KLUANG: Kluang, famous for its railway heritage and rich coffee culture, is attracting more visitors with the newly launched Electric Train Service (ETS3) by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).
This new service is making it easier for travellers to explore the town and enjoy its unique offerings.
The introduction of ETS3 has made Kluang, recently declared the happiest district in Johor, more accessible, making it an ideal destination for short getaways, particularly during school holidays and the Malaysia Day celebrations.
Once passengers disembark, it's just a 200-metre walk to enjoy the aroma of strong coffee and toasted bread at Kluang Rail Coffee, the town's iconic and oldest coffee shop.
A few more steps will lead them to Laman Rel Mahkota, Malaysia’s first railway park, where the old railway tracks have been repurposed as a recreational and community activity space. This site stands as a symbol of Kluang’s heritage as the "Railway Town" since 1990.
Kluang, the third-largest town in Johor and located about 110km from Johor Baru, is not only bustling with visitors from outside but also celebrated by locals who feel the town has become more vibrant with the arrival of domestic tourists.
N. Sangeetha, 40, a teacher in Kluang, was among those spending the school holidays with 10 friends at Laman Rel Mahkota, a 2.8km public park located next to Kluang Station, while waiting for their next train.
"ETS3 has made it so much easier for us to travel between towns and cities without the hassle of traffic jams. We really appreciate the government for providing the ETS3 service here - it has truly made life in Kluang more enjoyable,” she said.
Wani Nasir, 20, from Selangor, who is studying at the Malaysian Veterinary Institute (IVM) in Kluang, said ETS3 has made it more comfortable and affordable for her to travel home.
Meanwhile, Emilia Dalila Adi, 20, from Segamat, took advantage of the Malaysia Day holiday to bring seven family members to explore the town, visiting places like Laman Kreatif Kluang and Rumah Seni, and of course, enjoying the famous local coffee.
"I hope public transport can be improved in this area, especially with buses to tourist spots. We usually rely on e-hailing, but sometimes it’s hard to get a ride when demand is high,” she added.
Despite having visited Kluang several times, Rohana Kasman, 59, and her three family members decided to take a bus from Batu Pahat to Kuala Lumpur to experience riding the ETS3 for the first time.
"I was so excited to ride the ETS3. As soon as tickets went on sale, I bought them because I wanted to try the new train. It’s especially festive during the school holidays,” she said.
Kluang native Zaiton Ibrahim, 70, expressed her pride in seeing her town grow and attract more attention.
"We’re grateful the train station is becoming more modern, and with the new Laman Mahkota Rel, our small town feels unique. People from other places should come and see it for themselves,” she said.
Director of Kluang Rail Coffee, Lim Ben Winn shared that the ETS3 service has boosted his business, attracting more coffee lovers, including those willing to travel by train just to try the coffee.
"We’re definitely seeing more tourists, especially during holidays. Some visitors come from places like Tampin and Kuala Lumpur just for our coffee. In fact, some have told us that tickets to Kluang are already sold out,” he said.
Earlier, a check by Bernama observed passengers arriving at Kluang Station on the ETS3 from KL Sentral at 11.15am.
The southern ETS3 route, which began operations on Aug 30, connects Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral) to Kluang.
On Aug 23, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia officially launched the southern ETS3 route at Kuala Lumpur Station.
After the launch, Sultan Ibrahim personally drove the ETS3 train, which can reach speeds of up to 140 km/h, en route to Kluang Station in Johor.- Bernama
