KTM has lost its shine

[besitai2007]

Last weekend I decided to take the slow way to Penang from Subang Jaya for Cheng Beng by train with my family.

First shock - alamak! No more sleeperette for the night train! Used to be able to book sleeping berths. "Now, no more!" said the ticket office clerk. Whylah? KTM losing money and abolishing this service after so many years? So we had to sit immobilized in the narrow seats from 11.45 pm to 7.00 am the next morning.
Second shock - the seats were filthy! Could see all the marks and blotches all over the seats! Don't tell me KTM never bothered to clean the seats? Years of accumulated filth have made the seats acquire a new design? Had to bear with placing my body on this filth for the whole journey.
Third shock - no more on board TV/video screening. Just saw a black LCD screen staring at us.
Fourth shock - the pull down tray for my seat was missing. Only the bare metal bars to hold it remained.
Fifth shock - the toilets were filthy. You have to just do your business and get outta there.
Sixth shock - on my return journey in the morning Express Raykat, found that the windows were filthy! Can't see the view of the countryside with all the dirt on the outside. There goes the "see" your own country campaign by the Ministry of Tourism.
Seventh shock - there were not many choices of food. Whatever they offered were not appetizing - oily fried mee and maggie mee. Luckily we bought some stuff to eat or else we would have starved!

Well, the plus thing is that the train was on time and the air-conditioning system was working. The guards were helpful but I wish the guy making the announcement would use proper English and add an "at" to his announcement as he announced "Ladies and gentlemen, we shall be arriving (missing "at") (Name of station), shortly."
For all my trouble to take the family for a scenic view of the country I got an earful from my missus. Children were not happy either. The state of our national railway is also giving us a bad name. It is making a mockery of the Tourism Malaysia slogan: "The Time is Now. The Place is Malaysia"

[zinglicious]

I know why - all the monies use to maintain the rakyat mode of transport in KTM has gone to F1 Lotus mah. Seat missing kena lelong, all guys doing cleaning had to go to Sepang to clean Lotus F1. thatis why the sleeping berth goes missing as well. As the Lotus failed to impress, they may have to take part of the KTM engines in future because they are unable to go to the finishing line.
As for the oily food and maggi mee - well , even the chefs gotta to cook in F1 because it was mooted by the PM.
Lastly, latest govt ruling to switch off fan for two hours also applied across the board by stages - first - the classroom, next - the KTM video, coming soon - the traffic lights in the city starting from Penang......next Kedah, :eek: :eek: :eek:

[AllUrban]

Last weekend I decided to take the slow way to Penang from Subang Jaya for Cheng Beng by train with my family.

First shock - alamak! No more sleeperette for the night train! Used to be able to book sleeping berths. "Now, no more!" said the ticket office clerk. Whylah? KTM losing money and abolishing this service after so many years? So we had to sit immobilized in the narrow seats from 11.45 pm to 7.00 am the next morning.
Second shock - the seats were filthy! Could see all the marks and blotches all over the seats! Don't tell me KTM never bothered to clean the seats? Years of accumulated filth have made the seats acquire a new design? Had to bear with placing my body on this filth for the whole journey.
Third shock - no more on board TV/video screening. Just saw a black LCD screen staring at us.
Fourth shock - the pull down tray for my seat was missing. Only the bare metal bars to hold it remained.
Fifth shock - the toilets were filthy. You have to just do your business and get outta there.
Sixth shock - on my return journey in the morning Express Raykat, found that the windows were filthy! Can't see the view of the countryside with all the dirt on the outside. There goes the "see" your own country campaign by the Ministry of Tourism.
Seventh shock - there were not many choices of food. Whatever they offered were not appetizing - oily fried mee and maggie mee. Luckily we bought some stuff to eat or else we would have starved!

Well, the plus thing is that the train was on time and the air-conditioning system was working. The guards were helpful but I wish the guy making the announcement would use proper English and add an "at" to his announcement as he announced "Ladies and gentlemen, we shall be arriving (missing "at") (Name of station), shortly."
For all my trouble to take the family for a scenic view of the country I got an earful from my missus. Children were not happy either. The state of our national railway is also giving us a bad name. It is making a mockery of the Tourism Malaysia slogan: "The Time is Now. The Place is Malaysia"send your summary of the trip to Dr. Aminuddin Adnan, Managing Director of KTMB at aminuddin@ktmb.com.my

Cheers, m

[kwchang]

...all the monies use to maintain the rakyat mode of transport in KTM has gone to F1 Lotus...Seat missing kena lelong, all guys doing cleaning had to go to Sepang to clean Lotus F1....As for the oily food and maggi mee - well , even the chefs gotta to cook in F1 because it was mooted by the PM.

...govt ruling to switch off fan for two hours also applied across the board by stages - first - the classroom, next - the KTM video, coming soon - the traffic lights in the city starting from Penang......next Kedah...
I wonder if any of our demand for substantiated postings ever got anyone's attention. Please do not make sweeping allegations without any proof of the authenticity of the claim.

[Sentinel]

AllUrban... pls ask your buddy in KTMB if ever thought of doing what Air Asia is doing to increase passenger loads? They send a huge coach around Butterworth and Prai to pick up passengers (for RM6 each) and reach Penang International Airport in time for check-in of flights to Medan, Spore, Kuching etc. Now I know why their departure times are all close together.

KTMB, since its station is in Butterowrth and not on the island, should scoop up the rail passengers from the island and drop them off at Butterworth station in time for their main services... if they charge RM3-4 each, this bus service can be self-liquidating so no extra cost....

Besitai, we shall be arriving (at) Butterworth soon? I prefer the blooper at Firefly. Most of the stewardesses (they don't have stewards anyway) will tend to say, "Thank you for flying Firefly, your committee airline" when it should be "your community airline"... really funny in the beginning but now getting irritating.... :mad:

[zinglicious]

All wok and no play play makes the mean chef a dull cook. :D
Sometimes a mean chef like me also play play because no cooking to do. It is is not a sweeping allegation but non sensical way to deal with so much inefficent govt running the machinery to upghold the image of Malaysia. :cool:
Anyway, looks like I am gonna to get a banana over this allegation. Thank god, I am not being thrown out..... :eek:

[AllUrban]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]AllUrban... pls ask your buddy in KTMB if ever thought of doing what Air Asia is doing to increase passenger loads? They send a huge coach around Butterworth and Prai to pick up passengers (for RM6 each) and reach Penang International Airport in time for check-in of flights to Medan, Spore, Kuching etc. Now I know why their departure times are all close together.

KTMB, since its station is in Butterowrth and not on the island, should scoop up the rail passengers from the island and drop them off at Butterworth station in time for their main services... if they charge RM3-4 each, this bus service can be self-liquidating so no extra cost.... Sentinel...Ive been telling KTMB for a long time that they need to be in the transport business, not the rail business...which means that they should start operating bus service to feed their railway stations. I will pass on your suggestion but I suggest that you email Dr. Aminuddin directly.

One challenge is that KTMB would have to deal with another branch of the government (CVLB) if they want to get bus permits. They can "reverse-pajak" the permits of other bus operators (but no one has tried that yet).

I hope that SPAD (the new Public Land Transport Commission) will encourage better ways to use bus and taxi permits, without the politics, corruption, restrictions, and inefficiency.

With the new electric ETS service (starting in June) KTMB will actually be able to profit on intercity train once again (assuming the trains have passengers-assuming they follow Sentinel's suggestion).

Ive also been told that they plan to have ETS from KL-Penang by 2012 (maybe at the end).

Besitai, just so you know, intercity train service is a complete money loser for KTMB because the fares have to be very low. That's not an excuse, just an explanation.

Frankly, the past 10 out of 125 years have not been good to KTMB.

Cheers, m

[chewie]

we are way behind time for rail transportation or even land transportation...

[besitai2007]

we are way behind time for rail transportation or even land transportation...
The Rapid bus service in Penang was efficient when we used it. We took the number 201 bus from the pier to Ayer Itam where we had the famous Ayer Itam laksa. Then we got a taxi to take us all the way up to the Kek Lok Si temple. Return journey was via the same bus to Komtar. After shopping, we took a bus to the pier where we crossed the channel by ferry and then hopped onto a number 702 Rapid bus to Jalan Bangan Luar to go to relative's house to stay. All the way, the buses (especially Rapid) were clean. The drivers-cum-conductor were helpful and friendly. Buses were driven at a good pace without tearing down the road. Even though the Jalan Paya Terubong area in Ayer Itam was jam packed with cars, the driver did not swear or lose his cool when he inched his bus though the traffic. Maybe it was one of his good days? Maybe Penang is an island and is a smaller area for authorities to manage the public transport system properly. But throughout my childhood I still remembered how efficient the bus service was and it was one of my main methods of transport.

[AllUrban]

The Rapid bus service in Penang was efficient when we used it. We took the number 201 bus from the pier to Ayer Itam where we had the famous Ayer Itam laksa. Then we got a taxi to take us all the way up to the Kek Lok Si temple. Return journey was via the same bus to Komtar. After shopping, we took a bus to the pier where we crossed the channel by ferry and then hopped onto a number 702 Rapid bus to Jalan Bangan Luar to go to relative's house to stay. All the way, the buses (especially Rapid) were clean. The drivers-cum-conductor were helpful and friendly. Buses were driven at a good pace without tearing down the road. Even though the Jalan Paya Terubong area in Ayer Itam was jam packed with cars, the driver did not swear or lose his cool when he inched his bus though the traffic. Maybe it was one of his good days? Maybe Penang is an island and is a smaller area for authorities to manage the public transport system properly. But throughout my childhood I still remembered how efficient the bus service was and it was one of my main methods of transport.That's good to hear. Send your feedback to Azhar Ahmad, CEO of RapidPenang at Azhar@rapidpg.com.my

When it comes to public transport operators, RapidPenang is a breath of fresh air and Azhar is a motivated, fearless guy.

Cheers, m

[chewie]

there will be always a rotten apple among the good ones.

come to the area where i stay and wait for U84. u will be surprise that how long that you need to wait for it. even 3 to 5 T625 bus passes by and you still need to wait for u84

[Sentinel]

The Rapid bus service in Penang was efficient when we used it. We took the number 201 bus from the pier to Ayer Itam where we had the famous Ayer Itam laksa. Then we got a taxi to take us all the way up to the Kek Lok Si temple. Return journey was via the same bus to Komtar. After shopping, we took a bus to the pier where we crossed the channel by ferry and then hopped onto a number 702 Rapid bus to Jalan Bangan Luar to go to relative's house to stay. All the way, the buses (especially Rapid) were clean. The drivers-cum-conductor were helpful and friendly. Buses were driven at a good pace without tearing down the road. Even though the Jalan Paya Terubong area in Ayer Itam was jam packed with cars, the driver did not swear or lose his cool when he inched his bus though the traffic. Maybe it was one of his good days? Maybe Penang is an island and is a smaller area for authorities to manage the public transport system properly. But throughout my childhood I still remembered how efficient the bus service was and it was one of my main methods of transport.
There is one Rapid Bus service here is Penang that takes you from Penang International Airport all the way to Telok Bahang (#101) and then back again (#102). The bus is almost every 15 minutes. But the journey is almost one and a half hour - really good lah.... anyway driving also 40 minutes already...

I am wondering why that old bus company KGN Hin Bus Co. still struglling with their old junks with no air cond and and irregular service still don't want to give up?

[AllUrban]

there will be always a rotten apple among the good ones.

come to the area where i stay and wait for U84. u will be surprise that how long that you need to wait for it. even 3 to 5 T625 bus passes by and you still need to wait for u84chewie, can you send a few details to klangvalley.transit@gmail.com. I will forward your complaint directly to the GM of bus operations.


There is one Rapid Bus service here is Penang that takes you from Penang International Airport all the way to Telok Bahang (#101) and then back again (#102). The bus is almost every 15 minutes. But the journey is almost one and a half hour - really good lah.... anyway driving also 40 minutes already...

I am wondering why that old bus company KGN Hin Bus Co. still struglling with their old junks with no air cond and and irregular service still don't want to give up? Sentinel, m told Azhar only last week that the time had come for RapidPenang to be magnanimous and help the other companies out - through the 'reverse-pajak' system.

In other words, KGN-HIN and the other bus companies would hire their permits out to RapidPenang and provide services on behalf of RapidPenang.

RapidPenang would buy buses for them (to replace the old stock) and collect all the fares...KGN-HIN and the other bus companies would get a monthly salary which they could use to pay their employees.

It's a win-win-win-win situation, methinks. RapidPenang gets overall control over the market, KGN-HIN and the other operators get taken care of, buses are improved, and the image of Penang improves which helps the government.

Cheers, m

[besitai2007]

AllUrban, Thanks for the input. Got a reply from Dr. Aminuddin Adnan. Hopefully KTMB can also look into the deplorable state of our KTM Komuter also which is in a worse state. Speaking of which:

Issue 1: Seats and windows are dirty, worse than the north-south trains. Guess no one bothers to look at the view.
Issue 2: Morning rush hour is a pain as even if the train is full, people will still try to get in. Once I had to attend a function and made the mistake of taking the morning rush hour train. We were jammed tight like sardines and people are still trying to get in. A lady behind me was prodding the end of her umbrella at my back to prevent me from moving backwards. I had to grab the umbrella and gave her a piece of my mind. Hey, I'm not trying to molest you!
Issue 3: Where KTMB had people to control passengers boarding the coaches in KLCC station, at other stations, especially KL Central, it's free for all (happened last Sunday as I was taking the train to return to Subang Jaya). They should post more guards there, too. I also do not see any guards in any of the stations we pass through.
Issue 4: The turnstiles at Kampung Datuk Harun and Pantai Dalam stations are damaged. Anyone can just get on to the train at either of these two stations and return without having to pay for a ticket.
Issue 5: Morning rush hour is a pain as trains are often not on time or canceled without prior notice. My son prefers to take the LRT from Taman Bahagia as it is more reliable.

[expat1609]

....... As the Lotus failed to impress......

it's all so bad here in bolehland, isn't it ? lotus no win in the first three races, not even a podium :mad: :mad: :mad:

did you know that lotus is the best team among the newcomers ???

nevermind, keep up the negative spirits, boleh :confused: :p ;)

[zinglicious]

The Malaysian team the best among the new comers? Fortunately,it is not an unsubstantiated allegations atau sure get yellow banana for this! Perhaps, you should highlight to the editors of Bernama where the caption said " failed to impress" of being so negative.

I am not usually negative, I am just mean. I meant just to post whatever being observed and not not good a painting rosy picture.

BTW, if the nations monies is not put into F1, but instead put on better usage where most of the rakyat can make use of it, I wouldnt be so negative. Even the spectacular achievement of finishing in the podium would not excite me at all or most Malaysians except maybe Njib and company while the rakyat still sweating around. Phew, it is that hot without the fan. :p :rolleyes: :p