Ekspres Wau Incurs Losses Of RM6 Million Annually; Too Expensive To Keep – Exco

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is unable to continue the Ekspres Wau service from Tumpat to Kuala Lumpur Due to high operating expenses.

The service costs KTMB RM6 million annually, according to Datuk Azami Mohd Nor, chairman of the State Public Works, Infrastructure, Transport, and Utilities Committee.

According to a report by News Straits Times (NST) Azami also mentioned that KTMB found that passengers are opting for other train services that the company is providing to the East Coast.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/07/814612/ktmb-could-not-operate-express-wau-train-due-rm6-mil-losses?fbclid=IwAR00nGqE-kCbxAUcEuXMzGcreF5WFbQv0VmcvYM8c-7TAynkj3VP85xWbBM

The ETS train, which travels from Kuala Lumpur to Gemas and then connects to Express Timuran, is an example of such a service. Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) is also used by shuttle trains running between Gemas and Tumpat.

“KTMB cannot continue the Ekspres Wau service due to having to bear high operating costs and facing losses.

Image credit: PegasusKL

“Apart from that, the route is unsuitable at this time because KTMB provides another train service connecting the east coast with the Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur to Gemas,” he added.

He said this in his reply to a supplementary question from Amran Arifin (BN-Paloh) at the Kelantan State Assembly sitting, at the Kota Darulnaim Complex.

In response to a different query from Mohd Rodzi Ja'afar (Pas-Gaal), Azami stated that the state administration intended to upgrade the Selising road in Bukit Yong, Pasir Puteh, which connects Terengganu and Kelantan.