Gemas: The Gemas-Johor Bahru Electric Double Tracking Project (PLBEGJB) is a huge surge in the national rail transport system, especially for the south, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said. He added that the project will complete the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Electric Double Tracking Project in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia that connects Johor Bahru to Padang Besar, Perlis.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Onn Hafiz emphasized that the project is part of the infrastructure transformation in Johor. He expressed hopes that the service will benefit the people and the state, making it more competitive and developed, as he shared on Facebook. The Gemas-Johor Bahru electric train service (ETS) commenced in Segamat on Saturday, with plans to begin operations in Labis by April, followed by Kluang in May, and Johor Bahru in September.

The new double tracks will significantly reduce travel time from KL Sentral to JB Sentral to 3 hours and 30 minutes, providing a faster and efficient travel option. The 192-kilometre track will pass through Segamat, Kluang, Kulai, and Johor Bahru, culminating at JB Sentral. The electric train, capable of reaching speeds up to 160 km/h, is scheduled to make 22 trips daily, accommodating 346 passengers per train.

KTMB group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin reported that the Gemas-Johor Bahru ETS embarked on its inaugural journey from Segamat Station to Padang Besar at 7.55 am on Saturday.