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BRINGING FOLDING BIKES ONTO MALAYSIAN TRAINS
It's always great to have some bike-packing fun by travelling to far away places with our foldies in our car and zooming to the destination to start cycling.
It's even greater to have our bikes onto trains and going to even further places and save the hassle of driving. We had done several bike-packing trips by train. The first of which was on a World Car-free Day in 2012, an experience of train & ferry bike-packing from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Ketam that opened my eyes to the many possibilities of train travel with our bikes (... see World Car-free Day 2012 blog). We did it again when we went to the scenic Sungai Chiling (... see Sg. Chiling blog).
However, a couple of incidents regarding bike-train travel got me thinking about the problems of bringing our bikes onto trains.
The first was when a few of us tried to bring our bikes onto the train at Port Klang Station. As we had not brought our bike bags along, we were denied entry to board even after having purchased tickets.
The second was even more critical as almost twenty bikers were not allowed onto the train with their bikes at Klang Station even though the bikes were bagged. The reason given by the station-master was that bikes are not allowed onto the train during peak hours. He wanted to charge RM20/- per bike to allow them onto the train, this was almost ten times the train fare for passengers!
These incidents will always dampen an otherwise happy trip.
You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Bikes & Accessories / Bringing Folding Bikes Onto Malaysian Trains
It's even greater to have our bikes onto trains and going to even further places and save the hassle of driving. We had done several bike-packing trips by train. The first of which was on a World Car-free Day in 2012, an experience of train & ferry bike-packing from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Ketam that opened my eyes to the many possibilities of train travel with our bikes (... see World Car-free Day 2012 blog). We did it again when we went to the scenic Sungai Chiling (... see Sg. Chiling blog).
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| Un-bagged bikes looking forlorn as not allowed onto train without being bagged. |
The first was when a few of us tried to bring our bikes onto the train at Port Klang Station. As we had not brought our bike bags along, we were denied entry to board even after having purchased tickets.
The second was even more critical as almost twenty bikers were not allowed onto the train with their bikes at Klang Station even though the bikes were bagged. The reason given by the station-master was that bikes are not allowed onto the train during peak hours. He wanted to charge RM20/- per bike to allow them onto the train, this was almost ten times the train fare for passengers!
These incidents will always dampen an otherwise happy trip.
So let's look at some points that will possibly ease travelling with your bike on trains.
1. COURTESY
- Always remember that we are not the only people travelling on the trains.
- Try not to be a nuisance to other travellers by being quiet as some may be taking a snooze.
- Do not obstruct the aisle of the train. If this is not possible, give way to other passengers when needed.
- Be courteous with the train staff whether it be the station-master or a porter, remember that they are just doing their job. Rudeness will get one nowhere and there is no point arguing unnecessarily.
2. Try to be as knowledgeable of train regulations as possible. This may be difficult as searching the net, I could not find proper regulations posted by the train authorities.
3. Bag your bikes.
It is a regulation to bag your bikes your bikes. Although sometimes during off-peak period bikes may be allowed onto trains without bagging, do not take the risk; bring your bike bags along just in case.
4.Try to travel during off-peak period. This will avoid having to jostle with the crowd while boarding and also there will be more room on the train.
Note: KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) have a notice board that posted this notice regarding folding bikes in Kommuter trains. It states that folding bikes are allowed onto trains as long as no part of the journey is during peak period (which is 6:00 to 9:00 am and 4:00 to 8:00 pm on weekdays).
*This was how my friends face a stern & rude station-master who refuse to let them board unless they pay RM20/- per bike. Fortunately, a member of our group politely pointed out that it was a Sunday and thus not peak period.
5. If travelling in a large group, it could be a good idea not to enter the railway station all at one time. Go in perhaps two or three at a time. Station personnel seems to be jittery about a large group of bikers entering simultaneously, and tend to stop and ask questions.
5. Try to occupy a corner to yourselves, this will give some privacy and lessen obstruction to other passengers.
6. Secure your bikes or hold on to them so that they do not swing or topple over, and cause a nuisance.
7. Should you not be allowed onto the KTM Komuter train at a station, do not despair. Try riding to the next station, perhaps you will be allowed there as it is up to the respective staff to make the call. In the worst situation, you can always ride all the way back or send an SOS to a friend to pick you up. Or wait for off peak time, i.e. cycle around some more!
8. For travelling along longer journeys, book your tickets ahead of time. This KTM website facilitate on-line booking (you will need to register as a member, registration is free): https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx
9. For the KTM ETS (intercity trains), when booking your tickets, book the first or the last seat of the coach. There is some space in front of thes seats to put your bike. Remember the first seat faces forward and the last seat faces the rear.
10. One can use the Touch n' Go debit cards for travel by KTM Komuter train, by swiping the cards at the turnstile gates at entry and exit. I, myself, personally rather buy the tickets as a friend had a bad experience of having more than the required fare deducted.
11. I advise NOT to use the TBS-Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Southern Transportation Terminal Hub) as a kick-off point for your train-bike packing trips. This terminals is more a bus transportation hub. Getting from this hub to the Bandar Tasik Selatan Komuter Station would require carrying your bike up two flight of stairs, across three pedestrian bridges and the down another flight or two of stairs. And there are no toilets at the railway station!
We faced this during a bike-packing trip to Malacca (... see Peranakan Bike-packers blog).
4.Try to travel during off-peak period. This will avoid having to jostle with the crowd while boarding and also there will be more room on the train.
*This was how my friends face a stern & rude station-master who refuse to let them board unless they pay RM20/- per bike. Fortunately, a member of our group politely pointed out that it was a Sunday and thus not peak period.
5. If travelling in a large group, it could be a good idea not to enter the railway station all at one time. Go in perhaps two or three at a time. Station personnel seems to be jittery about a large group of bikers entering simultaneously, and tend to stop and ask questions.
5. Try to occupy a corner to yourselves, this will give some privacy and lessen obstruction to other passengers.
6. Secure your bikes or hold on to them so that they do not swing or topple over, and cause a nuisance.
7. Should you not be allowed onto the KTM Komuter train at a station, do not despair. Try riding to the next station, perhaps you will be allowed there as it is up to the respective staff to make the call. In the worst situation, you can always ride all the way back or send an SOS to a friend to pick you up. Or wait for off peak time, i.e. cycle around some more!
8. For travelling along longer journeys, book your tickets ahead of time. This KTM website facilitate on-line booking (you will need to register as a member, registration is free): https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx
9. For the KTM ETS (intercity trains), when booking your tickets, book the first or the last seat of the coach. There is some space in front of thes seats to put your bike. Remember the first seat faces forward and the last seat faces the rear.
10. One can use the Touch n' Go debit cards for travel by KTM Komuter train, by swiping the cards at the turnstile gates at entry and exit. I, myself, personally rather buy the tickets as a friend had a bad experience of having more than the required fare deducted.
11. I advise NOT to use the TBS-Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Southern Transportation Terminal Hub) as a kick-off point for your train-bike packing trips. This terminals is more a bus transportation hub. Getting from this hub to the Bandar Tasik Selatan Komuter Station would require carrying your bike up two flight of stairs, across three pedestrian bridges and the down another flight or two of stairs. And there are no toilets at the railway station!
We faced this during a bike-packing trip to Malacca (... see Peranakan Bike-packers blog).
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| Quaint houses fronting the Rasa Railway Station. |
Do travel by train and make it a part of your biking adventure. Who know's the train may take you through and to nice rustic places.
I will be going on a couple of bike-packing trips that include rail travel soon and will let you all know if I learn anything new.
Should you have any observations while travelling on the train with your bikes do feel free to share here.
The following are useful web-sites with regards to travelling by train:
1. Wikipedia on Keretapi Tanah Melayu - this gives some useful information on the history of the railway, some routes, rolling stock, etc.
2. KTM E-ticketing - for purchasing tickets on line. Note: you will have to register as a member, registration is free. This DOES NOT include the commuter trains.
3. Official Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Website - the official site with links to the various services offered by the railway and more importantly their latest announcements.
4. KTM North-South Route Timetable - Timetable for normal trains from Hatyai in Thailand to Woodlands in Singapore by the normal & express trains.
7. KTM East-West Route Timetable - Timetable for trains travelling along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia; from Tumpat in Kelantan to Woodlands in Singapore.
NOTE: for those travelling from the West Coast to the East Coast, there would be a necessity to change trains at the Gemas Station.
9. Klang Valley Transit Map - a PDF map showing the eight railway lines servicing the Klang Valley and the various stations en-route. This include the ERL, the line from Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA) airport.
10. KTM Komuter - for trains from Sentral up to Rawang in the north and Sungai Gadut in the south. With links for route, timetable and fares.
11. KTM Komuter Time-table - Times of train arriving at various station along the lines.
12. KTM Komuter Fare Schedule - a PDF chart showing the fares between the various stations.
13. Express Rail Service (ERL) - Link to the express rail service from Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA & KLIA2)
14. Touch n' Go Card - Link to this debit card that can be used for transit.
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(comments most welcomed below. if you like this pls share via facebook or twitter)
