Clean - for now

KTM started a new train service recently - the ECT.
I don't know what ECT stands for - tried googling for it but couldn't find it - maybe it stands for extra-cepat-train or electric-current-train.
(I did a mistake!! It is ETS - electric train service. No wonder I couldn't find the information I was looking for...got it confused with ECT -electroconsulvise therapy)..:P

Anyway, I took the train last weekend, Ipoh to KL and back from Seremban.

It was quite a comfortable ride.
Compared to the KTM commuter, there was more leg space and was cleaner (since it IS newer).
I didn't see any cockroaches running around (yes, I have seen them in the KTM commuter) so the ECT gets one point for that.
I am not sure about the toilet though - I have a policy against toilets in public transports - never go unless desperate.

They had people walking around (steward-like) offering assistance to those who needed them. One guy even put our bags up in the overhead compartment and brought it down when we reached KL. They were all polite and pointed out that they have a power socket near every row of seat that one can use while on the train. Now I can watch movies on my laptop on the way back home! The train that I took from Seremban to Ipoh even announced the stations before and when we arrived at the stations!

The airconditioning was super-cold. I really don't get it - we are Malaysians, not Alaskan. Do we need the air-conditioning to be so cold? I understand if it is the operating theaters, but why must offices and shopping complexes and shops and trains and buses be so freaking cold? Can't they just regulate the temperature to that the users don't have to shiver or bring jackets around?

There was a TV where a video (which was replayed and replayed throughout the journey) showed how the whole ECT idea was realized (I think). The video showed a train in Korea which could go up to 300kmph!! Imagine that, going from Ipoh to KL in less than an hour! I do hope the TV will show a different video or a movie next time though, there is only so many times one can watch a bunch of Malaysians looking at trains.

Oh...using the ECT, it takes about 2 hours to go from Ipoh to KL and 3 hours from Ipoh to Seremban - that is an hour of difference from the KTM commuter. They have a few express trains that stop in 4 or 5 stations only and a few others that stop in about 10 stations, which means that they don't stop in all the stations like the KTM commuter. The maximum speed as I know so far is 150kmph (the driver had to catch up on time since we were slightly delayed in KL).

The price, for now - RM30 to KL (KTM commuter is RM12 and RM22 for economy and 2nd class respectively) and RM38 to Seremban.

If you ask me, to and from KL, I don't mind the 1 hour difference if the price is more than doubled. But then if you prefer comfort, then the ECT is definitely the better choice. For my parents, I would take the ECT as they need the leg space; me, I put my leg up most of the journey so it doens't really matter.

For the ride to Seremban and back, definitely the ECT is better. Otherwise, you would have to take train from and towards Singapore which is ALWAYS delayed. And the price difference is not that much as well.

The current price is the promotional price - I have no idea what the price is going to be like after this. Hopefully it won't be too expensive or I have to stop going back home so often (and risk my parents forgetting that they have another daughter beside Phoebe).

Here are a few photos of the train - see how clean it is and look at how much more spacious it is compared to the commuter (if you have been in the KTM commuter)