Diesel trains use for Southern Shuttle a temporary measure

JOHOR BARU: The use of diesel trains for the Southern Shuttle service is a temporary measure while waiting for new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains to arrive, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

“We have two options: either to wait two to three years for 10 new EMU train sets to be completed or to use the existing trains now so that the people of Johor do not have to wait longer.

“…the new EMU trains will arrive in due time. But if the public can already use the service now, there is no need to wait,” he said on Facebook on Saturday (June 20).

Diesel trains

He said diesel trains would no longer be needed upon completion of the Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-tracking project, as they would be replaced by Electric Train Service (ETS) on the route.

The service linking Kulai, JB Sentral, and Pasir Gudang offers a faster, more comfortable travel option, with the Kulai-JB Sentral journey taking around 40 minutes and the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang journey about 40 to 45 minutes.

He said the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang route, previously reserved for freight services, has now been opened to passengers for the first time.

Certain quarters had criticised the service for operating older diesel trains, saying that the fares imposed were three times higher than in Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.

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