I like trains. Buses, not so much.

I’ve taken buses most of my life. To school in Alor Setar and whilst I was in university. For four years, I did a four-state hike of Selangor-Kuala Lumpur-Penang-Kedah. I travelled every three weeks, on a Friday, from Bangi to Kajang to Pudu Raya to Butterworth to Alor Setar.

The 370km journey took nine hours to traverse. It took as long as it did because there were only two-lane trunk roads all the way. The pit stops, slow traffic, bad weather, and occasional breakdowns did not help. This was before the North-South Highway was built. Now, the same route can be completed in under four hours.

Gratefully, my parents and brother number 1, yes, back when all three of them were alive, greeted me at the Butterworth bus station. Why? Because the bus that left at 3pm’ish from the Pudu Raya station only arrived at the Butterworth station around midnight. And, the last bus service was at midnight. Hmm. On top of the nine hours, it took another two to get to Alor Setar. As I was already with my family, it didn’t matter too much.

The return trip was consciously deleted from my mind until Sunday night. An all-nighter, the bus left Butterworth at 9pm, and arrived in KL at 6am’ish. I took the first bus from the Pudu Raya station to Kajang, and the first bus out of Kajang to Bangi. Until I got back into university life, I was less happy. Three weeks later, I was back on the bus again. My mum was my motivation.

At every semester break, brother number 1 kindly picked me up and dropped me off as I had luggage to lug. I remember my dad advising me to keep brother number 1 company while he drove but I always fell asleep, after my usual sobbing/moping about having to leave home. I was a ‘silent’ front-seat companion. Brother number 1 also visited me in campus whenever he was in Kuala Lumpur. Friday will be two years since he passed.

I think it was my four-year reliance on buses that put me off buses. I never liked and never wanted to travel on that mode of transport. Certainly not on long journeys. And, yet, inexplicably, I did a coach holiday (coach or bus, same-same) with my now husband to Lake Garda in Italy via France, and Switzerland. There were some interesting stops along the way but that still doesn’t excuse my decision. And, I did another coach holiday to Austria with sister number 3. Yes, why again? I tried, many times, to get her to fly back with me but it didn’t work. Kent-Vienna-Kent is a really, really long coach ride.  

Anyways, I don’t do buses if I can help it. A short ride is ok but even then, buses get stuck in traffic jams. Bus stops don’t offer enough shelter from the rain or sun. While buses are like short trains, albeit higher, if they have an upper deck, they are, more often than not, jam-packed. If I have to be fair, trains can also get equally congested, especially during peak hours with hold-firmly to handrails and standing-room only.

Still, I’d opt for trains. Trains offer me a sense of space as most have at least four carriages. I can actually walk, albeit shakily, from one carriage to another. They are faster and usually keep to the stated timetable. Except when there are disruptions, which to be fair, doesn’t happen too often. Daily commuters might disagree with casual traveller, me.

As an aside, service disruptions are typically attributed to technical and system issues. There are also aging issues with the LRT or Light Rail Transit lines, which are over 25 years old. I didn’t know this but theft of power and signalling cables is another serious problem. Cables are needed for the signalling system to work so that it can manage and control train movements/journeys. Missing cables could lead to safety risks and operational delays.

In late October, a news report stated, “Results of onsite preliminary investigation found that the theft activities happened near Kuchai Station, where piles of cables were cut and found near the station’s area[1].” Hmm. I know there are dodgy people everywhere but I wonder if they realise the repercussions of their actions. 

Still, I’d choose trains over buses as both the LRT and newer MRT or Mass Rapid Transit stations are walking distance from where I live. A sure advantage as there’s no need to get on any last mile on-demand bus service like Rapid KL On-Demand or feeder buses or Grab. The train lines connect to tourist destinations, shopping malls, parks, and the sprawling suburbia. And, fares are fairly reasonable with discounts for students, senior citizens and the disabled.

What’s not to like. Yay.