A convenient stop for everyone

Travelling gets easier with 1 Utama Shopping Centre’s latest role as atransportation hub for the surrounding community. 

COUSINS Iwan Gerber and IrsyadIzmi, both 15, boardedthe yellow and silver Aerolinecoach at its 1 Utama terminal excitedlyas they looked forward to theirtrip to visit their aunt in Penang. 

“They are excited about the ride since it's a double-decker bus,' said Iwan's mother Roziah Ghani, a 54-year-old consultant. 

Ticketsplease: IwanGerber (left)and Irsyad Izmihand over theirtickets to anAeroline staffmember forinspectionbefore theyboard theircoach to Penangat Aeroline's 1Utama terminal.

Roziah said her mother tried the Aeroline's service first, and recommended it to the whole family as the staff were really helpful, and took care of her bags and welfare throughout the journey. 

“She said it was a very comfortable and safe journey, and was surprised when food and water was served onboard. 

“Several relatives who've subsequently travelled via Aeroline en-joyed its good service and favoured it for its location near their homes in PJ.” 

“We used to travel to Penang by plane, but after this we'll definitely continue using Aeroline's service.” 

A good move: 1 Utama ShoppingCentre with some of the servicesthat are already in operation suchas Aeroline coaches to Penang andSingapore, and Genting Expressbusses to Genting.

Interior designer Seri Rosmiyati, 30, found out about Aeroline's service through one of its billboard advertisements. 

She decided to give it a try as it was a newer bus service, which she thinks would provide better facilities. 

“The 1 Utama terminal is nearer to my home in Subang Jaya. I'm taking the Aeroline coach for the first time to go to Penang, and if today's journey is satisfactory, then I'll continue using it. ” 

Desmond Tan: “We're expectingthis station to be very vibrant anda lot of people will use this serviceto go to Genting as it saves a lotof time and money, and helps interms of convenience.”

Jaclyn Low and her family have tried the Aeroline and First Coach services a few times, and favour them because of the locations of the bus terminals (at 1 Utama and IBM Tower respectively). 

“Both buses have very comfortable seats and the journeys are quite smooth,” said the 39-year-old PR manager. 

“My only complaint is that there aren't enough directional signs to direct us to the bus terminals. My son nearly missed his bus to Penang as we couldn't find the terminal.” 

Well-known shopping centre 1 Utama Shopping Centre has decided to enhance its role in the community by developing its own transportation hub, which comprises coaches, busses and shuttle terminals. 

Services like Rapid KL, Aeroline, First Coach, Genting Express, Pem-pena Executive Taxi Service and 1 Utama personal shuttle and coach services link 1 Utama, One World Hotel and its adjacent office towers (IBM and KPMG Towers) to LRT stations, bus stops, major townships, several hotels, and places like Pe-nang, Singapore and Genting. 

“A master plan is underway to incorporate an LRT station here, and we're looking into adding more inter-state routes to Ipoh, Kuantan and Johor Bahru soon,” said Bandar Utama City Centre Sdn Bhd operations manager Anderson Chong. 

“The transportation hub services the Bandar Utama township and its surrounding areas. The idea is to create a contained, liveable township with convenient services for the people. 

“Besides bringing added value to the community in the area, it's critical for the growth of Bandar Utama to attract more international tour-ists, expatriates and businesses to live, work and play within the township, in line with the plan to designate Bandar Utama and the surrounding neighbourhoods as an International and Tourism Zone in Selangor.” 

Chong said plans that are in the pipeline include building several office blocks and condominiums, a medical centre and a retirement village. 

On how to access the bus terminals, he said most people are dropped off at the terminals, which provide waiting lounges for customers. 

“1 Utama also provides a 'Park & Ride' service, where members of the public can park their vehicles at the shopping centre's Dataran Car Park and take public transport to their work or leisure destination. 

'Park & Ride' aims to encourage residents from Bandar Utama and the surrounding neighbourhoods to utilise public transport in view of easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution. 

A 'Park & Ride' Dataran Car Park access card costs RM20 a month. Parking is only for Mon to Fri, excluding public holidays. Overnight parking is permitted except on Friday. 

Aeroline First Class Shuttle Sdn Bhd CEO Law Cheok Gheem said the company was approached by the 1 Utama management to open a bus terminal at the shopping centre, and they were quite receptive to the idea as it was a good location and a meeting point for many residential areas within the PJ neighbourhood. 

New busservice: BandarUtama City CentreSdn Bhd operationsmanagerAnderson Chong(right) and carpark operationsmanager EdmundFong making someenquiries at theGenting Expressbus terminal at 1Utama ShoppingCentre.

“We offer a convenient alternative for customers to travel in comfort and convenience; they don't have to go all the way to KL to take a bus or a plane at KLIA. Our idea is to offer a viable way of travelling long distance,” he said. 

“We have four terminals in the Klang Valley area - at Corus Hotel, Menara Axis, Sunway Pyramid and 1 Utama. Only the 1 Utama terminal, which opened in Oct 2006, offers coach services to Penang and Singa-pore; the others are just to Singa-pore. 

“The majority of Aeroline's coaches are double decker busses. Pas-sengers sit on the upper deck. The lower deck offers a business lounge where customers can have meetings, work from their laptops, watch movies or browse through the available reading materials. 

“Our lower deck also has a toilet and pantry for our staff to prepare the meals and drinks served on-board the coach.” 

Law added that customers could purchase tickets, choose their seats, change travel dates, and state their vegetarian preferences via Aeroline's online booking. 

Aeroline offers four trips daily from 1 Utama to Singapore, and one trip daily from 1 Utama to Penang. 

Just one week ago, Genting open-ed its sixth Genting Express bus terminal located at 1 Utama. The other terminals are located at Puduraya, KL Sentral, Gombak, Pasar Rakyat and Hentian Kajang. 

“The idea for the terminal was a mutual understanding between the 1 Utama and Genting management,” said Resorts World Bhd transport vice president Desmond Tan. 

“We wanted to provide visitors good accessibility to Genting at affordable rates, and this terminal caters to those staying within the 1 Utama vicinity, like Kota Damansara, Damansara Jaya, TTDI and Kepong. 

“We distributed 130,000 leaflets to residents around the area to inform them about our latest service, and the general feedback for the 1 Utama terminal is good as there have been consistent enquiries,” said Tan. 

“To mark the opening, we're having a Buy One, Free One promotion and an RM38 nett Introductory Offer. With the promotion, customers have to cut out the coupon from the leaflet, and redeem another ticket free when they buy one ticket for an adult. 

“The offer covers a return bus and skyway transfer, and one Genting All Park Unlimited Rides Pass or buffet lunch at Coffee Terrace. The Buy One Free One promotion ends Jan 31, 2008 while the introductory offer ends Mar 31, 2008. 

“We're expecting a lot of people to use this service to go to Genting as it saves a lot of time and money, and helps in terms of convenience, like not having to endure traffic congestion in KL.” 

Genting Express offers 15 trips daily from 1 Utama to the Genting Skyway (Lower Station, B4). 

Contact Aeroline Coach Service Transportation Hub, 1 Utama Shopping Centre (next to Giant entrance; accessible via Dataran Open Air Car Park) 03-7726 1212 www.aeroline.com.my Routes: Singapore (Harbourfront Centre) and Penang (Sungai Nibong bus terminal)    Genting Express Transportation Hub, 1 Utama Shopping Centre (next to Giant entrance; accessible via Dataran Open Air Car Park) 03-7725 8211 www.genting.com.my Route: Genting Skyway (Lower Station, B4)    First Coach Service Lot C.02B, Concourse Level, IBM Tower, 8 First Avenue, Bandar Utama 03-7725 3311 www.firstcoach.com.my Route: Singapore (Novena Square)    Pempena Executive Taxi Service Ground Floor, High Street, 1 Utama Shopping Centre (outside British India) 03-2161 6911 www.tourismtaxi.com Routes: 1 Utama, One World Hotel, KLIA and key tourist spots    Rapid KL Bus Terminal Transportation Hub, Bus Terminal, 1 Utama Shopping Centre 03-7625 6999 Routes: Trunk busses to KL Sentral, Metro Prima via Sri Damansara    1 Utama Shopping Centre No.1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama Damansara 03-7710 8118 (Customer Service Centre) www.1utama.com.my