My year-end trip begins with me getting from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
There are many ways getting from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. The quickest way at the moment is via a 45-minute flight. Budget carriers such as AirAsia, Scoot and Jetstar Asia operate this route. So does full service carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
Ticket prices from Singapore start from $50 onwards due to the high airport taxes out of Changi airport. From KL, prices start from $20 onwards for the same route.
There are long distance coaches plying this route as well, taking about 8 hours including rest stops in Malaysia. These coaches run all day and night. Fares start from $30 onwards depending on the transport companies and quality of the coaches.
I have taken both planes and buses on this route multiple times. So this time around, I decided on another cost-effective, though tedious transport option.
I took the KTM shuttle train from Singapore Woodlands to JB Sentral station. It costs S$5 one way and cheaper if starting from JB. The advantages: (1) no traffic jams on the Singapore-JB Woodlands causeway. (2) The train ride is merely 5 minutes. In addition, (3) I only need to clear both Singapore and Malaysia customs once at Woodlands station. Once arriving in JB, I simply alight the train and continue on my journey.
Train tickets can be purchased online in advance. The trains can fill up at times so some passengers will just have to stand in the carriage. Though it is just for 5 minutes. Quite tolerable. There are no assigned seats so first-come-first-served. It is recommended to arrive early to queue up for the train to get the preferred seat, or even any seat.
From JB Sentral, I made my way to the JB Sentral bus station to board the JB airport shuttle bus. Tickets can be bought at the ticket booth in the shopping mall prior to boarding. The bus usually boards at the very last bus bay, past all the other long-distance coaches.
There are many ways getting from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. The quickest way at the moment is via a 45-minute flight. Budget carriers such as AirAsia, Scoot and Jetstar Asia operate this route. So does full service carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
Ticket prices from Singapore start from $50 onwards due to the high airport taxes out of Changi airport. From KL, prices start from $20 onwards for the same route.
There are long distance coaches plying this route as well, taking about 8 hours including rest stops in Malaysia. These coaches run all day and night. Fares start from $30 onwards depending on the transport companies and quality of the coaches.
I have taken both planes and buses on this route multiple times. So this time around, I decided on another cost-effective, though tedious transport option.
I took the KTM shuttle train from Singapore Woodlands to JB Sentral station. It costs S$5 one way and cheaper if starting from JB. The advantages: (1) no traffic jams on the Singapore-JB Woodlands causeway. (2) The train ride is merely 5 minutes. In addition, (3) I only need to clear both Singapore and Malaysia customs once at Woodlands station. Once arriving in JB, I simply alight the train and continue on my journey.
Train tickets can be purchased online in advance. The trains can fill up at times so some passengers will just have to stand in the carriage. Though it is just for 5 minutes. Quite tolerable. There are no assigned seats so first-come-first-served. It is recommended to arrive early to queue up for the train to get the preferred seat, or even any seat.
In the train
The train seat is quite comfortable, perfect for this short journey. There is a tray just like an airplane.
Once arrived in JB station, alight the train and follow the signs into JB Sentral and City Square, the adjacent shopping mall.
From JB Sentral, I made my way to the JB Sentral bus station to board the JB airport shuttle bus. Tickets can be bought at the ticket booth in the shopping mall prior to boarding. The bus usually boards at the very last bus bay, past all the other long-distance coaches.
When the bus passes this structure, the airport is nearby.
My bus at JB airport
JB Senai airport is a small airport, nowhere as fancy as Changi airport or even KLIA airport. Still there are some shops pre-departure and a few shops past departure.
Past security, there are some vending machines that sell hot meals at a reasonable price.
I purchased the salmon rice meal. It comes with utensils as well.
Ice-cream vending machine
All the departure gates faces the runway and taxiway, making for some great plane-spotting.
Spotted Singapore Airlines planes coming and leaving JB Senai airport. Probably due to weather or congestion at Changi Airport.
Walking on the tarmac to my plane, an ATR72-500
One of the rare times I fly on an ATR propeller plane
Firefly is a full-service airline. On the short domestic sector, all passengers are given complimentary snack and beverage.
Once arrival at Subang airport, I followed the signs towards the terminal skypark station. The bridge is actually on the second floor of the airport terminal building.
I crossed a covered overhead bridge and then a fairly long walk to the skypark station. It is covered all the way, in case of inclement weather.
The airport train station is quite deserted. So is the train ride. Probably because most passengers either catch a ride or take the bus from or towards the airport. Also, Subang airport itself is not as frequently used compared to KLIA and KLIA2, the hub of AirAsia. I alighted the train at KL Sentral and was soon on my journey.
This is how I travelled from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. A train ride across to JB Sentral, followed by a bus ride to JB Senai airport, then a cheap domestic flight to KL Subang, finally an airport train ride into the city. Though there are multiple transfers, this can be a cost-effective way of getting to KL.
This routing gave me a chance to sample the KTM shuttle train ride, my Firefly flight, the Malaysian airports in Senai and Subang and of course the airport transfer options.
