Interchange Stations

KL transportation is undergoing some changes under the new management of RapidKL. It has taken over the LRT (Ampang, Sri Petaling and Kelana Jaya lines) and the bus system in the city.

Throughout this year RapidKL has been introducing new routes, systems and also new buses. I must say they are trying hard to improve the public transportation service in KL. However, there are still much things needed to be improved.

RapidKL new bus

First, is the use of common ticket. Instead of buying tickets are seperate counters for different LRT lines, why can't we just use the same ticket from our origin place to our destination?

Eg, if I have to get from Pandan Indah station to KLCC station. I have to interchange at one station, Masjid Jamek. So I'll have to buy a ticket from Pandan Indah to Masjid Jamek (For Ampang LRT line), then buy another ticket from Masjid Jamek station to KLCC (Kelana Jaya line).

Masjid Jamek is suppose to be an interchange station. Interchange station means we do not to exit the station and then purchase another ticket to continue our journey.

the green colour word says 'walkway'

Maybe is the lack of interconnecting between the 2 stations. Maybe the government of Malaysia should do some proper planning before carry on with the project.

The gap between the Masjid Jamek 'interchange' station

There are some other 'interchange' station which are actually not connected. Such as:

-Hang Tuah Station (connecting Ampang line and KL Monorail)

showing the distance of covered walkway

-Titiwangsa Station (connecting the Ampang Line and KL Monorail again)

walkway with without pavement

-KL Sentral Station (Connecting the KL Monorail and Kelana Jaya Line/KTM/KLIA Transit).

covered walkway over the open air carpark

It should be called 'Interchange stations with walking distance' instead.

Here is a short story about young couple from Singapore having their vacations in KL:

Anyway, we reached Royal Bintang Hotel at around 2pm, after battling the traffic jam, with the uncle honking at the crazy taxis. Then we checked into our room, located at the NON-SMOKING level. We were finally smoke-free!

We blasted the air-con in our room and scooted out to jalan jalan. KL is damn warm, but Singapore is worse. Trust me.

Midvalley Megamall was our first stop. But first, we gotta figure out our way there and the hotel staff were kind enough to help. Heh heh. We're really lucky.

We walked a short distance to the KL Monorail, Bukit Bintang Station. We needed tickets to bring us to Midvalley station.

Boy: "We need to get to KL Sentral first."
Me: "Ok, we go there to change train?"
Boy: "Yeah, but I think we need to get the tickets to KL Sentral."
Me: "HUH? Not to Midvalley?"
Boy: "No leh, the guy said go to KL Sentral first."
Me: "Not cross the platform at the Interchange meh?"
Boy: "We not in Singapore lah dey."

alfresco and freaking hot.

Me: Yea, we not in Singapore lah dey. We were in KL. Where transport SUCKS!!!
Big time.

try pronouncing all those.

5 stops for RM2.10 per ticket. Summore cannot cross the platform one, nabeh.
We alighted at KL Sentral, and we had to find our way to the KTM Komuter. We were told it was just across the road from the Monorail station, but no dude, we don't see no KTM Komuter!!!
Nevertheless, we braved the traffic and crossed the road. My boy loves the traffic light's green man. Unlike Singapore's flashing of the green man, it RAN. The legs could move, holy shit. Hahahahaha! Kawaii!
Anyway, we found our way after walking through this pasar malam and crossing not just one road but 3? Quite scary, because the cars just zoomed everywhere. So we actually crossed 3 ROADS instead of just crossing one platform, after reaching their so called "Interchange". I'm stunned.
I'm so thankful for Singapore's transport. At least I know I'm not paying the hefty adult price for crap transport.
We bought 2 tickets to Midvalley Station (1 stop only lor!) for RM1 each.
So much trouble just for ONE STOP to Midvalley Station. Nabeh. Malaysia, please implement the cross the platform thing. Makes things easier, ok?
They really need to put some brains into their transport facilities.
Firstly, we had to wait for 15 long minutes (!!!) just for ONE train to bring us to our destination which is just ONE STOP away (can't get over this).
Secondly, it was warm (no air-con, just industrial fans) and dark (lousy lightings), without much seats (I think they damn budget).
Thirdly, we had to run after the train because it overshot our waiting area. Yes, the fucking train was shorter than the platform. What the fuck?!
Grr.
Anyway, we got to Midvalley Mega Mall and I was a little grouchy already. Wasted so much time just to get there.
Not that I support Singapore so much but hey, I think the Malaysian gorvernment can at least learn something from our neighbour country.
I have relatives staying in Singapore and my university is in Johor Bahru so I am a frequent traveller to Singapore. Their public transport system is well-organised. From detail signboards to digital displayboard showing the arrival times of trains at every stations.
Just see this. You'll understand.
Back to the common ticket. Well, perhaps the government ARE doing something about it.
Is Touch'n'Go familiar to you? It is a stored value card introduced years ago for Malaysian drivers so that they won't have to queue up paying at the toll plaza.
And don't forget that this card can also be used at LRT, Monorail and KTM stations. However everytime when I passed by the stations ticket counter I could see people queing up buying the single trip ticket.
Getting a stored value card for the benefit of yourself isn't very difficult, is it? Every Malaysian should have their MyKad by now, so everyone should have their own Touch'n'Go card.
Maybe there aren't many Touch'n'Go service counter for people to top-up their value in their card. And there was once my dad trying to use the Touch'n'Go card at a station but the service was out of order on that day.
There is still much work for the government and rakyat to do. Remember, Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is coming in a few days time! =)