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I Rode a Cheap Business-Class Train in Malaysia for $35; Amazing Value

The Nation Times Team
I Rode a Cheap Business-Class Train in Malaysia for ; Amazing Value


  • I purchased business-class train tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth, Penang.
  • I liked the personal Ruby Lounge for business-class passengers and the cozy seats on the practice.
  • The stress-free journey took 4 hours and included a meal, snacks, plus espresso and tea service.

My mom, who was a first-class common on the Paris metro within the Sixties and ’70s, has at all times instilled in me the worth of upgrading to the very best class on the practice.

At instances, she instructed me, she was virtually alone in luxurious for just a bit bit extra money. Although I have been on lengthy practice rides in international locations from Italy to Morocco, I do not at all times observe her recommendation and spring for an improve.

Nevertheless, it felt like a no brainer throughout my second trip to Malaysia, one that may take me up the nation’s west coast, from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.

My husband and I have been planning to take a KTM ETS practice with two ranges of seats: customary and enterprise class. The latter solely price about 150 Malaysian Ringgit, or about $35, per ticket.

Although enterprise class was about double the price of the fundamental fare, it nonetheless felt like an inexpensive worth to me.

So, I booked my tickets as early as doable — about two months earlier than our journey — to make sure that we have been capable of snag one of many 36 premium seats on the practice of our selection.

Our journey started at KL Sentral station, which felt trendy and cozy.


View of KFC window, seating, and massage chairs in lounge

There is a KFC in KL Sentral station.


Alice Levitt

We began our journey on the principal Kuala Lumpur practice station, KL Sentral. The transit hub had loads of seating areas, plus a number of retailers and eating places, from Kentucky Fried Chicken to Relaxation ‘N Go stations with therapeutic massage chairs.

We had about an hour to burn earlier than our practice left and have been tempted to slot in a fast meal at KFC, which we would heard was glorious in Malaysia.

However since we would be consuming on the practice quickly anyway, we headed to the business-class lounge as a substitute.

One of many biggest perks of a business-class ticket is entry to the personal Ruby Lounge.


Ruby red cushioned chairs on gray carpet

The chairs have been good and soft.


Alice Levitt

The business-class lounge was all the way in which on the prime of the constructing, with massive home windows overlooking the entire station.

A concierge was there to reply questions and information company to their trains. We solely needed to scan our boarding passes to entry the soft purple chairs the place we waited for our practice to reach.

My favourite a part of the Ruby Lounge was the complimentary drinks.


Nescafe machine with cups next to cuckoo water machine

I appreciated the complimentary drinks within the Ruby Lounge.


Alice Levitt

As excited as I used to be to have free, speedy WiFi and a personal toilet, I used to be happiest concerning the lounge’s Nescafé machine. All three of its choices felt completely Malaysian.

Ipoh-style white espresso options condensed milk to lighten and sweeten it. Teh tarik, manufactured from black tea and condensed milk, turned a day by day behavior for me in my two weeks within the nation.

When it is ready at eating places or tea homes, it is poured excessive to combine and funky the substances, however I discovered that it is greater than tasty sufficient out of a machine.

Milo was one other go-to for me, and what I ultimately ended up selecting whereas within the Ruby Lounge. It is a chocolaty malt drink that is widespread around the globe (however not in North America).

When the ETS platinum practice arrived, the concierge lined us as much as head to the platform.


Train with "C" on side at platform 1

Every coach had a letter.


Alice Levitt

We took an elevator all the way down to the platform, the place the practice was ready for us.

Enterprise class accounts for less than one in all six coaches on the practice. We introduced our baggage all the way in which to educate A, the place I would booked us the entrance two seats.

Although we would be making a number of extra stops earlier than we hit Butterworth in Penang, the coach already appeared fairly filled with boisterous fellow vacationers leaving Kuala Lumpur.

The seats felt luxuriously padded, and we had numerous legroom.


Single chair with high arms, fabric-covered with leather head rest facing wall on train

The seats on the practice have been comfy.


Alice Levitt

Seats have been in a 2-by-1 association — in the usual class, they’re 2-by-2. Giant baggage was saved at the back and front of the automobile, so we had loads of room for leisure.

As a result of we have been sitting within the entrance, we missed out on the footrests that different rows in enterprise class had. However irrespective of, we had tons of room to stretch our legs.

We additionally had a number of shops out there close to our seats in case we wished to cost our electronics.

A display at every seat permits for even better consolation.


Seatback screen with food and beverages for sale on it

I used to be tempted to order a few of the fairly priced drinks.


Alice Levitt

One arm of the chair has a pull-out tray desk and the opposite a stowaway display, which permits vacationers to purchase meals and drinks not supplied with their ticket, search the web, and watch films.

I used to be tempted to order a teh tarik for 3 RM, however earlier than I might, an attendant arrived with our lunch.

Lunch was much better than I anticipated, particularly in comparison with airline meals.


Packed rice meal in plastic container next to snack box, water bottle on tray

I used to be fairly happy with the meals on my practice journey.


Alice Levitt

I did not have excessive expectations for the meal and snack field included with our upgraded ticket, however I used to be pleasantly shocked.

My lunch consisted of a bottle of water and a segmented tray full of disarmingly flavorful bites.

The rice was no mere pile of basmati, however nasi kahwin, a lemongrass-spiced mix of grains that is often reserved for particular events in Malaysia. It was paired with boneless ayam percik, a hen dish that is candy with coconut milk, in addition to a tangy mixture of greens referred to as acar rampai.

I additionally obtained a snack field containing a KitKat, salted peanuts, and fruit juice. Later within the journey, espresso and tea service was out there (and so have been mushy double-chocolate muffins).

Although a few of the different passengers have been being too noisy for us to sleep, this was a calming journey that handed rapidly.


Author Alice Levitt smiling on train

All in all, we had a fantastic journey and I am glad we paid for enterprise class.


Alice Levitt

This four-hour journey to Penang solely cemented my opinion that enterprise class is the way in which to go in case you’re touring by means of Malaysia.

Do not get me incorrect — the practice appeared clear and wonderful within the different part, too, however I used to be happy with what $35 purchased me. I favored having extra legroom and completely loved the tasty meals and lounge entry.

As soon as we arrived, discovering the ferry to George City, Penang’s capital metropolis, was simple. Nevertheless, the crush of the gang on the ferry solely jogged my memory of how luxurious an upgraded train trip might be.





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