A retired railway worker and his wife travelled specially to be the final passengers as the Ekspres Selatan service ended after nine years of operation.
JOHOR BAHRU: The Ekspres Selatan made its final departure from JB Sentral Station at 6.05 pm today, concluding nine years of service.
The train carried 170 passengers on its last journey to Gemas Station.
The moment was emotional for passengers and staff, including former KTMB employee Halim Said, 62.
Halim and his wife, Noor Aini Semawi, 52, travelled from Gemas to JB Sentral this morning specifically to catch the final 6.05 pm service back.
“I want to set a record and be the final passenger to get off this ES46 train,” he said.
Halim began his railway career in 1986 as a traffic assistant at KTMB Gemas Station.
He served in various roles, including quality inspector, before retiring in 2023.
He said the shift from diesel locomotives to modern train sets was progressive but held nostalgia for the traditional charm.
“We are pleased with the progress, yet we still hold on to the memories,” Halim added.
This was not his first historic railway moment, as he was also the last passenger on the final train from Tanjong Pagar, Singapore, to Malaysia in June 2011.
“I stood at the back of the locomotive, from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands, waving my hands throughout the journey,” he recalled.
“My kids grew up on what I earned working in the railway. It really changed my life,” said the father of five.
Locomotive driver Suki Hussein, 57, said he had mixed feelings and would miss operating the classic train.
“I feel sad, yet I am also proud that KTMB has taken a step forward,” he stated.
The send-off was officiated by KTMB Southern Region Senior Manager Salim Misdi.
He noted the service had recorded 2.6 million users as of last October.
“After this, there will be no more sound of diesel locomotives. I believe we are moving towards better services,” Salim said.
KTMB previously announced the termination of the Gemas–JB Sentral–Gemas service effective tomorrow.
This aligns with progress and the readiness of the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Tracking Project infrastructure. – Bernama
