The rail way for green mobility

More than just a train: High speed rail has proven to be transformative in Japan and other developed countries as a form of mobility that moves people efficiently while spurring development. Seen here is an E7 shinkansen train in Tokyo. — MENG YEW CHOONG/The Star

IT is as predictable as clockwork. The peak travel times of holidays and school breaks will definitely lead to the roads in and out of the Klang Valley to get very congested.

On the weekend of Sept 14-16, the perfect storm of a school break, a long weekend with two public holidays, and the mid- autumn festival led to the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to stretch to 10 hours for some drivers – usually, it only takes about five hours.