KTM Komuter - I Won't Go On A Ride On Them Anytime Soon.
I only occasionally use the KTM Komuter service and when I do, I thank my lucky stars that I don't depend on them for my daily commute!
I feel that, despite the increase of commuters using the service; the Komuter service was better a few years back than it is now especially judging from what my friends and colleagues who are regular users tell me.
I took one last Monday to get to Serdang station. A trip to Serdang Station from Mid Valley station would usually take a mere 17 minutes minus the waiting time.
Lucky me (and other commuters waiting for the train with me too), had to wait a whole 55 minutes for the train to arrive. Trains scheduled to run were canceled on both tracks (the ones heading to Seremban and to Rawang too) so you can imagine how crowded the platform was after a while. People seems to be resigned to the waiting and decided to make themselves comfortable.
Don't get me started on how packed the train was when it finally arrived. When I got in the train, I barely had space to wiggle or stand straight. It was that BAD!
Total waiting and traveling time for me that day? A mind-boggling one and half an hour! I think even with traffic jam; a trip on a car wouldn't take that long!
With such "excellent" service, would I be a convert and use public transport in favour of my car? Not very likely. My time and sanity are important too.
well well well now you've "enjoyed" that notorious service of the KTM..
ReplyDeletei've been a victim of their lousy service and now whenever i have other alternatives, i will never want to take KTM anymore..
ReplyDeletei really do not understand how they manage the train schedule.. really unbelievable and unacceptable!!!
ReplyDeletei used to take KTM between KL Sentral and MV, for just one station, and sometimes it could take up to an hour!!! isn't that ridiculous??
ReplyDeleteThat is one thing I really miss about Japan. Quick, on time, reliable trains. The trains here in Australia are really bad as well and hardly ever run on time!!
ReplyDeleteJapan Australia
@SK,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I sometime tried taking the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral to MV, and gosh - I too had to wait for more than half an hour for the damn train to come. Taking the LRT and shuttle bus would be way faster. :(
@SK,
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they bother to have the pretense of having a train running schedule at all, if that can't be followed. Boo KTM!
@Japan Australia,
ReplyDeleteThat bad there too, huh?
Yeah, if our trains run like Japan's, I wouldn't mind taking them for my commute. As do the rest of the KL population.
I thought now the KTM is better than the last time, how come lah,,,,,,
ReplyDeleteGosh! That is terrible! The authorities need to do something to improve the service if they want more people to take public transportation.
ReplyDelete@eugene,
ReplyDeleteThat's why lor... should improve over time not deteriorate. But then, we are not that great on maintenance culture, aren't we?
@HappySurfer,
ReplyDeleteIf you read the news, seems like they did - but what exactly they did; I sure as heck don't know.
Still have to contend with problem bus drivers, late trains, etc.:(
That's public transport for you in this country which is why more and more people are buying their own means of transportation.
ReplyDelete@Nick,
ReplyDeleteThat's why. Why should go through hassle each day while using public transport when I can opt to fork out a bit more money and use my own form of transport.
Spending 2 hours for a 30minutes trip is a bit too much for me. :(
I can relate. I used to commute regularly and remember how the trains used to be like cans of sardine! And yes, the LRT is wayyy more efficient.
ReplyDeletei only ride on it once n it was already a nightmare! i don't know if it happen often, but the announcer actually mentioned "break down". gosh, n we waited for hours just for the train to reach. n yes, i also remember how packed it was. it was an absolute torture!
ReplyDelete@sriany,
ReplyDeleteit's not only used to be packed, it is still packed! o.O
Hopefully, MRT will be a tad better than LRT and waaaaaaay better than Komuter, eh?
@levian,
ReplyDeleteTorture is the correct word.XD
I guess I'm still lucky that I never experience what my colleagues did. Had to walk on the train track from Seputeh Station to Mid Valley Statin because the train got "technical problem". And prior to the door being pried open, they had to endure a packed coach with no a/c on. Imagine pregnant woman having to jump from the train to the gravelly train track and walk after that too.
Sheer torture!
I always use KTM during uni time... Many unpleasant experiences... Won't ever ride on it unless really no choice... Haven't been riding for years..
ReplyDelete@prince n princess mum,
ReplyDeleteand the Government wonder why the increase of people using public transport in Malaysia didn't meet their target.
Why go through so much hassle, right?
It's the same here in Manila especially at rush hour. People take the train because it's still faster than the bus.
ReplyDelete@jellybelly,
ReplyDeleteIt would have been faster than the bus too, here but if trains kept getting cancelled, passenngers ended spending a LOT of time waiting than traveling, which really suck. :(
dulu mASA ker kat MV and sometimes kena amik train, damn... delay all the time....
ReplyDelete@Yatie,
ReplyDeleteItulah, tak pernah nye on time ataupun on schedule. :(
Thank God I never need to use KTM Commuter! Haha
ReplyDelete@foong,
ReplyDeleteLucky you. ;p