New JB-Woodlands train service from July 1

New JB-Woodlands train service from July 1

A new shuttle train service plying between Woodlands and Johor Baru (JB) Sentral will start on July 1.

Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) will operate the service called Shuttle Tebrau.

There will be 14 trips daily: seven from JB Sentral Station and seven from Woodlands Station.

A one-way fare from Woodlands will cost $5, while the return trip from JB Sentral will be priced at RM5 (S$1.80).

KTM said in a media release that the shuttle service will provide a transport solution for commuters who are travelling daily from Johor in Malaysia to Singapore.

"It is also an effort to reduce the massive road congestion, especially during the peak hours at the Johor Causeway," the operator added.

The departure timings from Woodlands Station will be: 6.30am, 8am, 9.30am, 5pm, 6.30pm, 8pm and 11pm.

From JB Sentral, the timings will be: 5.30am, 7am, 8.30am, 4pm, 5.30pm, 7pm and 10pm.

On each trip, the train can ferry between 300 and 320 passengers.

Commuters said that, compared with taking the bus to JB, the train may be quicker but will cost more.

Travel blogger Liau Yun Qing, 29, said it took her about two hours to get from Queen Street in Singapore to JB Sentral on Saturday, using the Causeway Link bus service.

"This is because of the queues to clear immigration and queues to board the buses again (after clearing immigration)."

The ride cost her $3.30 going in and RM3.40 coming back.

There are currently seven cross-border bus services which ply between Singapore and Johor Baru: two are operated by SBS Transit, one by SMRT and the other four services by private bus operators.

Prices for the private services range from $2 to $7.

KTM said that, with the new shuttle, train services from Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Butterworth and Gemas stations - which currently end at Woodlands Station - will end at JB Sentral instead from July 1.

Commuters will have to use Shuttle Tebrau to complete the rest of the journey to Singapore.

Said beautician Janice Lee, 50, who visits JB occasionally to shop and eat: "I've never taken the train (to JB) before, but if this new shuttle service is convenient and safe, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Lego replica of Istana Bukit Serene unveils at Legoland

Lego replica of Istana Bukit Serene unveils at Legoland Malaysia

Visitors to the Legoland Malaysia Resort now have a new attraction to see after the Sultan of Johor officially unveiled a Lego replica of his residential palace, Istana Bukit Serene today.

During a ceremony at the theme park, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar laid the final gold-coloured Lego brick on the replica of a crown arch which in real life is situated in front of the palace.

The entire replica is made up of 278,023 Lego bricks and weighs 350kg.

It took four months to make and includes intricate details such as the sultan's motorcycle, cars and even a stray black cat which is said to be a regular visitor to the palace grounds.

Legoland Malaysia model builder, Stefan Bentivoglio said the work was conducted by a team of six builders.

"We had an audience with the sultan after his coronation in March.

A team then went to Istana Bukit Serene on several occasions to take pictures and measurements of the palace that was built in 1939.

"The biggest challenge of building the replica was making the sultan happy, and judging from Tuanku's smile today, I think he is indeed happy," Stefan said after the launch ceremony.

The Istana Bukit Serene is now among the other replicas of iconic buildings such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the Taj Mahal at Legoland.


The Sultan of Johor (centre) flanked by Lego model builder Stefan Bentivoglio (left) and State Tourism, Dosmestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (right) looking at the Istana Bukit Serene at the Legoland minipark here today. Beside him (left) is the builder Stefan Bentivoglio.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~