Beaming, Malaysia’s king welcomed passengers on a special train from the capital of Kuala Lumpur to the historical railway town of Kluang – and back – marking the launch of the long-delayed southern stretch of the electric train service (ETS).
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Saturday’s ride was a royal treat for the guests who sat back while the king, an avid train aficionado, took the controls, driving the six-car train for the entire six-and-a-half-hour return journey.
“Hi everybody! Welcome, welcome, welcome,” Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar said as he walked the length of the train, shaking hands and posing for photographs with passengers.
The ETS is the latest service from Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), whose origins date back to 1885, during the British colonial era.
The service allows for train travelling as fast as 140km/h (87 mph), made possible by full electrification of the rail network, double tracking upgrades, as well as the removal of level crossings.
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