Southern Bus 26 from Gemas to Tampin

The Southern Omnibus Company Berhad operates a network of rural stage bus services from Tampin. One of the routes that I have been wanting to try but haven’t got the time to was Southern Bus 26 from Gemas to Tampin which extends the range of the KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector. Following lunch at the old Gemas Railway Station, I headed over to Gemas Bus Station to give myself 1 hour to wait for the Southern Bus 26 without a timetable in hand.

Gemas Bus Station (Stesen Bas & Teksi Gemas)

Gemas Bus Station (Stesen Bas & Teksi Gemas) is located a few small roads north of Gemas Railway Station.

Gemas Taxi Station

The first shelter in the area is the taxi station.

There is a fare chart for taxis around Gemas. Looking at the prices, I’m assuming that the locations out of Gemas are on a per seat basis (x 4 for the whole taxi) and locations within Gemas are a per trip basis. No way a trip to Pasir Besar would be half the price of a trip within Gemas.

Gemas Bus Station

The longer shelter in the middle of the compound is the Gemas Bus Station.

There was a Rentas NS bus parked with a next trip to Gemencheh, but that’s not the bus I will be catching.

The only sign I could find in the Gemas Bus Station with regards to Southern Bus 26 was a notice to hire drivers. Well, I guess this means that the bus route is alive and well. A good sign.

Public toilets are available at 50 cents per toilet use or RM1 for a shower.

Southern Bus 26

At about 2.15pm, the Southern Bus 26 pulled in to Gemas Bus Station. Excellent.

The Southern Bus 26 at Gemas Bus Station.

The destination sign of Southern Bus 26.

Tickets are purchased directly from the driver upon boarding. The Southern Bus 26 fare from Gemas to Tampin costs RM6.

The interior of the Southern Bus 26. It’s a long journey, so I’m thankful that proper seats with headrests are installed.

The legroom on board Southern Bus 26.

My ticket for the Southern Bus 26 ride from Gemas to Tampin. I noticed that the ticket says that the fare costs RM5.90, but RM6 is fine, no matter.

The fare chart of Southern Bus 26 is also displayed on board.

My Southern Bus 26 departed from Gemas Bus Station at 2.30pm.

This means that my transfer time at Gemas from KTM Ekspres Selatan 42up to Tampin by Southern Bus 26 is shorter than the connecting ETS train which departs only at 3.20pm.

Heading out of Gemas Bus Station.

Turning right on to Federal Route 1 outside KTM Gemas Depot. Southern Bus 26 plies mainly on Federal Route 1.

Bus stops are present en route but not many passengers are waiting.

Crossing the railway crossing north of Gemas Depot on the KTM East Coast Line.

It’s a straight route to Tampin.

The Southern Bus 26 was quite empty, but probably no surprises there with not much service information available.

Making a brief stop at Kampung Felda Sungai Kelamah with an alighting passenger.

Heading through Sungai Kelamah.

Kilometer stones are placed along Route 1 to the next biggest town.

Passing through Kampung Baru Gedok.

Some stops are unmarked but the driver knows where to alight locals.

Gemencheh

Heading in to Gemencheh.

Passing by Gemencheh Post Office.

Gemencheh is a small town and Southern Bus 26 is the most direct public transport link to it from Tampin or Gemas.

Gemencheh Bus Station is located opposite in the direction towards Gemas.

Some passengers boarded from bus stops in Gemencheh as well.

Heading back on local rural roads.

Seems like this bend is an accident prone area.

Ah. Just when I thought that this was an accident prone area.

I hope the driver is okay. Looks like he is if that’s the driver who’s picking up stuff from the tipped-over  container truck.

Passing by the junction to Kuala Pilah and Bahau. I’ll be doing that route the next day.

Civilisation is close at hand even before any signs for Tampin, with a McDonald’s banner advertising that they’re open till 2am.

Heading in to Tampin.

Turning right to Tampin Bus Terminal.

Turning in to Tampin Bus Terminal from the back entrance.

Tampin Bus Terminal

I arrived at Tampin Bus Terminal at 3.43pm.

This means that my arrival time at Tampin in the centre of town by Southern Bus 26 from Gemas is earlier than the ETS train which arrives at 3.53pm.

My Southern Bus 26 journey from Gemas to Tampin took 1 hour and 13 minutes. Not too bad for a bus that serves all bus stops, but then again, not many passengers were waiting at intermediate bus stops.

There is a dedicated lane for Southern Bus 26 at Tampin Bus Terminal with a departing 4pm bus ahead in front of the bus that I have just arrived from.

Finding the next bus to Seremban was easy, just located in the adjacent lane. A simple cross-platform transfer here.

The façade of Tampin Bus Terminal.

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Southern Bus 26 Timetable

If you have made it this far, congratulations. Here at Tampin Bus Terminal, I was rewarded by a senior Southern Bus staff with the timetable of Southern Bus 26 with the assistance of friendly Southern staff, so here it is for all of you who read this. It’s also a lot more frequent that I had expected.

If 4 buses are available…

Southern Bus 26 Timetable from Tampin

• 6.20am
• 8.00am
• 9.00am
• 10.00am
• 11.00am
• 12.00pm
• 1.00pm
• 2.00pm
• 3.00pm
• 4.00pm
• 5.00pm
• 6.10pm

Southern Bus 26 Timetable from Gemas

• 6.30am
• 7.20am
• 8.30am
• 9.30am
• 10.30am
• 11.30am
• 12.30pm
• 1.30pm
• 2.30pm
• 3.30pm
• 4.30pm
• 6.00pm

If 5 buses are available…

Southern Bus 26 Timetable from Tampin

• 6.20am
• 8.00am
• 8.50am
• 9.30am
• 10.10am
• 11.00am
• 11.50am
• 12.50pm
• 1.30pm
• 2.10pm
• 3.00pm
• 3.50pm
• 4.40pm
• 5.30pm
• 6.20pm

Southern Bus 26 Timetable from Gemas

• 6.30am
• 7.20am
• 8.30am
• 9.30am
• 10.30am
• 11.00am
• 11.40am
• 12.30pm
• 1.30pm
• 2.20pm
• 3.00pm
• 3.40pm
• 4.30pm
• 5.10pm
• 6.00pm

There is no way of knowing if 4 or 5 buses are available. Just be at the terminal as close to a matching time as possible and wait.