AhPek Biker - Old Dog Rides Again

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Bringing Folding Bikes Onto Malaysian ETS Intercity Trains

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BRINGING FOLDING BIKES ONTO MALAYSIAN ETS INTERCITY TRAINS

A few biking buddies and me took the Malaysian Intercity train from Kuala Lumpur to Kampar. There we were met by a couple of local friends and rode onwards to Ipoh (... see Kampar to Ipoh blog).

Yes! Travelling by train to further away places and meeting friends there is a great biking adventure. I had previously wrote on bringing foldies onto Malaysian Commuter trains (... see blog)that serves the Klang Valley; and as promised I pen here some pointers and tips on travelling by the Intercity Electric Train Service (ETS).

For travelling with foldies on the regular diesel Intercity trains that serves up to Haatyai, Thailand in the north and down to Singapore in the south, click here.

ETS tickets can be booked on-line on month prior to the time of travel. For on-line booking go to KTM website - https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx; one need to register as a member first.

UPDATE (10-07-2015)

As of 10-07-15 The ETS now operates from Gemas to Padang Besar.

Click here to view the updated blog on bringing foldies onto these new ETS Class 93 trains.

This blog here, is still relevant for routes that use the older Class 92 trains.

ETS TRANSIT STOPS

The ETS runs the electric rail service from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh and back with minimum short transit stops along its line as shown below:

Kuala Lumpur Sentral>Kuala Lumpur>Kepong Sentral>Sungai Buloh>Rawang>Kuala Kubu Baru>Tanjung Malim>Behrang>Slim River>Sungkai>Tapah Road>Kampar>Batu Gajah>Ipoh.

There are two services, the Gold & Silver. The Gold Service fare is higher but has less stops, it does not stop at Sungai Buloh & Kuala Kubu Baru.

ETS TIME SCHEDULE FOR KUALA LUMPUR-IPOH

(Click here to download a PDF file for the Timetable & Fares)

ETS FARE FOR KUALA LUMPUR=IPOH

(Click here to download a PDF file for the Timetable & Fares)

GOOD SEATING POSITIONS FOR FOLDING BIKES

It is always best to seat with our bikes nearby so that we can keep an eye on them, for the ETS Intercity train, it is best to book a seat in Coach E or B.

Between Coaches D & E, and Coaches A & B are the disabled toilets, and the left-rear seats (14A &14B) has a space with a railing for the disabled wheelchair.

NOTE: For individual coaches ETS 91 Class Seating Plan, please click here..

When no wheel chair is occupying this space, it is handy for putting bicycles, either lying on the floor or standing strapped to the railing.

The corridor in front of the disabled toilet is also fairly wide, and a few bicycles can be placed there. ONLY do this if a disabled person is not using Coach E.

It is also better to strap your bicycles to the railing, preferably at two points so as to prevent the bike from swinging outwards or topple over - one point at the seat post, the other at the front of the horizontal post. For more details on this see Securing The Brompton #2 Blog.

A Second Good Location to put bikes will be at the other end of the train where there is also ample space in front of seats 2C & 2D for all coaches. However these locations does not have railings to secure your bike onto, so do find some innovative way to restrain the bikes when the train moves. Other than Coaches B & E, the seats in front of seats 14A &14B have space to put bicycles without the railings.

IMPORTANT REGULATION TO NOTE

The particular regulation that pertains to taking your foldies onto the train is Section 6, Clause 30 (2). Part of this reproduced below:

Roughly translated it states : "Folding bicycles, prams, wheel-chairs are allowed onto the train. The railway personnel may disallow this if in their opinion there is inadequate space on the train to put these; or if bringing them onto the train will delay the train."

Even with this regulations, the railway on board ticket-inspector may attempt to charge RM10/= per bicycle. Do not give in to this as it is within our right to bring our foldies onto the train. Courteously explain to the personnel these regulations. It would be good to keep a copy of the above section of the regulations for this purpose.

"While on our journey up to Kampar, the ticketing-inspector checked our tickets and wanted to charge us RM10/= for each our bike. Fortunately, our ride leader showed her the regulations. She grumbled that there were six bicycles; we told her that it's only one bike for each of us and that they were not obstructing the aisles."

Let's look at some other points that will possibly ease travelling with your bike on these intercity 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. Click here for the link to the rules & regulations posted by KTM. This link may not work as their posting is updated regularly, alternatively go to KTM's Home Page and at the top click on "Terms & Conditions". From the pull down menu select "Syarat-syarat Pengankutan Penumpang".

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. Book your ticket early, especially during holiday or festive seasons, BUT bear in mind that tickets can only be booked earliest one month prior to the travel date. For on-line booking go to KTM website - https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx; one need to register as a member first.

5. If travelling in a large group, it could be a good idea to spread out your seating to several coaches so as not to cause obstruction to other passengers.

6. Announcements will be made just prior to reaching a station. This will be a good time to start un-strapping your bikes and prepare to disembark as the train stops for only a short while.

7. Depending on the direction of travel, one may disembark from the train onto a platform away from the exit point of the station. There are pedestrian bridges spanning above the railway tracks to connect over to the exit gates.

At most large stations there are lifts going up to the pedestrian bridges. Take advantage of these so as to avoid carrying your bikes up and down the staircases.

8. Travelling by the ETS Intercity train is very convenient as:

The coaches are clean and brightly lit with comfortable seats which can partially reclined. Passengers can easily snooze along the journey.

Video movies entertainment is provide on flat TV screens located at the front and back of each coach.

These TV screens also shows the time and speed of the train periodically.

At Coach C is a small cafeteria with counter-style sitting.

The menu/price list of food & drinks served at the Cafe. Note: pricing is at time of this blog.

The toilets are clean and brightly lit too.

Ipoh Railway Station

I do encourage travelling by KTM's ETS Intercity train as part of a cyclo-adventure. One can just pop off at any of the scheduled transit stops and start riding; and then take the train back from another station. Or stay overnight to explore nearby areas and return home the next day.
Whichever the case is RIDE WELL & RIDE SAFE; enjoy yourselves.
Should you have similar experience with travelling via the ETS, and have some tips to give do feel free to comment and let us know.

The following are useful web-sites with regards to travelling by train:

1. Railtravelstation.com - this site gives very comprehensive information on KTM's services.
2. Wikipedia on Keretapi Tanah Melayu - this gives some useful information on the history of the railway, some routes, rolling stock, etc.

3. 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.

4. 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.
5. KTM ETS Intercity Train Timetable & Fares - this is a link to download PDF file for the time-table & fares.

6. KTM North-South Route Timetable - Timetable for normal trains from Hatyai in Thailand to Woodlands in Singapore by the normal & express trains.

7. KTM Train Fare for North Line - i.e. from Sentral to Hatyaii.

8. KTM Train Fare for South Line - i.e. from Sentral to Singapore.

9. 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.

10. KTM Train Fare for East Line - i.e. from Sentral to Tumpat, Kelantan.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. KTM Komuter Time-table - Times of commuter trains arriving at various station along the lines.

14. KTM Komuter Fare Schedule - a PDF chart showing the fares between the various stations.

15. Express Rail Service (ERL) - Link to the express rail service from Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA & KLIA2)

16. Touch n' Go Card - Link to this debit card that can be used for transit.

Related Blogs :

Bringing Foldies Onto Malaysian New ETS Intercity Trains

The Malaysina Electric Train Service (ETS) have been improved with more routes and the use of high-speed trains. The new main route runs from Gemas to Padang Besar. Here's some pointers and suggestions to ease travelling on these new trains with your foldies.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Brompton Accessories #13 - Replacing The Nylon Hook

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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures

BROMPTON ACCESSORIES #13 - REPLACING THE NYLON HOOK

(This blog is not a review, it's more on my foray in purchasing accessories for my 3rd Foldie - a Raw Lacquer Brompton P6R. Pricing are indicative and is at time of this blog post; for accurate pricing please refer to the relevant dealers or distributors.)

I had the misfortune of having the Nylon hook snapped while my Brompton was on air transit to Phnom Penh. The flight landing was delayed by an hour due to stormy conditions that made landing too dangerous. Upon landing, it was still raining heavily, and I guess because of this the air-handlers must have been rougher than usual. When I unpacked my Brompton, I found the arm of the Nylon Hook broken. This hook does not break easily unless it's through a rough fall or in my case, a really rough handling. The handlers must have gripped the bicycle tires through the Dimpa Bag (... which I use to pack my bike for air-travel, see blog). They must had wrenched it or thrown it very hard for the arm to break.
Fortunately, I had my ever ready bungee cord (... see Securing The Brompton 2 blog) and used that to tie the bike up in place of the hook. With that I was able to have my little adventure in Cambodia (... see Mekong Islands Revisited blog).

While still in Cambodia, I made calls back to Malaysia enquiring of where to get a replacement hook. At that point of time, the shops selling Bromptons did not stock this part yet and I ordered through Outdoor Xplorer. They were pretty prompt on acting on my order and by the time I was back in Malaysia a few days later, the parts had arrived.

Okay, let's get down to fixing it. Below will show a step-by-step process of how it's done:

STEP 1: READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions gave some pointers on where to be careful in the fixing process. I was quite concerned about how the mud-guard fixing may affect the function of the hook. Friends had advised that removing the mudguard will ease the fixing of the hook, but with the warnings in the instructions, I decided to let the mud-guard be and not take it out. If doing it this way, be careful not to bend the mud-guard stays.

STEP 2: TOOLS REQUIRED

The following tools are required:
1. Box Spanner #15 - for dismantling the front wheel.
2. Box Spanner #10 - for releasing the front brakes cable.
3. Hex Key #3mm - for screwing in the hook onto the bicycle.

STEP 3: THE PARTS

The parts package comes with the Nylon Hook and two washers, one with a larger hole.

STEP 4: POSITIONING THE BIKE

For those without a bike trestle and have a rear rack, it's best to fold the rear wheel inwards and then tilt the front upwards so that the front wheel is facing upwards. This position is ideal for working on the front end of the bicycle.

STEP 5: RELEASING THE FRONT BRAKES

Although it may not be necessary, it is best to remove the front wheel to ease the installing of the hook. Outdoor Xplorer had advised me on this, mentioning that without releasing the front wheel, slotting in the new nylon hook will be a tight fit.
The very first step for removing the front wheel is to release the front brake cable, this will open up the gap brake shoes and the front rim so that they do not obstruct the removal of the wheel. Use the Box Spanner #10 to do this, a few turns of the nut will do.
NOTE: it is not necessary to remove the whole nut, just unscrew until the cable is released.

STEP 6: REMOVING THE FRONT WHEEL

Use the Box Spanner #15 to release the nut on the side of the hook. This nut must be fully removed so that the arm holding the Nylon Hook can be released.
Note: It will be a good idea to lay out the nuts, washers, screw in the order of dismantling so that they will be re-installed in the correct sequence later. In the above photo, the washer with the larger hole is still with the Nylon Hook nook.

This is how the assembly should look like after removing the wheel, the mudguard stay arm have been released from the right fork but is still in place, with loop of the end of the stay must be dismantled.
Oops..... my mudguard and mudguard flap sure looks dirty from all the riding in Cambodia; but we will come to that later.

STEP 7: THREADING THE NYLON HOOK SCREW HOLE

The instructions for fixing the Nylon Hook came with a clear diagram on the front assembly and a specific pointer that the screwing in the screw into the hook will be stiff as it will be cutting its own thread as it goes in.

Now, screwing in the screw is DEFINITELY stiff! I found it easier to pre-thread the hook by doing some preliminary screwing without the hook in position on the bike. In the photo above, the washers are in place as a guide to how far in the screw has to go in.
Even doing this pre-threading was not easy as when the screw goes further in the resistance was great, so I can imagine how much more difficult it would be if the hook was placed in the mudguard stay loop while screwing the hook in. I was using a short hex gear, perhaps it would be better to use one with longer arms.

STEP 8: INSERTING THE HOOK INTO THE MUDGUARD STAY LOOP

Insert the washer with the larger hole into the nook of the Nylon Hook and then slot the loop of the mudguard stay loop into the notches provide, as shown above. It should fit in easily.

STEP 9: SCREWING IN THE NYLON HOOK INTO THE MUDGUARD STAY LOOP

Insert the washer with the smaller hole into the screw, (the hole just fits the screw nicely) and then start screwing in the screw with the 3mm hex key. The hook may fall out of position while this is done, so as it gets tighter make sure that the mudguard stay loop fits into the notches by holding it into position.

This is how the whole assembly should look like when the screw has been tightened. Now we are ready to fix this onto the front wheel fork.

STEP 10: PUTTING BACK THE FRONT WHEEL AND THE NYLON HOOK ASSEMBLY

Other than laying out components in the sequence that they were dismantled, it is also a good idea to snap a photo of the assemble section of the area you are working on.
Above is the assembly at the front wheel fork/hub area; re-assemble the as per the photo taking care to ensure the U-washer is inserted in the correct direction.

This is how the newly installed Nylon Hook should looked like when assembled.

Lock in the front brakes cable by tightening the nut with Box Spanner #10. After tightening, try out the brakes by spinning the wheel, it should spin freely. If there is any resistance, readjust accordingly.
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With the front wheel dismantled, it is a good time to clean the inside of the front mudguard, front fork, etc. This is where a handy old toothbrush comes in useful to brush away dust and dirt from the affected area before cleaning with water and a rag.