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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, 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 110 kilometres from Johor Bahru, 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 2.8-kilometre public park located next to Kluang Station, while waiting for their next train.
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.
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. Kluang native Zaiton Ibrahim, 70, expressed her pride in seeing her town grow and attract more attention.
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. Earlier, a check by Bernama observed passengers arriving at Kluang Station on the ETS3 from KL Sentral at 11.15 am.
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.