KTM Shuttle Tebrau 93dn Train from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ (Connection from KL Sentral and Gemas)
The last of the series of 3 trains from KL Sentral is finally the Shuttle Tebrau 93dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ. I had about an hour to roam around JB after alighting from the Ekspres Selatan 45dn which gives me good time for dinner before heading back to Singapore. On a Sunday night, I made sure to secure a Shuttle Tebrau ticket to cross the border from Malaysia back to Singapore, to avoid the massive human jams at the bus checkpoints.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):
Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral)
About 20 minutes before departure, I headed back to JB Sentral after dinner to catch my Shuttle Tebrau 93dn.
Shuttle Tebrau JB Sentral Gate A
KTM Shuttle Tebrau boarding to Singapore is at JB Sentral Gate A.
Usually I try to be one of the last to board to avoid waiting long at the waiting room later, but seems like on a Sunday night, the passengers are regulars too, so they know the same trick as me.
Heading down the escalators after scanning my passport at the Shuttle Tebrau Automatic Control Gate (ACG).
Malaysia Immigration
Malaysia Immigration is done at JB Sentral for the Shuttle Tebrau. Immigration counters are available on both sides after walking down the middle aisle.
Waiting Room
Following Malaysia Immigration, Shuttle Tebrau passengers are held at the waiting room before the incoming Shuttle Tebrau arrives with passengers from Singapore.
The gate to the platform will open about 5 minutes before train departure, after the arriving passengers from Singapore have cleared the escalators and stairs.
KTM 25 Class Locomotive
25 Class 25107 Pulau Langkawi long hood forward leads my Shuttle Tebrau 93dn from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ on the southern end.
ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia)
4 ASC (Hyundai-Padu Sedia) coaches are attached on my Shuttle Tebrau 93dn, with albeit the wrong coach number information. The Shuttle Tebrau is free seating with a capacity of 240 seats and 80 standees.
The Shuttle Tebrau 93dn unsurprisingly ran completely full on a Sunday night.
My Shuttle Tebrau 93dn departed from JB Sentral on time at 9.30pm.
Johor-Singapore Causeway
Heading on to the Johor-Singapore Causeway to Singapore.
Crossing the Malaysia-Singapore international border.
Heading in to Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ).
Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ)
Singapore immigration and customs are cleared at Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ). No photos or videos are allowed to be taken inside Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ).
Conclusion
Overall, it was an easy 5-minute ride across the Johor-Singapore Causeway with the Shuttle Tebrau 93dn, making the total train journey time from KL Sentral to Woodlands CIQ a grand total of 9 hours and 16 minutes. It’s not the fastest journey, but on a Sunday night, the long travel time by train might actually have been the same as a direct express bus with the Sunday night jams of vehicles and people returning from Malaysia to Singapore.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train Travel Experience (as of 1 July 2022 timetable):