YESTERDAY, I tried out the new MRT.  Living in an area with minimal bus service or feeder bus access to the LRT, I wanted to see what it would be like travelling to town entirely by public transport. 

With the launch of phase 2 of the Sg Buloh-Kajang line, the line now extends into the city centre. It took me a 15-minute walk to the MRT feeder bus stop where I waited for just under 15 minutes. 

I was a little unfortunate as the bus had just turned the corner as I reached the stop.  So, my first experience was that the buses ran on schedule as the sign indicated that buses arrive at 10-15 minute intervals.

On the bus, I used my Touch ’n Go card although cash is also accepted.  The charge was RM1 but be aware that the system deducts RM3 from the card when you tap it and then refunds you RM2 when you exit. 

The ride was pleasant and the bus practically empty. However, a short chat with the polite and friendly bus driver, Jo, revealed that the buses are full in the mornings, after school and after office hours. 

The trip to the MRT station at Pusat Bandar Damansara took about 10 minutes with the TnGo machine showing the next stop after passing each bus stop.   

Pusat Bandar Damansara station is an elevated station, so there was a long escalator ride going up.  The station was large, clean, bright and airy and well signposted.

I checked out the toilets and they were clean, too. The station was impressive with a number of MRT staff members hanging around waiting to assist.  One area of improvement is that they could show where the feeder bus stops are when you exit the station.   

There are signs showing when the next three trains are expected to arrive and the train arrived on schedule. The ride was smooth and quick. 

My first destination was the Pasar Seni station. This station is underground and we reached within 10 minutes. So, all in all, a quick journey into town. 

Going up the escalators to the ground level, there is voice reminder to hold on to the rails for safety.

I explored the station a little and found that there was a connecting bridge to the Pasar Seni LRT – direct to the platform. From the outside, it appeared as if it was a distance away but when walking along the air-conditioned connecting bridge, you don’t feel the distance. 

I walked back to the MRT station and tagged out and walked outside the station just to see what it looked like externally.

Then it was back into the station for the next trip to Merdeka Station, also underground. This station was pretty with a large mural of Tunku Abdul Rahman and a wall depicting the Rukunegara. There was also a stylised version of parts of the star on our national flag above the escalators. 

Merdeka station has a connecting bridge to Plaza Rakyat LRT station that seems to be on the road level but I didn’t check it out.  Instead, I walked out of the station and took a walk along Jalan Hang Tuah toward the Bukit Bintang MRT station.

The Bukit Bintang station has six entry/exit points and the station is built rather deep underground with the two platforms at different levels. 

The station can also be used as an underpass to cross the road so that was useful. The Bukit Bintang station also connects to the monorail. 

Next stop was Muzium Negara. I did this so that I could see how the Muzium Negara station connected to KL Sentral, the hub for all rail transportation.

Again, this was seamless.  While the Muzium Negara station is underground, the connection to KL Sentral is partially underground and partially elevated.  There are connections to the Hilton and Le Meridien hotels as well.  You finally end up at KL Sentral at the KLIA ERL side. 

One issue is that there doesn’t seem to be a way for travellers or tourists to just get to the National Museum. To access the museum, you need to go through the Touch ’n Go turnstiles.

Checking with the information counter, I was told that you could pass through for a fee of 40 sen.  However, there was no sign to this effect. 

It may have been a better idea to simply have a separate section dedicated as a walkway for visitors who want to go to the museum. The same applies for those wanting to go to the St Regis hotel – they need to pass through the turnstiles. 

Another area of improvement would be the signs to the MRT station.  There is no mention from KL Sentral that the MRT station is the Muzium Negara station.  I was stopped at KL Sentral by an Arab woman who wanted directions to the museum. I told her to follow the signs to the MRT for Muzium Negara, not knowing that the signs simply state MRT.

It was then back to Pusat Bandar Damansara and this is where I realised there was no sign stating where the feeder buses were.  These are all small issues and hopefully will be addressed.

Suffice to say I was impressed. Really impressed. The service was punctual. The trains were large and clean and fully automated with no drivers. 

The stations impressive and I liked the seamless transfers to the LRT at interconnecting stations.  So yes, all in all, a satisfying experience using the new MRT. Let’s hope it only gets better and I’m glad I finally have an option to go into the city without driving. – July 21, 2017.

* Dharm Navaratnam reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.