Monday, February 20, 2012

KTM woodlands to KL

Finally tried the Singapore Woodlands KTM train to KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 
Usually, to go to Johor Bahru (Jb), I would take mrt to kranji mrt, and then board 160 or 170 bus from there. The bus queue to Jb is usually long at peak hours, so that means you can safely queue up even without asking anyone there. Do take note that bus 160 or 170 also picks up passengers from Jb to Kranji MRT, and thus the buses with these numbers that stop by the bus stop only have alighting passengers but not for those that are heading to woodlands CIQ- immigration. 

As for my story, as I had boarded from kl back to woodlands before, I was overconfident that the way to the ktm station at woodlands (#my first time taking train from singapore to kl) would be somewhere near the immigration. Thus, I took the exact route and on reaching the entrance of CIQ woodlands, moments before heading for immigration checkpoint, l sensed that this way doesn't make any sense. And so, I went to the security counter with few friendly police officers and asked if it's right to head for the immigration. Luckily the friendly police officer told me that I am still early, and would be able to walk across the long bridge to the woodlands Sheng siong.  He said: do you see the very bright lights far over there ( referring to the lights at the new woodlands ktm building)? Go down the lift, then walk straight to exit where you'll find lots of benches. That's where you'll be departing from. And he smiled. I was thankful with his friendliness and helpfulness but erm, in a rush, I forgot to look st his name:p
Anyway, it was really long, long way.., erm I mean, bout 10mins walk.

Lesson 1: remember to ask the bus driver when you're about to board from kranji if the bus stops at Sheng siong woodlands ( that's where to board the train to KL) I need to check out the bus numbers too...

Lesson 2: there are washrooms at departure hall while waiting to board train so no worries ( I was rushing for it before immigration checkpoint, worried that I couldn't see any during my long walks from the first wrong stop to the train departing hall..)

Lesson 3: read more of the following notes and you'd know;)

And then we checked out through Singapore and Malaysia's immigration there. After that, I only proceeded with the 1130pm train. However, the service is still delayed as usual- which I never understood. Someway on the bridge between Singapore and Malaysia, the train halted for at least 20mins already ( that explains all my writing here is done within the waiting time>< 
I just don't understand why there is never an improvement in this even after so long! Perhaps there's an underlying problem that halts this train for direct departure which we'll never know..

Anyway I'll try to get a nap now (12.09am) somewhere on the bridge between SIN and Msia. Sigh. Good nite..

P/s: moving now at 12.11am!!:)

Lesson 3: 
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that although you have bought allocated seats and board from Singapore, the system works as u just take any seats from Singapore as you'd be changing train when you reach Jb. Actually this is good also as at Jb, the train is already occupied with those boarding from Jb.. 

Finally I can have my sleep at 1222am.. Good nite!!

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