The Southern Intergrated Terminal

LAST week I grabbed the opportunity to take the express bus back to Johor from the newly opened bus terminal at Bandar Tasik Selatan, named Southern Intergrated Terminal or Terminal Bersepadu Selatan It was not fully occupied as most of the bus companies were still 'hanging around' at the Bukit Jalil temporary terminal.

This new terminal consists of 5 level and the main lobby area is located on the third. From the papers, it is said that this building will be officially opened coming Feb 1st, together with the newly revamped bus terminal in Puduraya. This explain the emptiness of the terminal when I visited there.

As a transportation building, one of the most important element is the connectivity with other train and LRT lines. This terminal is connected to the KTM, LRT (Sri Petaling line) and ERL (KLIA Transit) via a pedestrian bridge. However a not very satisfying part is the lack of facilities to the disabled people on the LRT station.

Traveling by road, there are two ways to get to the terminal: from the Sg. Besi BESRAYA highway and the MRR2. By judging at the current traffic condition on the MRR2 (Bandar Tasik Selatan area), I believe it will get worse in the future when the terminal goes full operation.

The internal road around the terminal is planned almost as the way it is as KL Sentral. A one way ring road circulation to the designated drop off, pick up and parking area. There are signboards for directions.

This is entering from the BESRAYA highway. Funny, vehicles coming from the Ampang side of MRR2 actually have to make a very long and inconvenient u-turn to get to this entrance. There is not direct ingress via the MRR2 from that direction.

Approaching the terminal we can see the high volume space of bus arrivals platforms. Looks okay to me. Bigger space means more comfortable.

The platforms are located at level 2 and there are six of them for the passengers to disembark which then they could ascend to the arrival hall one level above.

On the 1st level of the terminal is the area for parking and buses to city centre. It somehow reminds me of the ground level of KL Sentral.

One of the thing that I found impressive is the ticketing system. All the tickets are issued under one management, the TBS. I actually need to provide my IC and contact number when purchasing the ticket. And there are touch screens for you to pick the choice of the bus company, departure time and seat in the bus.

Spiral ramps leading up to the multi-storey car park and outstation taxi on level 4.

And look what I spotted inside the terminal?
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A Segway! I wonder that is for the staff or the passenger?