Once in a blue moon

Weekend getaway the other day by ETS...

The New Babe called ETS

Friday the 13th... 13/8/2010 ~ My first ride on the new train from KL to Ipoh. Yes, the new KTM ETS has finally come into service on 12/8/2010. :P

At Platform 2, KL Sentral:

Getting There

At KL Sentral, ETS passengers are required to buy their tickets at the "ETS Counter" which is located at Level 2, opposite the Genting ticket counter. There's a lounge (with wi-fi) for passengers to comfortably wait for the trains. I managed to get a ticket for 8.30 am. About 30 minutes before departure, a stewardess came to guide passengers to the platform at Gate B.

Crowd-wise

There weren't many people taking the train at the time when I took the train, mainly due to the fact that it was during office hour on a working day. Comparatively however, I remember the KTM Shuttle Train to Ipoh being very largely occupied on similar days. It's probably due to cost factor as the tickets cost a little more those of the DMU trains.

The Trains

The promotional ETS ticket price for KL - Ipoh is currently set at RM30 per trip, while ticket price for the KL - Ipoh shuttle train is set at RM22/trip (Second Class) and RM12/trip (Economy Class). If it's the First Class coach on the train to Butterworths, a trip from KL to Ipoh is RM40. The ETS is classified as Premier Class, as indicated on the ticket. The trains are manufactured by Hyundai Rotem.

View from my seat:

Inside Coach B... there are a total of 6 coaches per train.

The train reached its top speed at 148 km/h when I took it. This picture was taken when the train reached 144 km/h. The top speed of these ETS is 160 km/h, which is reasonably fast (nb: ETS is not bullet train). I like the display of speed and time, it really reminds me of such similar screen in the plane.

Through the windows, a scene away from the concrete jungle:


At the railway station in Ipoh:
Here are my comments in a nutshell...

1. Comfort

Nice and smooth. I like the ETS for its quietness sans the sound of diesel engine. The overall train design is very pleasant.

2. Speed

The train achieved its promise travel-time at about 2 hours ++ for the Transit service.

3. Service On Board

The crews are polite, friendly and helpful. Well done. :)

4. Conclusion

I like this new service and look forward to riding the ETS more often. If possible (i.e. if cost does not matter), for every trip to Ipoh. It's like an addiction, where after taking the train once, I feel like taking it again and again.

I've heard about the proposed new price after this introductory period, at RM45.xx per trip. I've also heard about the possibility of the introduction of monthly pass for this service. Well, if it's going to be somewhere a little above RM5xx per month (the maximum that I can afford with my novice income), I seriously consider shifting back to Ipoh for good and commute to work in KL by ETS daily. I really love Ipoh very much; the food, the place and of course being my hometown. Right now at RM30 per trip, if I were to take the train daily, it will cost a handsome total of RM1,200 per month - as good as buying a house in KL.

I'm so in love... with the new trains and the fact that folks travelling to Ipoh have even more transport alternatives now.