KTMB Train Services - An Observation

Few months ago, I was asked by somebody just to ride on KTMB trains and just observe to get the first-hand experience.

'Errr ... ok. Why would I do that?'

I enquired without much enthusiasm.

'Well, you have told me that you like to reminisced the wonderful rides on the train in foreign countries, maybe you need to look at what we have here and what can be improved, maybe to add on to your previous report on KTMB business challenges.'

'Yeah, why not.'

So, the other day, in one of the weekend, I did just that.

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Subang Jaya to KL Sentral:

• Took the KTM Komuter. The train station was new and integrated with LRT, looks very clean.
• The time table for the train to depart to KL Sentral was shown on the screen to be at 9.36 am.
• The designated train arrived at 9.34 am and departed at 9.36 am, so far so good.
• Inside the train, there were no advertisement at all, no posters, no panels, even at the hand-grips, or even hanging advertisements, unlike the trains in Japan or Hong Kong. There are LCD panels showing some information and opportunity to advertise. Lots of opportunity in advertising.
• There are some broken window panes (maybe hit by stones thrown by somebody) and outside body of the train a bit dirty.
• Some unused railway lines at Kontena Nasional depot near Seri Setia station.
• There are a lot of 'pencerobohan' and squatters at KTMB land between the Jalan Templer-Petaling-Pantai Dalam stations.

KL Sentral Station Platform 3 & 4:

• Many sections within the platforms were badly lit and very dark, signage can be improved, advertisement not enough, all in all, neither comfortable nor conducive environment.
• Komuter train to Batu Caves was late by 8 minutes, originally scheduled at 10.36 am, but only departed at 10.44 am.

Kuala Lumpur Station:

• It is an iconic station build in the King Edward VII era. In dire need for refurbishment and make it a top tourist attraction in the city maybe like St. Pancras / King’s Cross Stations in London. In fact the opposite KTMB building will require a refurbishment as well.

The iconic Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
in dire need of refurbishment and rebranding

The KTMB Office is also an iconic building

• The music / jingle before KTMB announcement is very catchy, similar to SNCF's at Gare du Nord in Paris, and could be commercialised.
• Toilets at the station can be improved a lot.
• Within the station may require improved ventilation, maybe via some big-ass fans.
• Notice that the access to the platforms were a bit loose.
• There was a Heritage Hotel before but was closed down in 2010. Need to find a business partner to revive back and improve the hotel, maybe like some railway hotels in the UK.

Need to revive back the railway hotel

• The food stall at the station entrance is an eye sore.

This is an eye sore

• When talking to the staff, they neither aware of any changes after the arrival of the new CEO nor understand if there are any new directions of the company.
• The staff attitude seems very normal, may require to put on some smiling faces and friendlier, just to emulate the Japanese train staff.

Friendly looking Japanese railway staff

Kuala Lumpur to Kepong Sentral:

• Took the ETS service to Kepong Sentral.
• The KTMB ETS Class 93 EMU was clean and quiet, on time arrival and departure.
• There were some stick-on advertisement at the seats.

Kepong Sentral Station:

• Practically, there's nothing there. The namesake 'Sentral' can be misleading.

Panoramic view of Kepong Sentral Station

• There are migrant communities residing and occupying the business outlets nearby the station.
• How can we transform this kind of KTMB train station and many more from non-income generating premises to vibrant community hubs? Example, train stations in Japan and Hong Kong.
• How can we make more people to use train as their main mode of transportation so that they could be on their way for a greater upward social mobility.
• This station, for example, has two big parking lots, lots of areas for shops and businesses within the station, nearby apartments and shop houses, and just 20 minutes away from KL Sentral.

KL Sentral Platform 1:

• To exit and coming up from the escalator from Platform 1 ETS can be very dangerous as a lot of people just coming up and the exit outlets are not adequate to handle the traffic flow.

Penang Sentral:

• Penang Sentral is an intermodal transit-oriented development in Butterworth, modelled after KL Sentral. There's a big growth potential as the hub for transportation in the North.