It's Curtain Down For Southern Express, Personnel Share Fond Memories

By Nur Fadhliana Shaari dan Nur Faradilla Mohamad

GEMAS, Dec 31 (Bernama) — The Southern Express (ES) train, which will end its operations starting tomorrow, will not only leave sweet memories for passengers, but will also highlight the role of the people behind the scene who faithfully ensure that every journey of the diesel locomotive is safe and smooth.

For them, the tasks at the depot and track entrusted to them bring their own challenges and unforgettable moments, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) Gemas Engineering and Maintenance Depot senior executive, Rosnizam Ahmad Yunus. 

Early in the morning, Rosnizam, 41, and his team will gather at the depot to review the schedule of trains that will be operating that day to ensure the safety of passengers.

“We always emphasise pre-trip inspections by ensuring that each major component such as the brake system, signaling equipment, wheels and axles, bogies and power systems are in optimal condition.

“This procedure helps detect early signs of damage thus ensuring that trains operate according to schedule without the risk of disruption or delay,” he said when met by Bernama at Gemas KTMB Station recently.

Although the task may seem routine, every day brings different challenges that require high precision, including detecting noises, vibrations or small changes in the train that have their own meaning and need to be inspected immediately.

Among the components that most often show early signs of problems and wear out are the brake system, wheels and bogies, electrical system, automatic door system and high-speed air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Starting his career as a cargo train inspector at Port Klang Depot, Selangor in 2006, Rosnizam said that one of the biggest challenges for the maintenance team was the pre-trip inspections that had to be carried out in a short period of time, especially during ‘multiple departures’.

He said bad weather, poorly lit areas and narrow working spaces under the train made visual inspections difficult, in addition to the constraints of incomplete or broken diagnostic equipment.

Rosnizam also shared an unforgettable moment when a coach of the Southern Express experienced a brake system problem about 10 years ago, when the train’s departure time was only 15 minutes away.

“However, after the cause was identified and the components were replaced, the brake system of the coach in question returned to working properly. When I saw the train finally leave the station, I felt proud because our efforts had paid off,” he said.

For senior locomotive inspector (SLI) at KTMB Gemas Station, Mohd Kamal Asmawi, 49, who is responsible for monitoring the operations of crews and locomotives from Tumpat, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur to Gemas, although the Electric Train Service (ETS) has introduced a more efficient modern era, the sentimental value of ES remains embedded in his heart.

“As a Johorian, I am proud to see this development in line with the country’s progress, including the transition from diesel to electric locomotives which shorten travel times and improve passenger comfort.

“However, the sentimental value that may be lost. The older generation still remembers the experience of riding the night train, stopping to eat at the station, the relaxed atmosphere on the platform and the process of separating carriages in Gemas for different routes,” he said.

Mohd Kamal who started his career as a locomotive driver in 1996, said those memories are difficult for the younger generation to experience today since most services now use direct routes without long stops.

With almost three decades of service, Mohd Kamal has gone through various phases of change from the early morning diesel engine vibration to the silence of a modern electric train gliding silently on a double track.

“Many of my memories start in Gemas… the locomotive, the smell of oil, the sound of the horn, the noisy platform are all part of my life,” he said.

He said the transition to ETS has brought significant improvements in terms of travel time and passenger convenience as they no longer have to change trains in Gemas, thus reducing fatigue and making luggage management easier.

The Batu Pahat native also shared the most meaningful memory in his career when he was given the opportunity to demonstrate locomotive driving techniques of ETS to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, starting from the single track era to the completion of the double track.

“Throughout my service, I had the opportunity to guide His Majesty the Sultan of Johor. His Majesty is very kind and in my opinion, since His Majesty has been involved in the railway service, this project has progressed faster.

“Overall, I am grateful to have witnessed first hand the development of the national rail service from the diesel era to electricity and hope that this progress continues to benefit the people,” he said.

Yesterday, KTMB announced that the ES service on the Gemas–JB Sentral–Gemas route will be terminated effective 1 Jan 2026, as part of the optimisation of passenger service operations on the southern line in line with the infrastructure development of the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electric Double Track Project.

Previously, this service was known as the Southern Shuttle, which travelled from Gemas to Woodlands with train numbers 61 and 62.

-- BERNAMA