JB Sentral to Gemas Station by Train

This is my review of the train between JB Sentral in Jahor Bahru and Gemas. I went all the way to Kuala Lumpur, but I had to do a two and a half hour layover in Gemas. This is part of my Singapore to Beijing train trip.

🇲🇾 TRAIN 2. JB Sentral (Johor Bahru) to Gemas:
🚂 Intercity ES42
🗓️ Date of Travel: 4th October 2024
⏰ Depart 08:30 | Arrive 13:14
⏱️ Duration: 4 hours and 44 minutes
📏 Distance: 192.6km
🎟️ Ticket: 21 ringgit (Standard Class)

My train was an Intercity service that departed JB Sentral at 8:30 a.m. Unfortunately, you cannot catch this train if you take the first shuttle train across the border from Singapore, as it doesn’t arrive in time to make the connection. There are three more trains to Gemas at 2:40 p.m., 6:05 p.m., and 8:25 p.m., but none of them arrive in time to catch the last train from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur. So, you will need to stay one night in either Johor Bahru or Gemas. I chose to stay in Johor Bahru. Once the electrification and double tracking are completed, you will be able to travel all the way to Kuala Lumpur without having to change trains.

This train is hauled by a diesel locomotive. You only see these trains on the southern section between JB Sentral and Gemas, as well as up the eastern line to Tumpat. Occasionally, they are used to haul chartered trains on the western line, such as the MySawasdee International Express.

The train only has standard class seating, but all seats are comfortable, with good padding and a reasonable reclining angle. There are curtains to block out the sun if needed. A pull-down table is attached to the back of the seat in front. Legroom was ample for me, until the person in front reclined their seat all the way back. Luckily, the train had plenty of empty seats, so I was able to move elsewhere.

Half of the carriage faces forward, while the other half faces backward. The seats cannot be swivelled to face the direction of travel, but when you book your seat, you can choose your preferred direction. There are no individual plug sockets, but there is one socket at the front of each carriage if needed. The toilets were kept clean throughout the trip. There was one Asian-style squat toilet and one Western-style seated toilet.

If you don’t have time for breakfast before departure, you’ll be glad to know there is a dining car. I spent most of my journey there, as it was a convenient place to type up this review. For breakfast, I had Mee Hoon Goreng, which is stir-fried vermicelli with a fried egg, and a hot coffee with milk. Later, they also served Nasi Goreng, a rice dish. The meal cost 8 ringgits, and the coffee was 3 ringgits. They have other snacks as well—hot dogs and pot noodles seemed to be popular choices.

The layover in Gemas is two and a half hours and so don’t eat too much on the train as it is best to have lunch there to help pass the time. There is also a museum at the old railway station.

➡️ BUYING TICKETS:
🇹🇭 Thailand: DTicket
🇲🇾 Malaysia: KTMB

➡️ TRANSPORTATION TICKETS IN ASIA:
✅ 12GO Asia
✅ Trip Dot Com
✅ Baolau

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