KTM Train Ride
Places Kids Love May 9th, 2011
KTM Train Ride from Singapore to Malaysia was what my boys had been looking forward to since months ago, when we heard that the KTM train station at Tanjong Pagar will end its service on 1st July 2011. Though the station will be moved to Woodlands, the scenery throughout the journey would be so different then.
Not forgetting the paintings on the wall, the old coffeeshops, the mini ‘mama’ stalls, the significantly well-utilised Ticket Counters. See video and photos in my Personal Blog under the blog post “Tanjong Pagar Train Station ~ Memories“.
I was the only one who had been on a train. So for my man and my boys, it was truly a virgin train ride. *giggle*
Since our main purpose for the train ride was to ‘experience‘ what it is like to take a KTM train ride from Tanjong Pagar train station, we did not intend to go far.
We decided to take the 45mins ride to Johor Sentral. We bought the tickets yesterday, which was on Mother’s Day, and set off today on the 8am train.
- S$15.00 per adult
- S$11.00 per child
Since this was the first time Allan is in Malaysia for leisure. I decided to be the ‘tour guide‘ for that short few hours before we take the 5.15pm train ride back to Singapore.
We strolled around the Johor Sentral train station for 30mins before we set off to have fun.
As a Mommy, kids are the first priority. So I brought them to Jusco! Lots of stuff to talk about in Jusco, therefore I decided to put that into a separate blog post later.
After kids were fully satisfied, it was time to make me happy! *laugh* We went City Square, which is opposite the Johor Sentral train station. At the end of it, the boys were even happier than I was, with their first time shopping using Ringgits; from Ang Paos collected over the years during Chinese New Year. *laugh* Will talk about their purchases in a separate blog post too.
Everything went on really well till…
Tickets back home must be purchased 30mins before set off time. It was frustrating because there were so many people waiting to get their tickets but the ticket officer was taking his own sweet time!
10mins before the train set off and our queue number has yet to be called from that ONE operation counter!
- RM$3.00 per adult
- RM$2.00 per child
I needed the toilet and so did the boys, but we dare not go anywhere till we get on the train.
After purchasing the tickets, we waited again for another officer to allow us to enter the first gantry. I was so afraid I would pee infront of him. *legs crossed*
I was surprised that we were ‘forced‘ to wait again at the second gantry. Luckily there were restrooms at the waiting area and the boys and I went to relieve ourselves. *Phew*
When we came out of the toilet, all the passengers who were taking the same train as us were still held at the waiting area. *Double Phew* We did not miss a thing.
Though the train we took from KTM Tanjong Pagar train Station, was a 2nd class and our seats were reserved, we were back-seating towards the direction of the train movement. Not as perfect as we wanted to.
- For front-facing seats, purchase seats numbers that are after 9 and NOT between 1 to 8.
For this journey back to Singapore, the train was a 3rd class train and the seats were not reserved, meaning it was free seating. We wanted to choose the front-facing seats; so after coming out from the toilet, my two boys and I sat on the very first bench that was nearest to the door of the gantry.
My heart is pounding fast again as I recall the scene….
In less than 10 seconds after the three of us rested our butts on the bench, we saw some 10-20 men dressed like the ‘fei-hu-dui’ below:
*Picture Courtesy of Google Images
They appeared from the basement where the train awaits. As they walked up the stairs, I saw two bearded men with their hands on their heads and with 4 to 5 fei-hu-dui men’s hands grabbing the bearded men’s shoulders and arms.
They were on the other side of the gantry and we were ‘safe‘ on the opposite side; our only defense was the glass wall that separated us.
There were about 20+ passengers, including us. So for safety reasons, I assumed that they would NOT come over to our side of the gantry, isn’t?
I WAS WRONG!
I forgot I was not in Singapore.
I was shocked and I did not react fast enough to get my boys’ and my butt off the seat. WE SAT VERY STILL…
I was sitting between the boys. Keatkeat was the nearest to the door, where the intimidating group walked through with the two criminals.
The first criminal walked passed us. Nothing happened.
Shit! My hands are sweating now as I type…
The second criminal walked through the door and like a tiger, he LEAPT over to grab Keatkeat!!!
His hands were just one feet away from Keatkeat’s lap! The loud slam of his big palms onto the metal bench is still ringing in my ears when he was dragged away from Keatkeat and pinned down on the floor by 6 to 7 fei-hu-dui men.
Immediately I grabbed my boys’ hands, stood up and walked towards Allan, who had been standing about 5 feet away from us, all these while.
Keatkeat was Shivering, his face gone Pale and lips went White!
Allan started to scold us infront of everyone, “Kahpo right?! Want to have the best view, right?!…”
One of the passenger turned towards Allan and kept saying “Exercise. Exercise.”
He meant that this was just a pretentious event and that Allan should not be overly concerned.
In my heart, I doubted.
- If it WAS an exercise, why would the man attempt to grab Keatkeat as hostage?!
- If it WAS an exercise, why are they doing it at a train-time? They could have done it when there are no trains and no waiting passengers.
- If it WAS an exercise, why did they not inform the passengers at the waiting area first to mentally prepare them or ask them to stay away from the door? Or did they, but we were in the toilet and we missed it??
Then I started to beat myself up.
- Why did I assume that they would not come over to our side?!
- I am such a horrible Mommy, I put my children at such risk!
- I should have been more alert and moved away the moment the first criminal walked through the door!
- Why am I so blur!
- Why must I wait for the second criminal to leap over before I know its dangerous!?
- *SCREeeeeeAM* I am such an IDIOT!!!!
Immediately after the group of ‘fei hu dui’ was out of sight, we were signaled by yet another officer that we could go down to the basement to catch our train.
Me: “Keatkeat, how are you feeling now?”
Keatkeat: “I am very scared. I thought I am going to be captured.”
I hugged him tightly and tried to console him with my still-fast-beating heart, “Its alright now, its alright now…”
And when I asked my boys, “So do you still want to go to other countries?” This is their second trip out of Singapore. First time was without Allan.
Keatkeat: “Yes.”
Binbin: “No.”
Its My Fault!!! *Slap Slap Slap*
From the photo below, you can see that the only one with a really big smile was Allan. Because to him, so long as all of us are safe at the end of it all, nothing else matters anymore…
May 12th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Hi Angeline,
I read this post from your fb msg. It was a well written story until at alomost the end. I could not believed this was happened and I am sure you were scared the hell out of your life. Perhasp you have nightmare too.
p.s. I could not understand why this was erased by FB
Anyway take care
May 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Hi Angeline, I planned to go for the train ride too in June. Think I got to hold on to my kids real tight. Think it must be a very scary experience for your entire family. Good to hear that Keatkeat is fine though. :)
May 12th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
*pat pat head* Don’t worry anymore, you are all safe now…..
the trauma will be there for a short while. Recognize the fear and explore/ talk if you want. Give urself some time to get over it. :0)
Alice´s last blog post ..Baby TV
May 12th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
That’s a real hair raising experience.. I too would have panicked if I were in your shoes.. glad that everyone was fine and you guys are back safely in SG.
Dominique @Dominique’s Desk´s last blog post ..Taming the Snake
May 14th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
OOHHH…so worrying.I can imagine your fear. I guess its kinda of opposition party or some army thing against the government. Should not be a hoax or ‘exercise”
May 14th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
I think its not a hoax at all. Great thanks to god that they are safe
May 17th, 2011 at 5:56 am
wow, scary indeed. the waiting is because the officers need to go up the train first to check the passports and tickets of those returning from malaysia, then allow those going fr jb to singapore to board. I was on the train from Tampin to singapore, and when the train stops at Jb train station, the toilets on the train itself were closed too, and all of us were waiting for the officers to check our passports and tickets (cause we do not have to do down to clear immigration in malaysia). The waiting is indeed long.
The experience you had was scary!! I would scare the hell out of me. Luckily all is safe now. I am glad I didn’t have such scary experience when I took the ktm train in april… I am thinking of taking the train to jb station in june leh, but after seeing how scary, I am thinking twice…
kkf´s last blog post ..Day out at old Kallang Airport
May 17th, 2011 at 5:59 am
btw the trains are all the same, no 1st class, 2nd class or 3rd class trains. Just the cabins are different, there are 1st class seats cabins, superior seats cabins and economy class cabins like aeroplane, when returning, free seatings, so all depends on luck to get one empty seat.
kkf´s last blog post ..Day out at old Kallang Airport
May 17th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
kkf,
I realised the trains from Malaysia to Singapore did not state any first class, second class and third class trains. But in the train station in Singapore said there are leh. *pout* 3rd class trains only at SGD$3.
Check out my personal blog, I took a photos of the different class rates. http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/2011/05/ktm-tanjong-pagar-train-station.html
May 19th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
I am planning a trip to msia by KTM train this June when i came across this article on your experience. I am thinking twice about it now as I am travelling w young kids too.
But a big thank you for posting your experience and sharing it with us here. Glad that your family were safe in this incident.
God bless u!
May 20th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
The destiny of meeting The One at the railway station,
Did you take the chance?
The undeniable spark of the eyes of 2 strangers while waiting for the right train,
Did you miss the chance?
Your most memorable train journey,
Was it a coincident or a mere accident?
No it must be something more!
We need your story!
Let your fragments of memory be pieced together to form a lasting picture! It is neither a coincident nor an accident so do give your story a voice and share it with us!
* Entries from first-timers to the railway station are welcomed as well! Your memories are equally intimate and special!
— — — — —
Project 79 Share Your Story Contest!
Do you have any memorable stories from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station? Send it to us now.
Share your story within 200 words, and submit it along with a photograph that best reflects the story. Entries are to be written in either English or Chinese language
Top winning entry will get a chance to publish his or her photo as postcards in 10,000 copies – which will be distributed at more than 100 places in Singapore.
For any further enquiries or comments. please contact Project 79 committee by email at project79.np@gmail.com or look out for us at our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Project-79/201689243185553
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 pm
kkf,
how come you knew that trains returning to s’pore is free seating?
Took the train on sunday 22/5 and computer system was down. On the trip back to s’pore ended up quarrelling with other commuters becos they insisted that we have to return the seats to them . We refused till they called in the KTM officials . The ktm pple said we have to return the seats to them . No choice , so we have to move to another carriage.
May 23rd, 2011 at 10:42 pm
kkf,
how did you know that it is free seating from journeys into s’pore?
Took train on 22 may and ktm staff told me I have to sit according to number on ticket when s’porean complained that they have their seats taken after customs clearance at woodlands.
May 24th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Hi Patricia,
oh dear. *hugs* That is really unpleasant to end up quarreling and having the KTM officials to come into the squabble.
For my case, I didn’t see any seat numbers on my return-to-Singapore train tickets, so I asked the officials where should we sit and it was him who told me that it was free seating. Whereas my friend had the same experience as yours, there was a seat number assigned to their return-to-Singapore train tickets, so it was not free seating for my friend’s experience.
May 24th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Hi Angeline,
Thanks. It was an eventful sunday :(
No more KTM train for me. Luckily wasn’t travelling with elderly or young ones.
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Just happened to come across your website. Hope that you and family had enjoyed the train ride despite the encounter with Special Ops. I believe that was the Special Ops exercise that was reported some time ago on the news. Please dont feel guilty about the incident. Must have caught you and the boys by surprise.
The main reason I am leaving a note here is to share my experience on the “free seating” issue. There’ll probly be more such unpleasant situation during this last week and hopefully this can clear up the air.
Shuttle trains are free seating to start with, so my explanation is W.R.T the Express trains.
Yes, the trip from JB back to Singapore on the Express train IS free seating. However, the free seats are only referring to those NOT already occupied by travellers who are returning from places beyond JB.
For the long distance travellers on the Express trains, we have seats ALLOCATED to us. We go back to these SAME seats after the Woodlands checkpt. It is a simple logical practice that doesnt take much effort to figure out. It has always been the rule of the thumb. Afterall, we have already been seating on the same seats for hours and if it helps, we’ve also set up our rubbish bags :) And esp for big groups with children, it is very frustrating to return to the train only to find kiasu singaporeans who had rushed up to occupy our seats and refusing to give them back even after we had patiently explained to them.
It is especially with the recent influx of singaporeans travelling by rail led to an increase in unpleasant experiences where some stubborn fellow singaporeans refuse to listen to the explanation of the frequent travellers.
I have taken the Raykat Express for umpteenth times and did not have any issues until recently. Why do we even need to involve the KTM? Just listen to your fellow singaporeans explanation. Dont think that being kiasu and occupying something first means that the item is rightfully yours. Afterall, the others have travelled more than you.
We all want to see Tanjong Pagar-Woodlands stretch before it closes. So lets make it a pleasant ride for all during the historical trip :)
June 24th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
can i check with you, how you book your tickets?
June 26th, 2011 at 12:11 am
teeny,
I went down to the station itself and bought the tickets a day before my train ride.
*smile*