Along The Passage of Time

Electric driven trains known as the Electric Trains Services (ETS) runs the tracks once ruled by the steam locomotives introduced during the British colonial era dated 1 June 1885 to transport tin in Taiping, Perak to Port Weld (now Kuala Sepetang). A year later another railway line linked Kuala Lumpur (center of mining activities in the Klang Valley) and Klang to Port Swettenham (Port Klang today). 

The topographical of the Peninsular Malaysia with the Titiwangsa Ridge in the background and single track back then, further affected time constrained passengers resulting in low crowds as the nation develop and later grew from strength to strength. 

With the introduction of commuter trains powered by electricity in 3 August 1995 named the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Komuter service...'Go Green' and success in alleviating traffic woes in Klang Valley, so does the demand for trains as public transportation rises. The project of both electrification and dual-tracks benefits the travel time, frequency, reliability, quality of service and safety upon completion in 2014. 

The entire railway system run 1, 379 km from north to south of Peninsular Malaysia (including the KTM Komuter, Light Rapid Transit, Penang Hill Railway,  Monorail, KLIA Ekspres and the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail). 

The railway tracks are divided into two. The West Coast line distanced at 767 km trails north; Padang Besar (Malaysia-Thailand border) down south at Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore. The dual-tracking and electrification begins on the 179 km stretch of this line between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh to run trains at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The dual-tracking of the West Coast line between Ipoh and Padang Besar started in January 2008. 

While the East Coast line journeys 620 km from Gemas, Negeri Sembilan to the northern tip of the east at Tumpat, Kelantan connecting to the Thailand railway at Rantau Panjang. 

What enthralled the public to train service is the passage into time, the interiors and deep jungle, away from the hustle and bustle of trunk roads and highways. 

Derelict buildings stood, once the economic power houses lined along the train tracks. Kampong house stands among brick layered houses. Children slumbering in the neighborhood observed from a distance. 

Vast paddy fields turned rice to staple food for the population. Rubber trees that produces rubber to move mechanized motor vehicles. Palm trees producing oleomargarine and oil to fry your proteins, not forgetting the Limestone hills that lays building floors. 

Ponds and man-made lakes evidence of prosperity from tin mines could not be missed. Streams and rivers with people busy carrying out their activities. One could even notice water buffaloes busking in the mud. 

The train service is a reminder, aroused the nostalgia and multi-faceted living on display, how much the nation has developed into present days? Yet in the remote interiors, we could looked back at the childhood once we were.