Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) already runs Komuter services in the Klang Valley and in the north (Komuter Utara – Ipoh-Butterworth and Butterworth-Padang Besar). By February, there’ll be a Komuter Selatan to serve southerners, The Star reports.
“The service is expected to kick off a month after the Electric Train Service (ETS) starts running on January 1 next year,” Johor public works, transport, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said, adding that there’ll be 32 Komuter Selatan trips daily with a passenger capacity of 400 each.
“Once launched, Komuter Selatan, running 25 km from Johor Bahru Sentral to Kulai, is expected to cut peak-hour travel time from one hour by car to just 30 minutes by train.
“Tickets are also expected to cost under RM3, making it one of the most affordable mass transit options for Johoreans. We hope the service will be well received and significantly reduce daily traffic along the corridor,” he said.
Meanwhile, passenger trains are being proposed for the single-track, un-electrified Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang branch line that’s currently used only by goods trains. This service could ease congestion for those in Pasir Gudang, Masai, Tampoi and surrounding areas, Fazli said.
“The 25-km route takes only 30 minutes by train, compared with over an hour by car during peak hours. We see strong potential in opening passenger services on the Kempas-Pasir Gudang line. The track is not fully utilised for cargo right now, so those available windows can be used for commuters,” he said, adding that four round trips daily are proposed, with sub-RM3 fares expected.
“Some adjustments will need to be done at the Pasir Gudang station in order for the proposed commuter line to operate, as it currently only handles freight. I have brought this up with the transport ministry and they have agreed to conduct a site inspection soon.
“This is part of our broader effort to disperse traffic and give Johoreans faster, more reliable options. Since the existing track is there, we want to make it work for the people,” Fazli said, adding that the state had proposed temporary passenger stations to be set up in the next six months at Taman Daya, Bandar Seri Alam and Kampung Pasir Putih.
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Anthony Loke say 12 Dec start ETS… here say end of Dec.. who real who fake?
Maybe ktm should look into reviving the Malacca go tampin railway line. It used to run alongside tbe old tampin to malacca highway.