Jourdan747 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 193 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 927 times:
KL city centre to Sepang airport in just 28 minutes
The new $1.16 billion express train system will start running in April, carrying up to 10,000 passengers a day
By Reme Ahmad
IN KUALA LUMPUR
YOU are in Kuala Lumpur and need to get to the Sepang airport fast to catch a flight.
The new airport express train leaves a station near Kuala Lumpur during a test run. -- REUTERS
But it is rush hour and the road is clogged with slow-moving traffic.
Enter the promise of the Express Rail Link (ERL) - moving travellers from the central rail station, KL Sentral, to the airport within half an hour.
Just hop onto the various city railway systems that are linked to KL Sentral, check in your luggage at the KL City Air Terminal at the central station and collect your boarding pass for the flight.
You can then catch the ERL train that will race to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in 28 minutes.
The RM2.4 billion (S$1.16 billion) rail system linking the city to KLIA will start commercial operations in five months, on 19 April.
Travelling at 160 kmh - the fastest speed for public transport in the country - the air-conditioned coaches will seat 156 people.
A one-way fare for the 57 km journey will be RM35, less than half the price of a taxi.
KLIA is located about 70 km from the city and travelling by car takes nearly an hour under normal traffic conditions.
'The ride was so smooth. When we were running at 160 kmh, I see that we were faster than the cars on the road,' declared Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik after taking a trial ride on the train last week.
Cars can travel at a maximum legal speed of 110 kmh on highways.
The KLIA Ekspres train will operate at 15-minute intervals between 5 am and 1 am daily.
'The KLIA Ekspres is expected to be popular with businessmen and executives as their journey to KLIA is now made predictable and stress-free, free of traffic jams and the stress of driving,' said the project's developer, Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd.
The firm is 60 per cent owned by a unit of the pilgrimage board, Lembaga Tabung Haji, and 40 per cent by construction-property conglomerate YTL Corp.
The service will carry between 5,000 to 10,000 passengers a day. The Sepang airport is expected to handle 16.2 million travellers next year.
But the ride has not been smooth for the project.
Construction of the rail link and the KL Sentral transport hub itself was slowed by the Asian economic crisis of 1997-98.
There are still worries about whether the project is viable, with the drop in tourist arrivals since Sept 11 casting a shadow over ERL.
'We feel business travellers will not be affected, but ordinary tourists are still afraid to travel because of the current world scenario,' said Datuk Mohamed Nadzmi Salleh, ERL's executive chairman.
To attract these executives, the Hilton and Le Meridien hotels are being built as part of KL Sentral, the giant station that was opened officially in June.
Though the rail station itself is completed, the rest of the 28.8 ha KL Sentral project is being built in stages. It will cost RM4 billion when completed in nine years.
Other facilities will include condominium blocks, serviced apartments and offices.
Located close to the old KTM central station, KL Sentral is served by the KTM Komuter, Putra LRT and KL Monorel train services.
It also serves as KTM's main station in the city, with train connections to Singapore and Bangkok.
------------------------------------------------------ALL ABOARD THE EXPRESS TRAIN: Next stop, Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Luggage check-in at the station before boarding the train.
One-way fare is RM35.
Air-conditioned coaches take 156 seated passengers.
The train travels at 160 kmh.
Non-stop run between the city and KLIA in 28 minutes.
Second service, for airport workers and civil servants, takes 36 minutes.
Second service has three additional stops, including Putrajaya. --Reme Ahmad
Teahan From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 5264 posts, RR: 63 Reply 3, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 827 times:
Hello,
Hmmmm it doesn't seem that reasonable. I mean, if there is a family of 3, it is still cheaper to take the taxi.
For instance, if I was living in Kuala Lumpur, it means it would cost me about US $20 everytime I want to go spotting. US $20 is a lot here in my currency (the € ), I guess it must be much more in Malaysia were the incomes are lower.
Jeremiah
Goodbye SR-LX MD-11 / 6th of March 1991 to the 31st of October 2004
Carmy From Singapore, joined Oct 2001, 627 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 821 times:
US$20? i think the actual sum per person is closer to US$9. Which is pretty reasonable if you're travelling alone. If you're not, then presumably it'd be cheaper to take a taxi then.
Carmy From Singapore, joined Oct 2001, 627 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 814 times:
Well it's actually a question of the lesser evil. You either spend US$18 on a return ticket for the train, or you spend double that on a taxi. Personally, I'd take a train.
Anyway, there're hardly any planes to spot at KLIA. I'm sorry to say this but hardly any airlines fly there as compared to BKK or SIN. Hee.
Teahan From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 5264 posts, RR: 63 Reply 7, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 810 times:
Hello,
"Anyway, there're hardly any planes to spot at KLIA. I'm sorry to say this but hardly any airlines fly there as compared to BKK or SIN. Hee.
I think that is going a little OT. My point was simple, $18 is a lot and I was just using plane spotting as an example. You could aswell just be going to pick up someone.
At least they give you an option in HKG. IF you don't want to spending on the Airport Express you can take the normal MRT to Tung Chung and then catch a 10 minute bus ride.
Jeremiah
Goodbye SR-LX MD-11 / 6th of March 1991 to the 31st of October 2004
9V-SPK From Hong Kong, joined Aug 2001, 1646 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 806 times:
Hmm....thank god there's finally the airport train, which i'd say 28 minute...last time i took a private car, took more than 1 hour to the city centre...and next time i'd rather take the BUS via Johor Bahru back to Singapore!Now i'll have another choice....
Last time i went to KUL there were only 2 other planes parked excluding my SIA 310, but when i was leaving back to Singapore i saw more planes like BA and Lufthansa...guess it's just the time!But would say that comparing with BKK and SIN< KUL is indeed not as busy as both airports!
OdiE From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1641 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 779 times:
It's pretty cheap compared to other airport express around the world! Which airport express offers only USD 9 when the airport is 40 miles away from the city center. In England, I think the Gatwaick Express cost 10 pounds and the Heathrow Express cost 15 pounds, plus the distance traveled is way far less than to KLIA. Alternatively, you can take the bus or the commuter rail service from KLIA. I believe that for USD 9, it's the best money can buy when you are traveling the rail-air service.
OdiE From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1641 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (11 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 771 times:
I had taken the tube from downtown London into Heathrow and it takes an hour to get there! And if I am not mistaken, it cost me 3.50 pounds, although you could get a zone 1-6 day pass for only 4.60 pounds.
Airblue From San Marino, joined May 2001, 1825 posts, RR: 14 Reply 14, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 726 times:
It seem very expensive, expecially cause it's not an European, American or Japanese town that use to have a more expensive life-cost than Kuala Lumpur.
In MIlan for example the Malpensa Express train (48 Km) costs €9 (about $8), the regional train from Rome FCO to downtown (36 Km) costs €2.50 (about $2).
OdiE From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1641 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 721 times:
I agree that for a Malaysian, it's quite expensive. But to a foreigner, it's really cheap! Imagine paying less than 10 dollars for a 45 miles trip. In Newark, NJ, passengers need to pay about 11 dollars to Penn station, which is about 12 miles away!
Bhtchuo From Malaysia, joined Nov 2001, 163 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 698 times:
well what i think about it was it's really a great deal for single traveller... but i believes if you are travelly in family... surely there will be speacial price for kid below 15 for example... or family package... usually this price will be revise and revise again till a suitable and affordable price is set. for us as a student... rm35 buck is damm a great deal,.. espeacilly during festive season or holidays and you can;t find a partner to share a cab... so... its indeed a great deal for a single traveller
and also enjoy the scenic Malaysia scenery
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 193 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 5264 posts, 
From Singapore, joined Oct 2001, 627 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Aug 2001, 1646 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jul 1999, 2916 posts, 
From San Marino, joined May 2001, 1825 posts, 
From Malaysia, joined Nov 2001, 163 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
