A Malaysian Commuter Train Experience...
 

I was assigned by my Chief Editor to write a piece about cycling and train commuting as there's plenty of hype about carrying your folding bike into a KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) Komuter train.

Personally speaking, I don't think its practical in any way. The Komuter is crowded most of the time and the thought of hauling a 10kg (average weight of a folding bike) bike into the coach can be an experience you won't forget.

Basically, you need to squeeze in with the rest of the commuters as well as make space for the passenger to move.

So, be prepared to get your bike kicked and pushed by the train commuters.

And also: If you want to carry your bike into a Komuter - please BAG it. Here's a set of photos from our recent ride to Seremban from KL Sentral...

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Waiting for my ride

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The commuter station..

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This guy is headed to other way..

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The South-bound line..

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Samo spots something..

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This young lady was unaware that her cracks were showing...

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Its a wardrobe malfunction..

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A view of Platform 2 - South-bound..

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Almost 90% of the commuters in these trains are migrant workers..

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It gets really busy at the rail station's interchange..

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Here's Melvin, my travelling buddy..

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Ready to roll!

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One of the halts along the rail line..

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Its pretty crowded in the Komuter's coach..

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A one-legged man in the coach

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He's using his walker as a seat..

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Getting near our destination...

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Arrival at the Seremban station, some 64km away from Kuala Lumpur..

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This is a Century-old train station..

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Yeah, we have plenty of 'Blondes' in this neck of the woods.. hahaha!

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Rolling out..

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Manouvering through the heavy traffic..

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Melvin, cheerful as usual!

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The peak hour traffic

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My buddy riding along..

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He gets by..

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An old skool bicycle shop..

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They've been in business for at least half a Century..

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A scene from the shop

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Recording a legacy..

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At one of busy junctions..

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We visited a coupla landmarks in this town...

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The traffic is crazy!

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In the mid-town area

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Cruising along..

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Ahhh... Lunch break...

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One of the oldest wantan noodles stall in town..

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There you have it!

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Our meals being prepared..

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Mmmm.. Yeah!!!!! Wantan noodles in dry and dark soya sauce gravyyyyy!!!!

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A bowl on wantan and suey kaw!

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The expression says it all.. hahahaha!

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At another bike store..

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Melvin, who runs a bike store in Kuala Lumpur, doing his Public Relations round..

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Some of the store's merchandise..

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This is good PR!

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Ahhh.. Another food outlet.. One of the best Chicken Rice shop in town!

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A very popular place for lunch..

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Its about five minute's ride from town...

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Waiting for our orders to be taken

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The menu

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Fishball soui

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Chicken and roast pork

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My second lunch.. hahahaha!

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Time to Rock n Roll!

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Time to fold-up, pack and hit the road..

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The welcome banner...

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Waiting for the train back to Kuala Lumpur, roughly about one and a-half hour's ride...

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Thumb's up!

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The ride home..

Darn! I am at work. Pics won't show.

' looking forward to seeing the pics when I get home.

Those pics are making me HUNGRY!....and I just ate!

' gotta get me some asian food tomorrow. This post did it for me again.

Thanks for sharing Samosaurus!

Great thread, thanks for posting the pics.

I love these kinds of adventures.

Sounds like you guys had a good time.

If those trains were packed, how did you guys find a seat? ;-)

One of the things I hate about taking even a folding bike on a train is that you often have to stand. It's much better to sit for an hour and a half than having to stand all the way. Looks like you guys had a good trip.

During the summer, I use the trains but with full size bikes.

Thank you for your kind words guys! :D

Sam :)

Fantastic pics of the er, blondes and bikes! The food pics make me soooo hungry!