KULAI - The Shuttle Selatan service linking Kulai, JB Sentral and Pasir Gudang was launched today, and is expected to benefit more than two million people across the three areas.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the service will initially operate on two main routes, namely Kulai-JB Sentral-Kulai and Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru.
He said the government also plans to expand the service in future by extending the route from Paloh to Kulai via Kluang, Renggam and Layang-Layang stations.
"Three new stations are also planned, namely Taman Daya, Bandar Baru Sri Alam and Pasir Putih, to ensure more people can benefit from rail-based public transport,” he said at the launch of the shuttle service at Kulai KTM station.
Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The service offers a faster and more comfortable travel option for users, with the journey from Kulai to JB Sentral taking about 40 minutes, while the Kempas Baru to Pasir Gudang route takes around 40 to 45 minutes.
Loke said that to ensure smoother first- and last-mile connectivity, the government has also introduced supporting measures, including feeder bus services, coordination of Bas.My routes, a dedicated shuttle service at Kempas Baru, and park-and-ride facilities at AEON Bandar Dato’ Onn.
To encourage the use of public transport, he said the government has introduced the Commuter MADANI Shuttle Selatan Card, with 3,000 cards distributed free to people in Johor.
He said the RM50 travel card allows users to enjoy unlimited rides on the Shuttle Selatan for a specified period.
"Through this initiative, the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) has allocated more than RM150,000 as an incentive to encourage the public to switch to public transport,” he said.
He added that Johor, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, requires an efficient and reliable public transport system in line with the expansion of its industrial, logistics, port, education and trade sectors.
"Shuttle Selatan was introduced to strengthen connectivity between residential areas, city centres and key industrial zones in the state,” he said.
The implementation of Shuttle Selatan is the result of close cooperation between the Ministry of Transport, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and RAC. - BERNAMA