Get ready, train travelers! The much-anticipated Electric Train Service (ETS) is about to revolutionize travel between Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur! Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced that the service will officially launch on December 12th. But here's the exciting part: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, will inaugurate the service in Johor Baru on December 11th, the day before the public gets to experience it.
Initially, the ETS will primarily connect Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur. However, the plan is to expand the routes in phases. Longer-distance journeys, including services to Padang Besar and Butterworth, will be added later.
For those longer routes, the trains will operate with a limited schedule: just two trips per day, one in each direction. However, the shorter route between Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur will offer more frequent trips, making commuting a breeze.
This exciting news was shared during a press conference at the Kluang Rail Festival, held at Mahkota Rail Park on Saturday, November 22nd.
Want to travel north from Johor Baru? You'll be able to connect via transit to continue your journey.
Now, let's talk about the infrastructure. The Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double Track Rail Project (EDTP) is almost complete! With a staggering 99.94% completion rate, it's expected to be fully operational by the end of this month. This ambitious project, which started physical construction on December 1, 2016, cost a whopping RM8.9 billion and spans a 192km stretch across Segamat, Kluang, Kulai, and Johor Baru.
And this is the part most people miss... The full service schedule will offer a total of 12 ETS trips daily: eight trips on the Kuala Lumpur-Johor Baru route, and two each on the Johor Baru-Padang Besar and Johor Baru-Butterworth routes.
What do you think about this exciting development? Will you be taking the ETS? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you think the initial frequency of trips is sufficient, or should there be more? Let's discuss!
