KTM West Coast railway line

KTM West Coast Line
KTM West Coast Line at Batu Gajah Railway Depot.
Overview
Native name
  • Landasan Keretapi KTM Pantai Barat (Malay)
  • மலாயா மேற்கு கடற்கரை தொடருந்து வழித்தடம் (Tamil)
  • 西海岸鐵路線 (Chinese)
StatusOperational
OwnerKeretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu
LocalePeninsular Malaysia
Termini
Continues fromPadang Besar Branch
Stations121
Service
Type
Services
Operator(s)Keretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Depot(s)
  • Padang Besar
  • Bukit Mertajam
  • Bukit Tengah
  • Batu Gajah
  • Rawang
  • Sentul
  • Seremban
  • Klang
History
Opened1 June 1885 (1885-06-01)
Completed17 September 1923 (1923-09-17)
Closed1 July 2011 (2011-07-01) (Woodlands–Tanjong Pagar)
Technical
Line length1,151 km (715 mi)
Number of tracks1 or 2
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary (Padang Besar – Gemas)
Route map

km
km
157.8
Padang Besar
Padang Besar yard
Padang Besar
depot
Bukit Ketri
138.8
Arau
128.4
Perlis
Kedah
border
Kodiang
120.3
Anak Bukit yard
Kedah River bridge
Anak Bukit
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
97.8
Alor Setar
89.6
Tokai Yard
79.1
Kobah
72.0
Petronas Fertiliser Kedah
Gurun
54.7
Sungai Petani yard
Sungai Petani
33.3
Kedah
Penang
border
Tasek Gelugor
15.3
010.2
Bukit Mertajam
Bukit Mertajam depot
Simpang Ampat
20.6
Bukit Tengah
depot
Nibong Tebal
34.0
007.2
Bukit Tengah
Penang
Perak
border
Prai Yard
Parit Buntar
40.3
Parit Buntar yard
000.0
Penang Ferry Service
Butterworth
Bagan Serai
50.7
North Butterworth
Container Terminal
Bukit Merah (Closed)
Kamunting
89.0
Taiping
94.3
Port Weld Station (Closed)
Padang Rengas
113.8
Kuala Kangsar
122.5
Perak River bridge
(Formerly Victoria Bridge)
Sungai Siput
143.7
Kanthan YTL Cement
Freight Terminal
Chemor Operational Station
155.3
Tasek
166.9
Ipoh
181.0
Falim Depot
Lahat
187.5
Batu Gajah
195.0
Batu Gajah
Central Depot
197.0
Kota Bharu
201.0
Kampar
218.0
Tapah Road
233.5
Sungkai
257.5
Slim River
281.7
Behrang
293.0
Tanjung Malim
300.5
Kuala Kubu Bharu
332.6
Rasa
333.4
Batang Kali
335.7
347.1
Serendah
Serendah
Freight Terminal
Rawang
EMU Depot
Batu Caves
355.5
Rawang
Kuang
Taman Wahyu
Putrajaya line Sungai Buloh
Kampung Batu Putrajaya line
Putrajaya line Kepong Sentral
Batu Cantonment
Sentul EMU Depot
Kepong
Segambut
Sentul Works (Depot)
Sentul
Batu Junction
Rapid KL Putra
Rapid KL Bank Negara
Kajang line Kuala Lumpur
388.0
Kajang line Express Rail Link KLIA Transit KL Monorail KL Sentral
Abdullah Hukum
Mid Valley
Angkasapuri
Seputeh
Pantai Dalam
Salak Selatan
Petaling
Bandar Tasik
Selatan
Sri Petaling Line KLIA Transit
Jalan Templer
Serdang
Kampung Dato Harun
Kajang Kajang line
Seri Setia
Kajang 2
BRT Sunway Line Setia Jaya
UKM
Subang Jaya
Bangi
Batang Benar
Glenmarie Halt
(future)
Nilai
Sri Subang Halt
(future)
Labu
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Terminal Skypark
(service suspended)
Tiroi
Batu Tiga
Seremban
EMU Depot
Shah Alam
Seremban
Padang Jawa
Bukit Badak
Senawang
Klang Depot
Sungai Gadut
Klang
Rembau
Teluk Pulai
Teluk Gadong
Pulau Sebang/Tampin
Kampung Raja Uda
Batang Melaka
Jalan Kastam
yard
Jalan
Kastam
Gemas
562.2
Northport
Port Klang
EMU Depot
depot
Batu Anam
Port Klang International Passenger Terminal
Port Klang
Segamat
Genuang
Pulau Indah yard
Tenang
(
undergoing
rebuilding
)
Westports
Labis
Bekok
Paloh
(
undergoing
rebuilding
)
Chamek
Kluang
Mengkibol
Rengam
Layang-Layang
Sedenak
Kulai
Senai
(planned)
Skudai Goods
Skudai Junction
Tanjung Pelepas Goods
Kempas Baru
Port of
Tanjung Pelepas
Pasir Gudang Port
Danga City Mall
Johor Bahru Sentral
 RTS 
756.8
Woodlands
Train Checkpoint
 NS9  TE2   RTS 
759.0
Bukit Timah
Jurong
Jurong Port
 
Tanjong Pagar

The KTM West Coast railway line runs from Padang Besar close to the Malaysia–Thailand border in Perlis (where it connects with the State Railway of Thailand) to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore. It is called the West Coast railway line because it serves the West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia. The line is owned and used entirely by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM).

The 1,151-kilometre line is busier than the East Coast railway line because the West Coast railway line handles a variety of passenger train services such as the KTM ETS services, the KTM Intercity services, the International Express, the KTM Komuter in the Klang Valley and Greater Penang areas, and freight trains. Of this total length, 759 km is double-tracked and electrified.

The major stations on the line include KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth in Penang and Johor Bahru Sentral in the south in Johor.

History

[edit]

The West Coast railway line was developed in stretches on June 1, 1885, with the opening of the Taiping–Port Weld Line, and 1932 when the line opened up to Tanjung Pagar, thus spanning the entire west coast of Peninsular Malaysia from Padang Besar on the Malaysia–Thai border to Singapore. The line began with the construction of branches linking coastal ports with inland tin mining areas before they were gradually linked up by the main truck line running through the interior of the West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.

The latest new lines to be built were the branch lines to West Port, North Port, Tanjung Pelepas, Pasir Gudang and the North Butterworth Container Terminal at the Port of Penang. The trunk line had also seen sections becoming disused, abandoned or even removed, with the latest being the closure and subsequent removal of the southernmost stretch of track between the Woodlands Train Checkpoint and Tanjong Pagar in 2011.

Services

[edit]

The West Coast railway line is served by a variety of train services:[1][2][3]

Projects

[edit]

Gemas–Johor Bahru electrification and double-tracking

[edit]

After many years of announcements about the intention to upgrade the final stretch of single track of the West Coast Line, the Government began the public display exercise for the Gemas–Johor Bahru electrification and double-tracking project on 27 October 2015. The public display exercise, required for all development of new railways under Section 84 of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Act 2010, ran until 27 January 2016. Chinese company China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) has been awarded to build the Gemas–Johor Bahru electrification and double-tracking project.

The length of the line to be electrified and double-tracked is 197 km between Chainage 563.040 at Gemas to Chainage 754.180 at Johor Bahru. The project includes the construction of 11 stations at Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru, and 3 future stations at Tenang, Chamek and Senai. The upgraded line is supposed to cater for at least 22 services daily involving KTM ETS, KTM Intercity and shuttle train services. Electrification for the stretch will have the same specifications as that of the Seremban-Gemas stretch, name at 25 kV AC 50 Hz single phase and supplied via an overhead catenary. Train operations for this stretch will be integrated with the Train Control Centres at KL Sentral and Gemas. The design speed for the tracks is 160 km/h.

Construction began in 2016 and is expected to be completed by April 2025.[5][6][7]

Klang Valley Double Track Project

[edit]

The project was implemented by Keretapi Tanah Melayu began in 2016 and phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2021.[8] The project entails the rehabilitation of 42 km of tracks between Rawang and Salak Selatan as well as Sentul and Simpang Batu. This will focus on enhancing 16 stations along these routes and upgrade the existing signalling and electrification system.[9] This will be reduced to just seven-and-a-half minutes once the KVDT is completed.[10]

The 42km rehabilitation under Phase I, which are:

  • Phase 1A (Rawang – Simpang Batu)
  • Phase 1B (Kuala Lumpur – Simpang Bangsar)
  • Phase 2 (Simpang Batu – Kuala Lumpur)
  • Phase 3 (Sentul – Simpang Batu)
  • Phase 4 (Simpang Bangsar – Salak Selatan)

Phase II is from Simpang Bangsar - Pelabuhan Klang and Salak Selatan - Seremban.

Line network

[edit]

Main trunk line

[edit]
Part of the main trunk line near Kampar

The West Coast main trunk line stretches from Padang Besar on the Malaysia–Thailand border to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore.

The main trunk line is double-tracked and electrified from Padang Besar to Gemas. From Gemas to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, the line is single-tracked and not electrified. Loops at stations allow trains to pass. Double tracking and electrification works are currently being carried out.

The West Coast railway line connects with the State Railway of Thailand at Padang Besar, while the East Coast line branches off at Gemas.

Branch lines

[edit]

The West Coast railway line includes several branch lines from the main trunk line, namely:

The Bukit Mertajam Junction to Butterworth, Batu Junction to Batu Caves, Port Klang Junction to Port Klang station, as well as the branch line to Terminal Skypark is double tracked and electrified.

The line from Port Klang to Westport and its shipping terminals, as well as the branch lines between Skudai Junction and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and the Kempas Baru and Pasir Gudang are single lines and not electrified.

There are also branch lines where the tracks exist but are not used for any service or closed are:

  • Between Tapah Road and Teluk Intan (abandoned and not connected to the main line)
  • Between Seremban and Port Dickson
  • Between Tasek and Tanjung Rambutan To be removed as is a portion of the old main line that was abandoned after double tracking, and not connected to the new main line, never used and meant as branch line compared to Teluk Intan branch line

None of these disused branch lines are double tracked nor electrified.

Stations

[edit]

Main Trunk Line

[edit]
Station names Cities or Towns served Territory Services Major landmarks Remarks
(Connects to Padang Besar branch line, Southern Line, Thailand)
Padang Besar Padang Besar  Perlis  ETS   2  Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex
Bukit Ketri Bukit Ketri  2 
Arau Arau
Pulau Langkawi
 ETS   2 
Kodiang Kodiang  Kedah  2 
Megat Dewa Closed and demolished
Tunjang Closed and demolished
Anak Bukit Anak Bukit  ETS   2 
Alor Setar Alor Star  ETS   2 
Kobah Pendang  2 
Ladang Jenun Closed and demolished
Gurun Gurun  ETS   2 
Sungai Petani Sungai Petani  ETS   2 
Pinang Tunggal  Penang Closed and demolished
Tasek Gelugor Tasek Gelugor  ETS   2 
Penanti Closed and demolished
Simpang Ampat Simpang Ampat  1 
Nibong Tebal Nibong Tebal  ETS   1 
Parit Buntar Parit Buntar  Perak  ETS   1 
Bagan Serai Bagan Serai  ETS   1 
Bukit Merah Bukit Merah Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Closed and demolished
Pondok Tanjung Closed and demolished
Kamunting Kamunting  1 
Taiping Taiping  ETS   1 
Bukit Berapit Closed and demolished
Padang Rengas Padang Rengas  ETS   1 
Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar  ETS   1 
Salak Utara Closed and demolished
Sungai Siput Sungai Siput  ETS   1 
Chemor Closed and demolished. Freights only
Tanjung Rambutan Tanjung Rambutan Closed
Tasek Ipoh Currently not in use
Ipoh Ipoh  ETS   1 
Lahat Lahat
Simpang Pulai
Freights only
Batu Gajah Batu Gajah  ETS 
Kota Bharu Gopeng Freights only
Malim Nawar Malim Nawar Closed and demolished
Kampar Kampar  ETS  Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Tapah Road Tapah
Cameron Highlands
 ETS 
Sungkai Sungkai  ETS 
Trolak Trolak Closed and demolished
Slim River Slim River  ETS 
Behrang Behrang Currently not in use
Tanjung Malim Tanjung Malim  ETS  2 Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI)
Kalumpang  Selangor Closed and demolished.
Kerling Closed and demolished.
Kuala Kubu Bharu Kuala Kubu Bharu  ETS  2 Replaced the nearby station formerly Kuala Kubu Road.
Rasa Rasa 2
Batang Kali Batang Kali  ETS  2 Replaced the nearby station formerly Ulu Yam.
Serendah Serendah 2
Rawang Rawang  ETS  2
Kuang Kuang 2
Sungai Buloh Sungai Buloh  ETS  2

Interchange:
12
Kepong Sentral Kepong
Bandar Sri Damansara
 ETS  2

Interchange:
12
Kepong Kepong  Kuala Lumpur 2
Segambut Segambut 2
Putra Kuala Lumpur (city centre) 1 2

Interchange:
3 4
Bank Negara Kuala Lumpur (city centre) 1 2

Interchange:
3 4
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (city centre)  ETS  1 2

Interchange:
5 9
Kuala Lumpur Sentral Kuala Lumpur (city centre)
Brickfields
 ETS  1 2

Interchange:
5 6 7 8 9 10
Central interchange for intercity and commuter trains, rapid transit, monorail and airport rail links
Mid Valley Mid Valley City 1

Interchange:
2 5
Seputeh Seputeh 1
Salak Selatan Salak South 1
Bandar Tasik Selatan Bandar Tasik Selatan
Bandar Tun Razak
 ETS  1

Interchange:
4 7
Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS)
Serdang Seri Kembangan  Selangor 1
Kajang Kajang  ETS  1

Interchange:
9
Kajang 2 Kajang 2
Bandar Baru Bangi
1
UKM UKM
Bangi Lama
1 National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Bangi Bangi Lama 1
Batang Benar Batang Benar  Negeri Sembilan 1
Nilai Nilai 1
Labu Labu 1
Tiroi Tiroi 1
Seremban Seremban
Kuala Pilah
Port Dickson
 ETS  1
Senawang Senawang 1
Sungai Gadut Sungai Gadut 1
Rembau Rembau 1
Pulau Sebang/Tampin Pulau Sebang
Malacca City
Alor Gajah
Tampin
 Malacca  ETS  1 Melaka Heritage City Main station serving Malacca
Batang Melaka Batang Melaka
Jasin
 ETS  Nearest Station to Jasin
Air Kuning Selatan  Negeri Sembilan Closed and demolished
Gemas Gemas  ETS  KTM Intercity Interchange with East Coast railway line
Batu Anam  Johor KTM Intercity Closed
Segamat Segamat
Muar
Tangkak
KTM Intercity
Genuang Genuang KTM Intercity Freights only
Tenang Tenang KTM Intercity Closed
Labis Labis KTM Intercity
Bekok Bekok KTM Intercity
Beradin Closed and demolished
Jagoh Closed and demolished
Paloh Paloh KTM Intercity
Batang Ridan Closed and demolished
Chamek Chamek KTM Intercity Closed
Niyor Closed and demolished
Kluang Kluang
Batu Pahat
Mersing
KTM Intercity
Mengkibol Mengkibol KTM Intercity Freights only
Renggam Renggam KTM Intercity
Layang-Layang Layang-Layang KTM Intercity
Sedenak Closed and demolished
Kulai Kulai
Pontian
KTM Intercity Senai International Airport
Skudai Skudai Freights only
Tanjung Pelepas Iskandar Puteri Port of Tanjung Pelepas Freights only
Kempas Baru Kempas KTM Intercity
Danga City Mall Johor Bahru Danga City Mall Closed
Johor Bahru Sentral Johor Bahru
Kota Tinggi
Pontian

&
Woodlands

KTM Intercity Southern Integrated Gateway Interchange with Shuttle Tebrau to Singapore
Woodlands Train Checkpoint Woodlands  Singapore Shuttle Tebrau services only
Bukit Timah Bukit Timah Closed
Tanjong Pagar Tanjong Pagar Closed

Batu Junction–Batu Caves Branch Line

[edit]
Station names Cities or Towns served Territory Services Major landmarks Remarks
Batu Junction between Segambut and Putra stations (Continue to main West Coast Line)
Sentul Sentul  Kuala Lumpur 1
Batu Kentonmen Batu Kentonmen
Jalan Ipoh
1
Kampung Batu Bandar Baru Selayang
Kampung Batu
1

Interchange:
12
Taman Wahyu Taman Wahyu 1
Batu Caves Batu Caves  Selangor 1

Port Klang Junction–Port Klang Branch Line

[edit]
Station names Cities or Towns served Territory Services Major landmarks Remarks
Port Klang (Bangsar) Junction between KL Sentral and Mid Valley stations (Continue to main West Coast Line)
Abdullah Hukum Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum
Bangsar
KL Eco City
Mid Valley City
 Kuala Lumpur 2

Interchange:
1 5
Angkasapuri Angkasapuri 2
Pantai Dalam Pantai Dalam 2
Petaling Kampung Pasir
Jalan Klang Lama
Taman OUG
2
Jalan Templer Jalan Templer and Petaling Jaya  Selangor 2
Kampung Dato Harun Kampung Dato Harun 2
Seri Setia Seri Setia
Sungai Way
2
Setia Jaya Sungai Way
Bandar Sunway
2

Interchange:
B1
Subang Jaya Subang Jaya 2 10

Interchange:
5
Terminal Skypark Subang 10 Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Batu Tiga Batu Tiga 2
Shah Alam Shah Alam 2
Padang Jawa Padang Jawa
i-City
UiTM
2
Bukit Badak Jalan Bukit Badak, Klang 2
Klang Klang (city centre) 2
Teluk Pulai Teluk Pulai 2
Teluk Gadong Teluk Gadong 2
Kampung Raja Uda Kampung Raja Uda 2
Jalan Kastam Jalan Kastam, Port Klang 2
Port Klang Port Klang 2
(Continue to West Port)

Bukit Mertajam Junction–Butterworth Branch Line

[edit]
Station names Cities or Towns served Territory Services Major landmarks Remarks
Bukit Mertajam Junction between Simpang Ampat and Tasek Gelugor stations (Continue to main West Coast Line)
Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam
Kulim
 Penang  ETS   1   2 
Bukit Tengah Bukit Tengah  1   2 
Perai Perai Freights only
Butterworth Butterworth  ETS   1   2  Penang Bridge
Penang Sentral
Port of Penang

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "State Railway of Thailand". Archived from the original on 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  2. ^ "Keretapi Tanah Melayu".
  3. ^ Ong, Ryan (2019-09-29). "You Can Now Take a Single-Seater Business Class KTM Train from KL to Perlis! - WORLD OF BUZZ". worldofbuzz.com/. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  4. ^ "Skypark-KL Sentral rail link to be temporarily halted starting Feb 15". The Star. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  5. ^ Rizalman Hammim (21 June 2020). "Benefits and challenges of the Gemas-Johor Baru Railway Electrified Double-Tracking Project". New Straits Times.
  6. ^ "Benefits and challenges of the Gemas-Johor Baru Railway Electrified Double-Tracking Project". The Star. 12 July 2020.
  7. ^ "MOT, Johor agree to prioritise JB-Singapore RTS link, Gemas-JB double-tracking". MalayMail. 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  8. ^ "The Klang Valley Double Track Project (KVDT) - Official Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (S.P.A.D.) Website". www.spad.gov.my. Archived from the original on 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  9. ^ "The Klang Valley Double Track Project (KVDT) - Official Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (S.P.A.D.) Website". www.spad.gov.my. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Phase 1 of KTM Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) Project is right on schedule for completion in 2019 - Barisan Nasional". www.barisannasional.org.my. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.