to the Shuttle Tebrau ticketing system with faster ticket purchasing speeds online and a definite system to prevent fake tickets to be used now that tickets are tagged to each individual’s passports. It would be good to have this system for Singapore departures too, but I’m not sure if this new Shuttle Tebrau ticketing system would be considered PDPA compliant then.
For such a progressive state, Singapore has a lot to learn from Malaysia. Paperless border formalities for one. Passport readers are a fantastic idea. Haven’t read about any passport reader failures yet. So far so good.
Well, in Singapore, there’s something called PDPA.
Did bus 160,170x and 950 go to JB Sentral?Also By 2026,The Shuttle Tebrau will be replaced by the
Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link?