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Electric Train Service (ETS) Revisited – 3-month Review

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So my last-minute trip to Kuala Lumpur to attend “Women Netpreneur Conference 2010” saw me taking the electric train home to Ipoh from Stesen Sentral @ KL Sentral. If you have been following my blog, you would know that I took the electric train when it was newly launched in August, 2010, and I felt that because it was just the second day of launch then, things should have improved now, three months after, so a review is definitely in order.

ETS ticket counter
ETS ticket counter @ Stesen Sentral @ KL Sentral

I arrived at the ETS office early and waited for my train with a handful of folks. Maybe because it was Thursday, there weren’t many people compared to my first trip. This time, I could grab a seat in the office and didn’t have to sit on the floor outside of the office like I had to the first time.

waiting passengers
passengers waiting at ETS office

My train, an “express” service (not transit), was supposed to arrive at 6.48pm. We were ushered to the platform to wait for the train at about 6.40pm. At first, we were told to wait at Platform 2, but were subsequently told to cross over to Platform 1. We didn’t have chairs to sit on too but because there was no crowd, it wasn’t so bad. The train arrived at 7.05pm. It was late. This time, the train stopped at KL Old Station, Tanjung Malim, Kampar and Batu Gajah before reaching Ipoh. That’s four stations compared to three the previous trip where the train skipped KL Old Station.

empty coach
half-empty ETS coach

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13 thoughts on “Electric Train Service (ETS) Revisited – 3-month Review

  1. Hi Emily, I’m planning to go to Penang from Singapore next week. I came across your page. Do I have to buy ETS tickets from KL Sentral in advance or can I buy on the spot in the early morning? I had earlier planned to take a bus from Puduraya. Thank you. Peter. Dec 21, 2010.

  2. Hi Peter,

    The electric train only runs from Ipoh to Seremban, so coming from Singapore, the best way is to take a flight.

    You could also take the old KTM train from Singapore to Butterworth (Singapore-Butterworth Express) and then take a bus/taxi/ferry from Butterworth to Penang Island.

    I am unable to furnish you with the train schedule or fare though so please find out from the KTM office in Singapore.

    Just to let you know, as far as I understand, Puduraya is closed for renovation and the temporary bus terminal is in Bukit Jalil, if you are heading North from Kuala Lumpur.

  3. Dear Emily,

    The ETS travel time from Ipoh – KL, is it still 2 hrs 05 min?

    Any improvement?

    Thank you.
    Boon In

  4. May I share my share my experience with one mode of transport from KLIA to KL Sentral that is economical but not promoted by the authority.

    Upon reaching the arrival hall at KLILA, one can hardly see the signboard to bus terminal. You will only see the bus terminal direction after you have stepped out of arrival hall and at the public greeting area. Look out for it if you want to save some RM50.00 (especially if you are traveling alone and not sharing the taxi).

    The coach to KL Sentral is at the lowest level of the car park at KLIA. The signage for the direction to the bus terminal is at the public greeting area. Walk towards the multi level car park and take the lift to the lowest level.

    It cost only RM10.00 from KLIA to KL Sentral, as opposed to taxi about RM70.00 per car or KLIA Ekspress RM35 per person.

    The journey is about 55 minutes, and the maximum interval is 30 minutes. It is good especially you are travelling at the non-peak hours. The coach is silent and comfortable (no tv noise, a rare situation in Malaysia, hurray!).

    This bus service is under utilised. I hope more people will use and more frequency will be available and more convenient for all of us. Hope one day it will be like bus service from Hong Kong Airport or Taipei Airport, is every 5 minutes. No waiting is necessary.

    Boon In

  5. to get the ticket…..do i need to book
    it first or just buy it on the spot?

  6. Will this train always delay? I just worry I will miss my flight since I planned to take this train from Ipoh to KLsentral then to LCCT

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