In the 70-80s, the train service is actually better. The station master and staffs are friendly and helpful. 5 minutes before train arrived, the master will ring the belt to inform everyone that the train is coming. The train service was very frequent and on time. Many folks in my home town travel through the train service to other town. In addition, KTM offers a lot of freight service to carry cement, fertilizer, etc through the train network.

In the late 80s and early 90, KTM goes through the privatization. KTM upgraded their train system by enhancing the communication system using the electronic systems. The tracks were upgraded and there is a planned to install dual track rail between JB to north bound service. KTM was more sensitive to the business needs. With the high ridership between Singapore to Kluang, KTM started additional short haul services for all the stations along Kluang to Singapore, in additional to the express train service. Service was improving, there are 3 North and 3 South bound trains service between Kluang and Singapore; however, there is a big drop in freight services of KTM. I had hardly see any freight train going through KTM tracks.

Toward the mid 90s, KTM starts to having problem. The weekend business for passengers traveled to and from Singapore have increased. The weekend trains were packed with passengers. The capacity cannot cope up with the ridership. Passengers are holding to the door of the train in order to get to the train service to JB and singapore. The over crowded train service on weekend were so bad that there were 1 casualty where a young man who stand at the door were hit by the bridge when the train crossing the river between Kulai to Johor Bahru. KTM continues to ignore the over crowded train services.

Unannounced delay is a norm. We could wait for 1-2 hours in the train stations for the train service. There wasn’t a single announcement. When the train arrived, the train was so packed with passengers. To get into the train, some passengers hv to stand and hold the door railing. The services were really bad. KTM continued to ignore the overcrowded train issue til early 2000.

With 2007 economy down turn and political water issue with Singapore, KTMB started to cut the train service from at least 6 train services to just 4 train services (inclusive of north and south bound train service), although ridership was very high on the weekend. All high ridership train services were canceled. The new trains that bought to service Singapore-Kluang was abandon in the spare tracks in Layang-layang train station.

To make the matter worst, the KTMB introduced new train on the route; however, the new train aircon broke down so frequent that people inside the train is like riding an oven train. The train was jammed pack with passengers. The train has very small window to allow wind to comes in. The temperature inside the train is a few degree higher than outside of the train. The train selection was so poor and dangerous to the passenger. I had seen children and old people get sick on the train. KTM did not take any action.

The train service manned by the train driver and the station master was very poor. The train can be stopped for extra 10-15 minutes to allow the train drivers and the ticket inspectors to buy food at the drink stall at the train station. There is no urgency for the train driver and the station master to keep up with the schedule. The train station master can chat with the train driver or the ticket inspector and ignore the passengers. Many lost hours incurred by the indisciplined station masters and the train staffs.

Today, the train service between my home town to JB has been cut to only 2 train services (1 north bound and 1 south bound trains). The train timing and schedule continue to be poor.

KTM also seems to have problem with spare train engine and maintenance is a problem. When the train breakdown, it takes a long time for KTM to get the workable engine train. During holiday, delay by hours and unannounced break down delay were the norm of the KTM train service.

I grow up together with KTMB train service. I have seen KTMB service continue to dropped significantly since I started using the train service as a kid. These problems continue to deteriorated. Thus, I do not think KTMB will improve in the near future given the track record of the deterioration of their services. If KTMB cannot run a short haul train service effectively and successfully, then, KTMB will not be able to run an effective train services for the express and longer haul services.

It is also very sad that KTM, as a major public transportation company, has not been able to serve people living in the rural area well but also not able to keep up with the express train service. The privatization of KTMB has not brought an improvement to KTMB train service. The government should consider taking back the KTMB privatization.