The KTM ETS, commercially known as ETS, an acronym derived from Electric Train Service, is an inter-cityhigher-speed rail in Malaysia operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). The KTM ETS is the second electric train service to be operated by the Malaysian railway company after KTM Komuter, and the second inter-city rail service after KTM Intercity.
Having begun operations in 2010, the ETS is the fastest metre-gauge train service in Malaysia and operates along the historical West Coast Line (WCL) in western Peninsular Malaysia which has since been electrified and double-tracked, from the north at Padang Besar, close to the border with Thailand, and towards Gemas, at Negeri Sembilan. A southern extension from Gemas to Johor Bahru Sentral, close to the border with Singapore, is expected to begin operations in 2025, completing the rail electrification between the northern and southern borders.
The rail service is currently operated by the KTM Intercity. It was previously operated by ETS Sendirian Berhad, a fully owned subsidiary of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.
Currently, there are 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - Ipoh route, 5 return trips on the KL Sentral - Butterworth route, 4 return trips on the KL Sentral - Padang Besar route and 1 return trip each on the Gemas - Padang Besar and Gemas - Butterworth routes daily. As of 2020, due to travelling restrictions and efforts to curb the pandemic, there were only 2 trips per day along the 5 routes that are currently under operation, while as of 2022 all services have been resumed with lesser Gold service trains.
The latest timetables for the routes are available on the official ETS timetable.
Services
The train services are operated in 3 categories:
Platinum service with limited stops (9 return trips), along with business class coach service
Gold service with selected stops (6 return trips)
Silver service with stops at all stations. (1 return trip)
Northern terminus. Railway service continue to Hat Yai Junction via SRT. Linkbridge access to the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.
The original KTM Class 91 at Ipoh Railway Station, opened on the first phase.
The service was introduced by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) on 12 August 2010 between Ipoh and Seremban following the completion of the electrification and double-tracking of the Rawang to Ipoh stretch of the West Coast Line. Its inaugural run was celebrated with an opening ceremony at Kuala Lumpur railway station. Initially, services stretched southwards to Seremban, but the KL Sentral - Seremban sector was taken out of service in October 2012.[5] At launch, there were three service types—Platinum, Gold and Silver. On the fastest Platinum service, the trip was covered in two hours, one hour faster than by car. Gold and silver services had more stops, hence taking up to 2 hours 30 minutes. The route was served solely by 5 Class 91 electric trains.
Second phase
A Class 91 at Bukit Mertajam, opened on the second phase.
The service was extended from Ipoh to Padang Besar via Butterworth, the mainland town opposite George Town, with the introduction of the ETS Transit on 10 July 2015, with stops at 24 stations. At the inception of service, only one train service in both directions was introduced. This service was given the name ETS Transit.
On the following day on 11 July 2015, a new service called the ETS Ekspres between KL Sentral and Padang Besar, via Butterworth was introduced, which only stops at 15 stations. Again, only one service for both directions was introduced[6] although, subsequently, on 1 September 2015, an additional service between KL Sentral and Butterworth was introduced.[7] New rolling stock, the Class 93 trains, were introduced in conjunction with the extended service.
Third phase
The KTM Class 93 ETS train No 203 leaving Pulau Sebang/Tampin, opened on the third phase.
On 10 October 2015, the ETS service was extended southwards from KL Sentral to Gemas with the introduction of a new service between Padang Besar and Gemas.[8] The extension of the KTM ETS service to Gemas utilizes the electrified double-track between Seremban and Gemas which was completed in 2014. This extension of service also saw the ETS service returning to Seremban after being discontinued in 2012.
Also on 10 October 2015, a new service was launched between Butterworth and Padang Besar in addition to existing services but this service was subsequently reduced in frequency and ultimately terminated, with the introduction of the new KTM Komuter Northern Sector.[9]
There were constant revisions of timetables and services as more trains became available, with more train service being added for each of the route segments. The Platinum, Gold, and Silver services were also reintroduced while the terms "ETS Ekspres" and "ETS Transit" were no longer used.
Five KTM Class 91 train sets, each comprising six cars, were purchased by KTM for $67 million (USD). The train sets were designed by the Marubeni Corporation and jointly built by Hyundai Rotem of South Korea and Mitsubishi Electric of Japan.[10] The maximum operational speed of the ETS fleet is 140 km/h but is designed to travel up to 160 km/h.[11] The total length of each train set is 138 m and weighs 231.8 tons. Each carriage is 22.95 m long, 2.75 m wide and 4 m high.[12] Each train set has a passenger seating capacity of 350 and includes on-board facilities including toilets, a buffet car, power sockets per two seats and two LED Televisions per car.
Nineteen sets of KTM Class 93 trains were ordered in two batches to expand the fleet as the electrified network expanded. All 19 trains are in service as of October 2019.
The rolling stock was to have been put into operation for the launch of the ETS Express service between KL Sentral and Padang Besar, and the ETS Transit service between Ipoh and Padang Besar. However, reports of problems during the testing and commissioning of the train sets resulted in the then Malaysian land public transport authority, SPAD, not approving the trains for use in time for the launch of the two services on 10 July 2015 and 11 July 2015.[13] As a result, two KTM Class 91 train sets were used for the time being, one for the ETS Express, and the other for the ETS Transit, allowing for just one trip in each direction for both services.
The first four KTM Class 93 sets went into service on 10 October 2015. All sets from the first batch have entered service.
The second batch differs slightly from the first, with a redesigned livery and a business class coach, a first for ETS services, and started operations with the launch of the new ETS Business Class in October 2019. These coaches were given the name Class 93/2.
A third batch of 11 Class 93 is tendered in March 2022 in light with the completion of the Gemas-JB Sentral EDTP[14] modification.
Longest and fastest metre-gauge trains in the world
The ETS trains currently travel up to 140 km/h on the electrifiedmetre gauge rail line. Due to the gauge, the service can be considered a higher speed rail (HrSR) limited-express service.
The ETS thus currently stands as one of the fastest 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge train services in the world, reaching a maximum speed of 140 km/h.
On-board service
Interior of the standard class accommodation on KTM Class 93/1.
Standard Class
The seats are arranged in a 2+2 fashion and each seat comes with a tray table and a power outlet. Cluster seats with fixed tables are available on the Class 93. The seats can be easily converted for wheelchair use should the need arise. There are LCD TV screens in every coach for entertainment. Toilets are available in every coach. There are changing tables for infants on the latest Class 93/2. For Muslim passengers, there is a prayer room in every train. There is a bistro coach which sells drinks, light snacks and microwaved meals. This class is available on all trains, and is the only class available on older trains such as the Class 91 and the Class 93/1.
Business Class interior.
Business Class
The Business Class service marks a step-up from the Standard Class. In addition to the facilities already enjoyed in the Standard Class, there are additional features otherwise not seen on the Standard Class. The seats are arranged in a 2+1 configuration and are wider and able to recline up to 45 degrees. The seats can be rotated to face any direction. In addition to a power outlet, a USB port is also provided per seat. Each seat has its own on-demand video screen for in-train entertainment. Wi-Fi is complimentary for Business Class passengers. Each coach has its own steward or stewardess, whom the passengers can summon from their seats. On-board dining is included in the fare. Passengers are also given their own amenity kit. This service is only available on the Class 93/2 trains.
Extension
Gemas – Johor Bahru Sentral
The MYR 8 billion contract was expected to be tendered out by the end of 2008 pending a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The project would have included building over 200 km of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signaling and communications.[15]
This included a realignment between of the Pulau Sebang/Tampin - Gemas section.
In May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe submitted a proposal to the Government to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Bahru at a cost of MYR 5 billion. According to them, the project would be on a private finance initiative basis and the plan submitted to the Ministry of Finance later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in the state of Johor.[16]
On 29 January 2011, then Transport Minister Datuk SeriKong Cho Ha said that the Gemas - Johor Bahru double-tracking and electrification project was expected to start that year. He added that the Government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project that year and Malaysia was still in the midst of talking with China Railway Construction, but nothing was confirmed yet. Kong said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project. The construction of 197 km of tracks, at an estimated cost between MYR 6 billion and MYR 7 billion, would take three years.[17]
On 27 October 2015, the public display exercise, required for all development of new railways under Section 84 of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Act 2010, for the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electrification and Double Tracking Project began and ran until 27 January 2016. The Chinese company CRCC has been awarded to carry out the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electrification and Double Tracking Project. Construction on the project began in January 2018.[18] It was expected to be completed by mid-2023,[19] but on 23 March 2023, it was announced that the extension will be expected to be delayed til mid-2025.[20]
The documents displayed also stated that the electrification for the stretch will have the same specifications as that of the Seremban-Gemas stretch, at 25 kV AC 50 Hz single phase and supplied via an overhead catenary. Train operations for this stretch will be integrated with the Train Control Centers at KL Sentral and Gemas. The designed maximum speed for the tracks is 160 km/h.
^ ab"Statistics of Rail Transport". Ministry of Transport Malaysia. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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