Govt to spend RM200mil on 10 new trains for Southern Shuttle service

KULAI: The government will acquire 10 new commuter train sets for the Southern Shuttle service under a long-term expansion programme worth more than RM200 million, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said today.

The new electric multiple unit trains are expected to be procured within two to three years for the service, which is a strategic collaboration between the transport ministry, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and Railway Assets Corporation.

“This is an investment for the future to ensure rail public transport services in Johor continue to be strengthened,” he told reporters after the launch of the Southern Shuttle service at the Kulai railway station here.

KTMB is using two existing train sets to operate the Southern Shuttle service, linking Kulai with Johor Bahru Sentral and Pasir Gudang. The latter route will pass through Kempas Baru.

Loke said this initiative was made possible following the completion of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Project, which enabled electric train service operations to run directly to JB Sentral.

He said the ministry would allocate between RM11 million and RM15 million annually to support operating costs, as the fare revenue alone was not expected to cover expenses.

“These trains were previously used on the Johor Bahru-Gemas route, so no additional assets are required. However, there are operational expenses such as diesel, manpower and other costs.”

The Kulai-Johor Bahru Sentral route has a journey time of about 30 minutes and operates 10 daily return trips, with the fare set at RM10.20 per trip.

A total of 3,000 Madani Southern Shuttle cards, each with a value of RM50, were distributed at the launch, with free use offered for the first six months.

Loke said service frequency and route coverage would be expanded if public response was encouraging.

Also present were Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Johor transport committee chairman Fazli Salleh, and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.