Government Is Urged To Turn KTM Route Into Non-Stop Shuttle Service

The government is being urged to convert the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) scheduled train service into a nonstop shuttle train in order to alleviate congestion at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Johor Bahru.

Sheikh Abdullah Md Taufek, chairman of the Johor City and Nature Tour Guide Association, told The Star that this was one of the best short-term solutions while waiting for the revival of the high-speed rail network between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (KL-SG HSR).

“Even the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is expected to start operations only at the end of 2026.

“We need to address the issue now and not hope it will be solved later when these major projects are completed as a long-term solution.

"We need to develop a short-term strategy," he said when reached by StarMetro.

According to Sheikh Abdullah, converting the train service between the Woodlands checkpoint and JB Sentral into a non-stop shuttle service could reduce the number of vehicles passing through the Causeway.

“I applaud the effort made by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi in reducing the daily waiting time at the Causeway and Second Link by at least two hours.

“But the waiting time is still very long, and we are not even talking about the holiday season,” he said, adding that the Singapore and Malaysia governments should look into this.

When asked about the tourism impact of the KL-SG HSR on Johor, Sheikh Abdullah stated that the impact would be felt only in the long run in terms of development.

He also believes that future KL-SG HSR users will come from outside of Kuala Lumpur.

"Those who want to spend their time solely in Johor will continue to use the RTS, Causeway, and Second Link, or fly."

"We can only have a direct impact on our economy once we reduce congestion at the Causeway," he explained.

Previously, Onn Hafiz was quoted as saying that the state was confident of reducing daily traffic congestion at the Causeway and Second Link.

There have been recent reports of plans to resurrect the KL-SG HSR project, which was cancelled by the Federal Government in 2021, with Malaysia paying Singapore RM320 million in compensation.

Source: The Star