JOHOR BAHRU, Johor: 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, ensuring local residents face no further delays, said Transport Minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
He said the Ministry of Transport (MOT) has allocated an annual subsidy of RM11 million to RM15 million to enable more people to benefit from rail-based public transport.
“Therefore, 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 today.
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. – BERNAMA
