Bring back train service to Tumpat
people are unaware that Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has discontinued the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran service from KL Sentral to Tumpat.
This night train service had run from the days of the British administration. Having travelled on it several times, I can say it was an enjoyable journey to the east coast.
It was a popular service, and seats and berths were usually fully booked.
This service would be coupled with the Singapore-Tumpat service in Gemas, normally around 1am, to continue the rest of the journey.
However, today, the KL Sentral service has been terminated. Those who intend to travel to Tumpat by rail will have to take a commuter train from KL Sentral to Gemas in the middle of the night.
Passengers from the north will take an earlier train to KL Sentral. Passengers may have to wait between four and five hours before boarding the East Coast Line in Gemas for those coming from the north.
What about the passengers with children and infants who travel by rail to Tumpat? They have to wait until the wee hours for the 1am train to Tumpat.
This is not a wise move. As it is, Ekspres Rakyat from Butterworth to Singapore is axed followed by the night train berth service from Ipoh to Singapore.
The night train service that runs from JB Sentral to Tampin, which leaves Johor Baru at 10pm, arrives in Tampin at 3am.
KTMB is supposed to provide a multiple rail service to tap the passenger market.
Look at other Southeast Asian nations and their train services. It appears KTMB is in “reverse gear”, instead of moving forward.
In the 2019 Budget, KTMB was given a substantial allocation.
This should see new passenger coaches and newer locomotives for a better service.
One senior officer said Ekspres Rakyat Timuran was discontinued because “the coaches and locomotives” were destroyed in the 2016 Kelantan floods. This is not a good enough reason.