Train to Kuala Lumpur

Next step in the journey … after the diversions of Christmas lights and food in Singapore … was on the afternoon train from Johor Bahru to travel to Kuala Lumpur. I have looked at some quite amazingly naïve accounts on the internet of train travel in Malaysia and I really wonder what people expect in regards to value for money. If you want true first class luxury service then I suggest you try the Eastern & Orient Express, and pay the appropriate prices! However, if you want to travel in reasonably civilized, admittedly perhaps slightly tired, comfort, then Malaysian Railways will fill the bill for a reasonable price. You might wonder why we appeared to start our journey from Johor Bahru when we have been in Singapore. Firstly I will say if you are planning your first trip by train from Singapore to KL then I really feel you should consider departing from Singapore. This is so that you can see the Singapore Railway Station while it still exists. I think Singapore would be quite happy to demolish the beautiful old Moorish style building and use the site for something else! The building, owned by Malaysian Railways, is looking quite tired, like the train itself really, and always seems to have some sort of excavation happening around or in it, making getting into (and definitely out of it by taxi) the station quite difficult, especially at night. However, if you are leaving from Singapore, a taxi will get you there quite easily and give yourself a few spare minutes to look around to actually see the building and imagine its grandeur when new. When leaving from Singapore, you had to need to arrive at the station about an hour before departure time to collect your ticket if you have booked on the internet (this is in the process of changing as you will be able to print a copy of ticket booking and use that for travel, so check). You still need (at this time) to arrive half an hour before departure to allow for clearance of Malaysian customs, which takes place at Singapore station before you board the train. Singaporean customs formalities take place during the journey, as the train will stop at the modern frontier terminal at Woodlands, just before the causeway linking Singapore island to mainland Malaysia about half an hour after leaving Singapore station. At Woodlands, you need to leave the train with your luggage, enter the building, pass through the Singaporean passport/immigration control, then re-board the train.
That said; we travel by public transport to Johor Bahru, sometimes a journey in itself, and collect our tickets from there. Why? Basically, because it is quite a lot cheaper. A first class ticket will cost 64 Ringgit. Because of pricing rules, if you book and buy your ticket from Singapore, you pay in Singapore dollars and from Johor Bahru you pay in Malaysian Ringgit (about a third the amount at the moment). The bus to Johor Bahru costs S$2.40.
Food on the train can be a bit hit and miss, so if you have particular requirements, bring it with you. Once on the train, settle back in the comfortable seat and enjoy the ride and the passing countryside. After about six hours you will pull sedately into KL Sentrel (the central railway station in KL). Be aware, that if you are travelling at peak travel times (eg holidays) the travel time can become a little "flexible". Taxis can be found at the level above where you arrive (you will need to buy a voucher at the taxi counter).
We stayed in the Le Meridien Hotel which is (along with the Hilton) virtually beside the railway station. Five stars for convenience and quality, but definitely not the cheapest in KL, its location makes it quite easy to get around by train as the light rail lines run through KL Sentrel and the Monorail is about 250 metres away, under a partially covered walkway. It is now possible to buy a multi ride "Touch N' Go" ticket to easily access all trains.
Very quickly we were checked into the hotel and in our room;
where we were presented with some very tantalizing offers for Christmas celebrations. After looking at all the options we decided on the “Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner with free flowing wine” which sounded quite interesting.

For some photos of the train trip and the Le Meridien Hotel click on the thumbnail photo below.

by oldfartz99