You might have noticed that the new Shuttle Selatan service is using older diesel trains despite already approving around RM200 million to buy 10 new electric commuter trains. Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke explained that rather than face ‘2 to 3 years of waiting’ it's better to use the older diesel trains now.
Why use diesel trains?
Anthony Loke explained that after the Gemas to Johor Bahru electric track project was finished, the Electric Train Service (ETS) took over that route. This meant a few diesel trains became available.
The Ministry of Transport had two choices:
- Wait 2 to 3 years for 10 brand new electric trains to be built and delivered.
- Use the available diesel trains right away so people in Johor can start using the service immediately.
The ministry went with the second option. Because of this, passengers can now travel from Kulai to JB Sentral in just 30 to 40 minutes. Plus, the route from Kempas Baru to Pasir Gudang, which used to be only for cargo trains, is now open to regular passengers for the first time.
Electric trains are still coming
New electric trains are still on the way for Johor. The government has already approved around RM200 million to buy 10 new electric commuter trains to upgrade the service. But since those take time to build, the diesel trains are filling in the gap for now.
Anthony Loke also mentioned that the government spends between RM11 million and RM15 million every year to subsidise this service and keep ticket prices cheap. Is this the right decision? Feel free to leave your comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.
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