KTM 2

Two weeks back I had to make a quick trip up North, due to the reason that I am not good with navigation, and have no one to accompany me driving; I decided to take the train instead together with by my little angel.

Since the train was scheduled to leave KL Sentral at 2045 hours, I opted to take the premier class berth, which consisted of two sleeping berths in a private room. The ticket for each berth costs RM89.00 each, so in total it cost us RM178.00. The night of the departure it was raining non stop since 1630 hours, I had called to book for a taxi at 1900 hours but was so unlucky, so finally I had to call my son to send us to KL Sentral.

We arrived approximately 10 minute before 2045 hours, the scheduled time of departure. We managed to grab 2 packs of chicken rice and 2 bottles of diet coke, then straight to the premier berth.

The room was really small, with one upper berth and one lower berth, a tiny collapsible steel table, a tiny steel washing sink, a ceiling fan, a tiny non functional TV and a chair. For the premier class, we were given two bottles of mineral water and 2 very cheap looking marble cakes (which we dare not try).

In welcoming its 51st birthday, it is sad to note that we, the citizens, were still cheated even in simple things as a ride on the train. For the fact that we were provided with a TV that was not functional (which we have paid for), the constant delay of more than an hour, and the non-functional PA system, which forced us to be on alert and to be on the look out in the dark for the name of the station, in order for us not to miss our destination.

I can’t help but wonder; this was the same train that I used to travel on during my time living in Singapore (may be with some upgrading), but nothing much has changed. Do we have to wait another 50 years for public transportation to be up to date and functional, or this is what we will forever be forced to live by. What the government never forgets is to keep on putting up the prices and make our lives miserable.