Johor bahru: The Southern Express (ES) train service, which will be terminated on January 1, has been instrumental in facilitating daily activities and movements of residents in southern Johor and the Iskandar region, recording 2.6 million passengers since its introduction in 2016. Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) chief operating officer Afzar Zakariya highlighted that the ES service has been receiving an average of 800 to 1,000 passengers daily for six daily services comprising three outward and three return journeys.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Afzar Zakariya stated that the ES has significantly impacted connectivity by linking large and medium-sized towns on the southern route, such as Segamat, Kluang, Labis, Kulai, and Johor Bahru. It has provided consistent and affordable mobility access, especially for students, daily wage workers, senior citizens, and families who rely on the train as their primary means of transport.
Afzar also noted that the service has contributed indirectly to economic development along the southern line, as users utilize the train for work-related, economic, and tourism-related activities. He emphasized that this has boosted economic and tourism activities in the cities involved, including increased demand in the hospitality sector, public transport, and small businesses, along with the growth of new tourism destinations and activities.
KTMB announced the termination of the Southern Express train service on the Gemas - JB Sentral - Gemas route effective January 1 after nine years of operation. This termination is part of the coordination of planning and optimization of passenger service operations on the southern line, in alignment with the progress and readiness of the infrastructure of the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electric Double Track Project.
Afzar explained that the ES, formerly known as the Southern Shuttle, which travels from Gemas to Woodlands with train numbers 61 and 62, has provided direct access to Johor Bahru and continuity to other train services to the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The train service has also helped smooth traffic flow by offering residents an alternative to using the road, particularly during congestion on the main highways connecting to and from Johor Bahru.
He further stated that for Johor Bahru and the Iskandar region, the ES reduces dependence on highway traffic and offers a comfortable, fast, and reliable travel option for those commuting between Johor Bahru, Kluang, Segamat, and the central Peninsula. In ensuring a smooth transition of passengers between the ES and ETS3 services, KTMB has coordinated the existing service schedule with the implementation of the ETS service extension from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, which began this month.
The coordination aims to ensure continuity of train services for passengers traveling from Johor to the northern, central, and eastern routes of the Peninsula, thereby facilitating movement using the ETS service. From next year, KTMB will provide 12 ETS services to and from Johor, including eight services between KL Sentral and JB Sentral, two services on the JB Sentral-Butterworth-JB Sentral route, and two services on the JB Sentral-Padang Besar-JB Sentral route.
Afzar mentioned that the addition of the service will not only meet the travel needs of local residents in and out of Johor but will also benefit the tourism sector. This includes tourists from Singapore and international tourists who transit at Singapore's Changi Airport for a short stopover in Malaysia using the ETS service to Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, or Padang Besar.