'Balik kampung' now faster with ETS

The Electric Train Service (ETS) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Padang Besar will begin tomorrow, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said for a start, the service will be available twice a day – KL to Padang Besar and Padang Besar to KL. Tickets for the journey of four hours and 45 minutes will be sold at RM81 one way and can be bought online or at the railway station counters beginning Friday.

“The service begins tomorrow in conjunction with Aidilfitri celebration next week and we expect good support from the people as the journey is now faster and more convenient,” Liow said at a press conference at Kuala Kangsar railway station, today.

He said 10 more electric trains will be bought with costs estimated at RM506 million.

Earlier, Liow together with officials from Transport Ministry, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) travelled from Batu Gajah railway station to Kuala Kangsar in the new train.

The high speed passenger train from Padang Besar is expected to stop at Arau, Alor Setar, Bukit Mertajam and end at KL Sentral station.

Currently the diesel locomotive trains used to ply the Padang Besar-KL route are much slower and the journey takes about 12 hours or more.