Use Of Diesel Trains To Avoid Long Waiting Times For The Public – Anthony Loke

SHAH ALAM – The use of diesel trains for the Southern Shuttle service is a decision made based on professional considerations to ensure that the public can enjoy public transport facilities without having to wait longer.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said many have questioned why the Southern Shuttle service uses diesel trains.

“When the Gemas-Johor Bahru double-track electrified railway project is completed, the Electric Train Service (ETS) will take over the route.

“The diesel trains that previously served there are no longer needed for that route. So the Ministry of Transport had two options,” he said when explaining public criticism regarding the use of diesel trains on Saturday.

He added that the options were either to wait two to three years for 10 new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train sets to be completed, or to use existing trains so that the people of Johor do not have to wait longer.

According to him, the ministry made a professional consideration and chose the second option.

“As a result, residents along the Southern Shuttle route now have an alternative mode of transport from Kulai to JB Sentral within approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

“Furthermore, the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang route, which has previously only been used for cargo, is now opened for passengers for the first time.

“This is also a subsidised service, with the government providing between RM11 million and RM15 million annually,” he said.

He further explained that the new EMU trains will arrive in due time, but as long as the public can use the service now, there is no reason to wait.

Anthony had previously informed that 10 new commuter train sets for the Southern Shuttle Service would be received to strengthen the rail public transport system in Johor.

He said the government had approved the procurement of the new trains to improve the quality of the Southern Commuter service at an estimated cost of RM200 million.

According to him, the Southern Shuttle service that was launched uses existing train assets following the completion of the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Project (PLBE), which allows ETS services to operate directly to Johor Bahru Sentral.

Sinar Harian