Take The Train

 

State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong 

JOHOR BARU: THE number of commuters taking the train from the Sultan Iskandar Building, here, to Singapore has registered an increase after the toll hike on Aug 1.

State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said that an average of 1,300 people commute by train to and from Johor Baru from Monday to Thursday.

“The numbers are also high on Fridays. However, the figures drop on weekends.

“Those who take the train to Singapore are usually people who work in the republic,” he said.

Tee said the cost of travelling via the train is only RM122 if they use the monthly pass and the journey takes only five minutes.

“There are six trips into the republic daily, from 5.30am to 11pm,” he said.

Tee said this at a press conference after launching the Student Tourism Programme (3P), where he sent off a group of students from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Pasir Gudang, to embark on an expedition to Endau Rompin State Park in Pahang, by train.

Also present were Johor Tourism Department director Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) southern region manager Omar Nazari Othman.

Earlier, Tee had taken the liberty to travel to Woodlands using the train service, a 5km journey which took five minutes.

Meanwhile, Tee also urged those in the travel and hospitality industry to offer attractive packages to tourists who arrive by train.

“There are 11 railway stations state-wide, where tourists arrive and head to their preferred areas.

“Johor has a lot of attractive places and tour operators can come up with a package which includes picking up tourists at train stations and send them to hotels, shopping malls, museums or homestay establishments to create a win-win situation for all,” Tee said.

JOHOR BARU: THE state wants foreign and domestic tourists to start using trains to visit places of interest in Johor.

This is in view of the 11 Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train stations in the state, with each located either near or a short distance away from numerous tourist attractions.

State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said tour operators are encouraged to come up with packages that incorporate train rides.

“Singaporean tourists can, for instance, take the train service from Woodlands to Kluang to enjoy Kluang coffee. From the Kluang train station, they can also visit some of the eco- or agro-tourism destinations in Kahang or Ayer Hitam.

“For those disembarking at JB Sentral, various tourist attractions are within walking distance such as the Heritage Walk near Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

“They can even take a connecting bus service to Legoland and Sanrio Hello Kitty theme park in Nusajaya.

“At the Kulai train station, it is just a short distance away to the Johor Premium Outlets.

“If one intends to go to the Endau-Rompin National Park, the Bekok station is an ideal stop,” he said.

Tee said taking trains would offer an exciting and unique experience for tourists, as the rail tracks usually cut through rural areas, which offer verdant and rustic scenery along the way.

He noted that most people are not exposed to trains as a mode of travel, although it is a popular mode of transport overseas.

“Travelling by trains will become a trend in future. I hope KTM Bhd will increase its frequency to cater to the needs of the people,” he added.

“This is also a viable option for those coming from districts outside Johor Baru but want to travel to Singapore,” Tee said, adding that the train service provides a cheaper alternative, as it is the only mode of transport not subject to toll charges and vehicle entry permit fee at the Causeway.

“Train service and facilities have improved over the years. More importantly, there will be no traffic congestion which means travellers will arrive at their destinations on time,” he said.

by Sim Bak Heng, Chuah Bee Kim and Mary Victoria Dass

source NST online