KTM ETS Butterworth - KL

KTMB had launched its Electric Train Service (ETS) from Seremban to Ipoh since August 2010.

In July 2015, KTMB has extended its ETS service from Gemas to Padang Besar.

I have tried the ETS service from KL to Ipoh in 2011 before but this is the first time I'm using the service from Butterworth to KL.

The trip is a mixed of business and pleasure. I have arranged some appointments with my clients in KL of which I purposely chose the date that was in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia Expo (DSA) 2016 which was held in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.

I shall post the DSA 2016 event separately.

20 April 2016

3:00pm

I took the ETS service from Butterworth Station to KL Sentral.

Penang Port view from the train station

Me, myself and I.

Butterworth Station

Prai River Bridge, as I sometimes jokingly mentioned it as the Penang 3rd Bridge.

3:10pm

The Bukit Mertajam new station which was being relocated to Permatang Rawa, not far from Bandar Perda. The old Bukit Mertajam Station has been demolished.

Bukit Mertajam Station

The Bukit Mertajam Hill

3:40pm

The Bukit Merah lake. The water level was visibly low affected by the long dry season since early this year.

4:00pm
Somewhere near Bukit Berapit.

The Bukit Berapit Rail Tunnel is 3.3km long. It is the longest in South East Asia when it was completed in 2013.

4:40pm
Ipoh Station. I like the old heritage building of the Ipoh Station.

The ETS actual speed was being displayed live on the tv screen. From my observation, the maximum speed on that day was 140km/h. The train can go up to 180km/h but the allowable maximum speed is 160km/h due to safety reasons. I guess the train driver chose not to exceed 140km/h due to the heavy rain during that day.

6:00pm

While approaching Behrang Station, the ETS was moving slowly. Too slow for an ETS. I felt that something was not right.

...and yes, I was right. There was a cargo train which was derailed on the previous week, near Behrang Station. It was not being removed yet. The station platform was badly damaged. It was  raining and I could not get a clear photo of the derailment. It looked so scary.

The derailed cargo train

The damaged platform

The damaged platform

7:30pm
Reached Kuala Lumpur. 

The journey from Butterworth to KL Sentral took 4½ hours.

Some may say, "hey, that's not much different if I were to use the express bus".

I would not agree on that.

Here's some comparison:

By Bus

If you need to go to the loo, you'll have to hold on until the driver reaches the next R&R.

If there's an accident that caused the traffic to crawl, good luck in holding on to yourself before reaching the next R&R.

As we are all aware, during festive season holidays, the highways are always slow moving. A normal 4½ hours drive from Butterworth to KL can be as slow as 8 to 12 hours journey.

By ETS

There are ample toilets in the train. Some are disabled-friendly which can fit a wheelchair. The toilet bowl uses vacuum flush, which is similar to the one in the airplane.

There is a cafeteria in the train where you can buy hot and cold drinks and some light meals too.

With the new double-track, there won't be any traffic jam and you will reach your destination on time.

However, nothing is 100% fool-proof. The train might sometimes get delayed due to some unforeseen circumstances such as the cargo train derailment a week before my trip. My friend who was on board the ETS from KL to Butterworth at that time was affected. The ETS he was on departed 2 hours later from its original schedule and reached Butterworth within 4½ hours.

22 April 2016

It was time for me to return back to Butterworth. Took the 6:30pm ETS from KL Sentral to Butterworth

6:30pm

It was a smooth ride.

Appreciating a busker performance at KLCC LRT station before I  took the LRT to KL Sentral.

10:50pm
Reached Butterworth Station.

Here's how the ETS look like from the front.

KTM Komuter trains

Komuter to Padang Besar

The train ticket from Butterworth to KL is RM59 for an adult (one-way). The ticket price is almost similar to the VIP buses such as Nice and Aeroline buses.

Next, I'll make a trip up north to Padang Besar via KTM Komuter.

Tungguuuuu...