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Name : Qarin Alia Saida Ahmad

Matric no. :243748

Group :A

Introduction

On Saturday, 23 March 2019, I took a ride with the train which is a commuter train from Arau
station to Alor Setar station. The journey took around 20 minutes to arrive at Alor Setar station,
there are two stations before I arrive at Alor Setar which is Kodiang and Anak Bukit stations. The
price of the ticket is quite affordable which is RM 3.90. The ambiance of the commuter is so
comfortable and clean. I thought it will be crowded because it's weekend but apparently is not as
crowded as I expected. The range of the passengers is from children until elders. There is also
passenger’s car for woman only, but the function of the car is not functioning as it is supposed to
be, because there are also some men that got into the women passengers’ car. I think because
there is no station staff to control the passengers. The station staff maybe thought because it is
only a short trip, so they do not need to put some staff to control the passengers.

Ticket KTM Komuter

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The ride is quite fun because it is my first time to ride the commuter from Arau station to Alor
Setar, I only took a commuter ride in Kuala Lumpur when I went there. The train used in Kuala
Lumpur is a new commuter compare to the one in Arau. But still, I have so much fun riding the
commuter.

Commuter Service in Malaysia

KTM Komuter or Keretapi Tanah Melayu is a commuter rail brand in Malaysia that was
introduced in 1995. The first operation of KTM Komuter was on 14 August 1995 with two main
routes which are Saremban line and Port Klang line. With a thorough timetable, Komuter
Malaysia has been dependably serving occupants in the Klang Valley. On the central sector, the
train used Class 92 by 2012.

Amid the 2000s, the Komuter line is expanding to seven more stations:

 The Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, opened 16 April 2001, incorporates stages for both the
Rawang-Seremban course and the Sentul-Port Klang course. While KL Sentral assumed
control over the Kuala Lumpur Railroad Station's part of an exchange with Intercity train
benefits, the last remains a different stop for KTM Komuter services.

 The Mid Valley station, opened 23 August 2004, fundamentally serves users of the
abutting Mid Valley Megamall and adjoining business offices.

 Kepong Sentral, opened 1 July 2006, remains next to the Middle Ring Road Two in the
KL suburb of Kepong, on the Rawang-Seremban course.

 The Serendah, Batang Kali and Rasa stations, opened 21 April 2007, structure some
portion of another stretch of zapped railroad towards Ipoh from Rawang station. A train
service known as the Rawang-Rasa transport keeps running among Rawang and these
three stations.

 The Kuala Kubu Bharu station, opened 5 January 2008. The Rawang-Rasa transport
service was in this way renamed as the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu transport service.
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 The train route was stretched out to Tanjung Malim station on 1 June 2009, with the train
service renamed the Rawang-Tanjung Malim KTM Komuter Transport Service.

 The Sentul-Port Klang Route has been stretched out to Batu Caverns since 29 July 2010,
together with four intermediate new stations - Batu Kentonmen, Kampung Batu and
Taman Wahyu.

 The Seremban Line was reached out from Seremban to Sungai Gadut in 2012 with a
middle of the road station at Senawang, and to Rembau in 2013 with a restricted service
working.

The KTM Komuter service was then launched in the northern Peninsular Malaysia states of
Kedah, Perak and Pulau Pinang in September 2015 after the finishing of the Ipoh-Padang Besar
Electrification and Double-Tracking Project. The trains that used to keep running on this track
was the Class 83 and Class 92 while different sets were utilized to work on other areas. A portion
of the train sets was rejected and surrendered, generally Class 82 because of the conclusion of
organization and absence of extra parts.

KTMB presented another service for the southern sector, KTM Komuter Southern Sector
(Source: KTM Komuter Sektor Selatan), on 10 October 2015 after the finish of the Seremban-
Gemas Electrified Double Tracking Project on 30 October 2013. This service is the second KTM
Komuter service outside the Klang Valley after the northern counterpart. The Gemas and Batang
Melaka stops were expelled at the beginning 20 June 2016 with the train running among
Seremban and Pulau Sebang/Tampin. Along these lines, the shuttle service was ended on 11 July
2016 when it was assimilated into the Seremban Line. 4 major routes for KTM Komuter trains:

 Batu Cave – Pulau Sebang

 Tanjung Malim – Pelabuhan Klang

 Padang Rengas – Bukit Mertajam

 Butterworth – Padang Besar

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In 2010, KTM Komuter launched its passengers’ coach for ladies only. This is to make the ladies
passengers feeling more safe riding commuter without worrying about sexual harassment that
often happens in public transportation.

KTM Komuter Central Sector Routes Map in Malaysia

Source: (ktmb.com.my, n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.ktmb.com.my/Komuter.html

Komuter's top speed is at 175 km (109 mi), the route connected with 45 stations. It comprises of
two lines, specifically the Sentul-Port Klang and Rawang-Seremban lines, just as train service
from Rawang to Rasa.

KTM Komuter in Northern Sector

KTM Komuter in Northern sector was launched in 2015. The states include in this sector is
Kedah, Perak, and Pulau Pinang. The trains that used in the northern sector are Class 83 and
Class 82. But for Class 82, the company does not use it anymore. The train is quite old compared
to the one in Kuala Lumpur, and the routes map in the KTM Komuter that I rode from Arau
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station have false information, the routes map shown is the same map as in Kuala Lumpur routes
map.

The routes map shown in KTM Komuter in Northern sector

For me as the first time using the KTM Komuter in Northern sector thought it is very useless
information, luckily there is audio information to inform about the next stop. The operational
team should have a double check about this because this routes map is very important, how can
the map in the KTM Komuter in northern area is the routes for Central sector commuter.

The KTM Komuter in Northern sector also provide ladies coach for women passengers, but the
coach function does not function as it is supposed to be. There are still some men passengers that
got into the ladies’ coach. Even though there is a large sign that informs the coach is for ladies
only. Also, there is no staff in ladies’ coach to control the passengers unlike in Korea and Japan,
there is staff that controls the passengers, so the ladies’ coach in Korea and Japan are running as
it is supposed to be. And the service is also OKU friendly. There will be staff that will help the
OKU friendly if they need it.

I enjoyed riding KTM Komuter because it is very comfortable and clean despite some errors that
happen in their service. There are two stations before Alor Setar station which is Kodiang station
and Anak Bukit station. The ride from Arau to Alor Setar only took 20 minutes compared to a
used car. But from Universiti Utara Malaysia I have to used grab or kereta sapu to get to Arau
stations, that cost around RM 25, it is quite expensive compared to the KTM Komuter price
which is only RM 3.90.

The train arrived at the Arau station is on time, there is no delay for the arrival. In case, you
missed the train you have to wait around an hour or two hours to got into the next train. There are
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two routes line for KTM Komuter in Northern sector which is Padang Besar – Butterworth and
Bukit Mertajam – Padang Rengas. The passengers that want to go to Padang Rengas, Perak, and
others must change train in Bukit Mertajam station. Because from Padang Besar the train only
goes straight to Butterworth.

KTM Komuter Northern Sector Routes Map

Source: (railtravelstation.com, n.d.) Retrieved from https://railtravelstation.com/ktm-

berhad/ktm-komuter/ktm-komuter-northern-sector/
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KTM Komuter Utara Timetable

Source: (ktmb.com.my, n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.ktmb.com.my/Komuter.html

I also interviewed a passenger that often used KTM Komuter service, this passenger is currently
studying in UNIMAP, and he is on his way to go back to his hometown, Perak. I asked him why
he used the train service, not his own vehicle, he said that using the train service is faster and
cheaper compare to use his own car. Because he only pays around RM 15 to go to Perak. He said
that the train is rarely delayed and always come on time, but in Bukit Mertajam station usually,
the train will be a little bit delay. The trip from Arau to Perak will take around two until three
hours, it is faster compared to when he used his own car.

After 20 minutes, I arrived at Alor Setar Station. The station is quite small, and to exit the arrival
section you have to show your ticket or there will be a sanction. The passengers that lost their
ticket will have to pay RM 30 for the sanction. The sanction also applicable when the passenger
bought the wrong ticket destination, the ticket is damaged, the passenger does not have a ticket
and others.

The sign of the sanction information

Sadly, there is no English version for the information, so for the foreigner other than Indonesian
will be difficult to understand.
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Alor Setar Station

Alor Setar station on Saturday is quite crowded because there are many people that took ETS
train from there. Other than KTM Komuter service, the stations in the Northern sector also
provide ETS service for the passengers that want to go long trip, such as to Kuala Lumpur. If you
want to go to Aman Central or other places in Alor Setar from the station, you can order grab or
taxi from there. Because at the station there is no other transport mode. There is no bus from
there because the location of the train station is inside the quite small valley.

In conclusion, the KTM Komuter service in Northern sector is quite good, even though there are
some flaws such as false routes map information, the ladies’ coach does not function as it is
supposed to be, and also there is no English translation for some important information. Other
than that, most of the passengers are very satisfied with the service because most of the
passengers are local, and they already know the area, and if there is a first time passenger, no
need to worry because there will be announcement about the name of the next station, and it is
better to travel with someone that already used to ride the KTM Komuter in northern area, if you
do not want to lose.
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Interview with RAIL TRANSPORT passenger

1. Gender Male Female

2. Age (years) ________25_______ years

3. Marital status Married Single

4. Race

Malay
Chinese
Indian
Others (Malaysian)
International

5. Do you own a vehicle? Yes No

If NOT, please continue to Question 7.

6. What type of vehicle do you own?

Motorcycle
Car
Van
Lorry

7. You are using the train. Where do you want to go? Name of destination.

I want to go back to my hometown in Perak

8. Why do you use the ETS/ Commuter service?

I found that using a train is cheaper and faster compare to travel with my own vehicle, also it
is very comfortable using the train.
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9. Please rate your satisfaction level of the ETS/ Commuter train service by KTMB.
Very Rather Neutral/ Satisfied Very
dissatisfied Dissatisfied No (4) Satisfied
(1) (2) Opinion (5)
(3)
The frequency of the trains
4
Length of time the journey was scheduled
to take (commercial speed/ the traveling 5
the speed of the trains)
Punctuality/reliability (i.e. departing and
arriving on time). 4
Your personal security whilst on board
(safety). 3
Cleanliness and good maintenance of rail
cars, including the toilet on the 4
train.
The provision of information during the
journey, in particular in case of 4
delay.
Sufficient capacity for passengers in rail
cars. 4
The comfort of the seating area. 4

Connections with other trains, public

transport (i.e., bus or taxi) or other 3
transport.
Availability of staff on trains 3

Assistance and information for disabled or 3

elderly people in the station and in
rail cars
The affordable price of the ticket
5

10. Overall, how many STARS you want to give for this ETS/ Commuter service?
FIVE STARS is the highest.

I would give this train service 4 stars because I am quite satisfied with the service. I often used train service as my
mode of transport when I go back to my hometown, Perak. Using the train is more efficient compared to use my
own vehicle because the expense is quite expensive. So far, there is no delay or anything when I used the train. And
the distance from my university, UNIMAP is quite close.
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References

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad. (n.d.). KTM Komuter. Retrieved from

http://www.ktmb.com.my/Komuter.html

KTM Komuter Northern Sector | Malaysia Komuter Train Tickets & Train Schedule 2019 |
Jadual & Tambang KTM Komuter Sektor Utara Baru 2019 | Butterworth, Bukit
Mertajam, Sungai Petani, Alor Setar, Padang Besar, Taiping, Padang Rengas. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://railtravelstation.com/ktm-berhad/ktm-komuter/ktm-komuter-
northern-sector/