KUALA LUMPUR: Even as public transport use increases as a whole, the lack of lifts or escalators at some KTM stations leave many new users frustrated.
One such rider was retiree David Soo, 62, who was taking the KTM Electric Train Service (ETS) – for the first time – to Johor with his wife and son for a trip to Singapore.
Boarding at Bandar Tasik Selatan KTM station, Soo was shocked at the limited basic facilities, despite it being connected to the major bus hub of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS).
“You would expect a station that is connected to KL’s biggest bus terminal to have multiple escalators and lifts, connecting the platform to the waiting area above, to accommodate the hundreds of passengers each train will bring during peak seasons.
“Instead, there was only a single lift and a somewhat steep staircase connecting the station’s entrance to the station platform.
“If this was peak season, we would likely have to wait a long time with our luggage as people line up to take the lift,” Soo, who lives in Puchong, said when met at the station.
He also expressed frustration at the lack of fans at the platform or waiting area, which left him and his family sweating profusely as they waited for their train to Johor Baru.
Checks by The Star found that there was only one lift and one staircase to connect the Bandar Tasik Selatan KTM platform to its entrance.
Another relatively new user Ayu Shah, 25, was appalled at the lack of escalators or lifts at Seputeh KTM station, which only has one entrance connected to one of its two platforms.
To get to the station’s opposite platform, commuters would need to climb a steep staircase to get to the pedestrian bridge.
“The staircase itself doesn’t look well maintained as there’s mould growing along the walls.
“I just don’t see how a disabled person or senior citizen is going to be able to get to the other side, even a normal person with luggage will struggle to carry it up those stairs,” she said when met at Seputeh KTM station.
The Star’s visit to the Seputeh and Salak Selatan KTM stations found that both only had a single entrance connecting to its train platforms, with a single pedestrian bridge that connects both platforms.
On the other hand, 67-year old retiree Noor Shansiah Maarom said her second trip from KL Sentral KTM station to Padang Besar KTM in Perlis was fortunately smooth, with both stations having working lifts and escalators.
However, the retired school headmistress also expressed concern that some KTM stations do not have working lifts or escalators.
“Two of KL Sentral’s escalators were not working but luckily the station itself has a lot of extra escalators. But this might not be the case with other KTM stations”.
According to KTMB, KTM Komuter saw 17.76 million passengers in 2023, which increased to 18.47 million in 2024. There were 4.11 million passengers as of March 2025.
KTM’s Intercity service saw 4.61 million passengers in 2023, 4.6 million in 2024 and 1.05 million as of March 2025. Its Electric Train Service (ETS) recorded 4.11 million, 4.1 million and 988,724 passengers respectively over the same time periods.
