The current rail situation is:
Singapore:
----------
The island is well served by the mostly elevated SMRT (which has a web
site at http://www.smrt.com.sg). There are essentially two lines:
One from Marina Bay to Jurong East via Yinshun which runs through the
main shopping district of Orchard Road and around the island, and one
from Boon Lay a few stations west of Jurong East, to Pasir Ris in the
north east. The section through the city centre is in tunnel.
Trains are very frequent and connect well at the 3 interchange stations
(Jurong East, City Hall and Raffles Place).
As might be expected in Singapore everything works, is spotlessly
clean and is pleasant to travel on.
The KTMB line from Singapore to Woodlands is single track and serves
only
Malaysian stations. There are two loops in Singapore: Bukit Timah and
Woodlands (just before the causeway).
Some maps show a Jurong branch from Bukit Timah - this is still in place
but untrafficable.
The MRT is being extended with a North East line from the WTC, through
the
city centre. One of the new suburbs has what appears to be an elevated
LRT under construction.
Should you wish to visit Singapore and try the MRT then your best bet is
to buy a stored value ticket. This comes in multiples of S$10 and has
a S$2 deposit. It can have value added at any time. It is available
on the MRT and SBS and TIBS bus services.
KTMB - Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
--------------------------------
The KTMB run very good trains in peninsula Malaysia - I travelled on the
morning express from Singapore to KL. It was well patronised and ran
to
time.
Kuala Lumpur
------------
This city is served at present by 2 railway systems with a third coming
on stream shortly.
KTMB operate a commuter service from Rawang in the north to Seremban in
the
south, and from Sentul to Pt. Klang.
The 3 car electric trains run on a 15 to 20 minute headway.
Sentul is just north of the KL city centre and is the site of the KL
loco
depot (from the time being - a new one is being built south of KL
station).
There is also a STAR LRT system from Sultan Ismail in the north to
Ampang
in the south east. This is elevated in the city centre and surface for
the remaining distance. A new line would appear to be nearly ready to
open
from this line to the site of the Commonwealth games village in the
south
west.
There is another line under construction from the eastern part of the
Klang
valley past the KL station then underground in the direction of Sultan
Ismail.
This is to be open by September in time from the Commonwealth Games.
The KL railway station has to be seen to be believed: grand is not the
word. Extravagant would be closer to the mark. Definitely one of my
favourite stations!
This area is worth a visit - but a few notes:
1: Singapore is as expensive, if not more expensive than Australia.
2: Do not buy a return ticket to Singapore in Singapore unless you need
to come back the next day. Buy the return part in Malaysia - its very
much cheaper - KTMB charge the same number of $ but the Ringitt is worth
much less than the S$. The current conversion rates are about S$1 to
A$1
and RM2.37 to A$1. Thus a 2nd class ticket between SIN and KL north is
S$34
and south RM34.
3: Everything is much more organised in Singapore but part of the
interest
of Malaysia is that it is chaotic.
4: Avoid KL's Puda Raya bus station like the plague during peak hours
(including 1:00 pm Saturday). The traffic has to be seen to be
believed.
Cheers
-- Neil Waller (nwaller@denr.sa.gov.au) Department of Environment Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs Telephone: Oz: (08) 8204 9218; International: (618) 8204 9218 Mail: GPO Box 1047, ADELAIDE 5001 AustraliaUnless explicitly attributed, the opinions expressed are personal and not those of DEHAA or the South Australian Government.