Warm welcome: The first passengers on the Kuala Lumpur-bound ETS arriving at KL Sentral from Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: The inaugural passenger Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur arrived at 12.20pm, marking a smooth and eagerly anticipated start to Malaysia’s newest express train ride.
The public gave the thumbs-up to the start of the service yesterday, saying the ETS was certainly a good option.
After years of enduring traffic congestion on the highways, Soh Yann Peng said she could now enjoy a smoother ride to her hometown from the national capital.
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The 36-year-old businesswoman, who lives in Kuala Lumpur with her husband Kwong Can Han, said she had been awaiting the service for years.
“We travel back to my hometown here at least once a month by taking the bus or driving, only to get caught in heavy traffic.
“With the ETS, we can now avoid the traffic and enjoy a safer and more comfortable express train journey,” she said when met at JB Sentral yesterday.
Sulia and her family disembarking at KL Sentral. — FAIHAN GHANI/THOMAS YONG/The Star
The couple were among 230 passengers who travelled here on the first ETS from Kuala Lumpur.
Soh said the four-hour ride was comfortable but added that there is still room for improvement.
“The sign on the train displayed Kluang as the destination despite ending at JB Sentral, which may be confusing to some.
“Other than that, the whole experience was great and I am proud of the service,” she said, adding that she would opt to travel by the ETS again.
Lawyer Noh Yusof, 45, said he was excited to try the ETS ride and decided to arrange a meeting here yesterday.
“The best thing is cutting down travel time,” he said, adding that he had previously endured over eight hours of driving back and forth between Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur.
Singaporean Sulia Shamsudin, 42, said she was happy to be among the first to enjoy the ride.
“We were in Kuala Lumpur for a week-long vacation and decided to check out the ETS. The first KL-JB service was on the day we planned to travel back.
“Luckily, we were still able to get tickets and opted to use the train instead of the bus for the journey back,” said the housewife.
On Thursday, Malaysia marked a significant milestone with the official launch of the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double-Tracking Project, paving the way for the ETS between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru.
Meanwhile, the opposite direction inaugural JB-KL ETS arrived at KL Sentral at 1.10pm.
Among those onboard were Singaporean friends Joseph and Phillip, both 47, who decided just days ago to make the trip and “be part of history”.
“We thought, why not try the inaugural ride? And we managed to get the last two tickets available!”
Phillip, who usually travels by bus, said the train offers a much better experience.
“The facilities are there and you don’t have to wait for toilet breaks. There’s food and drinks too,” he said, adding that he would recommend the ETS to those who usually drive.
Also onboard was Niaa, a 22-year-old college student travelling with her family for an examination in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a very smooth ride. It arrived a bit late, but I think that’s normal,” said Niaa, who usually travels by car.
“This is my first time ever taking the train. You don’t get tired. Just sit back and relax,” she said.
All 5,000 promotional codes offering 30% discounts for passengers were fully redeemed, reflecting strong public interest in the new southern express service.
