JOHOR BARU: The Southern Express (ES) train service, which will be terminated on Jan 1, has played an important role in facilitating the daily activities and movements of residents in southern Johor and the Iskandar region, recording 2.6 million passengers since its introduction in 2016. "The ES has made a big impact because it connects large and medium-sized towns on the southern route such as Segamat, Kluang, Labis, Kulai and Johor Baru. Afzar said indirectly, the service has contributed to economic development along the southern line as users utilise the train for work-related, economic and tourism-related movements. On Monday (Dec 29), KTMB announced that the operation of the Southern Express train service on the Gemas - JB Sentral - Gemas route will be terminated effective Jan 1 after nine years of operation. He said the train service also helped smooth traffic flow by providing residents with an alternative to using the road, especially during congestion on the main highways connecting to and from Johor Bahru.

Source: The Star December 30, 2025 15:30 UTC