A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur |
| Reporting mark | KTMB |
| Locale | Peninsular Malaysia |
| Dates of operation | 1885–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary |
| Length | 2,783 km (1,729 mi) |
| |
| Company type | Government-owned companies thru Minister of Finance (Incorporated) (Malaysia) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50621 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Key people | Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Chairman Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, Chief Executive Officer |
| Services |
|
| Website | www |
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (Jawi:كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railway Limited, colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin. Previously known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) the Malayan Railway Administration (MRA), and the Malayan Railway, Keretapi Tanah Melayu acquired its current name in 1962.[1] The organisation was corporatised in 1992, but remains wholly owned by the Malaysian government.
History
In 1948, the FMSR was renamed the Malayan Railway. The railways had been devastated by the Japanese invasion of Malaya, and efforts were taken to rebuild the two main lines, but many branch lines were abandoned in the process.
The MR began to modernize the equipment with the ordering of diesel locomotives and railcars to replace steam-hauled services, and the first diesel locomotive entered service in 1957. The railcars entered service in 1960, initially on short-haul services.[2] Rapid services were introduced later, cutting travel times from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur down to six hours, which was competitive at the time.[3] MR and later KTM continued ordering more diesel locomotives through the decades, rendering the old steam locomotives redundant. The last steam locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1974.
Malayan Railways also operated an air service from 1954 to 1958, known as Federation Air Service. The service was transferred to Malayan Airways in March 1958.[4]
The 1970s saw the closure of many branch lines, such as the Batu Arang branch in 1971 and the historic Taiping to Port Weld branch in 1972. The Port Dickson branch was converted to freight-only operation in 1972, although seasonal passenger service did continue for a short while.[5] However, construction did continue for a new line to Subang Airport used to transport fuel, which opened in 1980.
Railbuses were introduced in the 1980s for short-haul commuter services. They were deployed in the Klang Valley, on Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh, Ipoh to Butterworth, Gemas to Mentakab and Kulai to Singapore services.[5] On certain routes such as Kulai to Singapore, the railbuses were faster than conventional trains, and in this instance saved travel time of 15 minutes.[5] They lasted until the introduction of KTM Komuter in 1995, which took over commuter services in the Klang Valley.
KTM was corporatised in 1992, with all assets now under the ownership and management of the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC). The company runs as a private enterprise although owned and subsidized by the Malaysian government. There were attempts by private companies to take over the operations since then, but such proposals were rejected by the Malaysian government.[6]
The 1990s saw the start of another modernization programme. Proposals were made to electrify the West Coast line, which started with the Klang Valley area. Electric trains made their debut on 3 August 1995 with KTM Komuter, with services from Port Klang to Sentul and Rawang to Seremban. Under this programme, existing stations were renovated or rebuilt and new stations were built.
The programme was faced with delays throughout the 2000s, with the government postponing many electrification projects. However, from 2007 onwards there was a renewed effort to electrify the west coast line. The completion of such electrification projects from Padang Besar to Gemas to date has allowed the commencement of electrified intercity services in the form of ETS. As the projects were completed in stages, the KTM Komuter and ETS services were expanded over the years to take advantage of the upgraded lines. The East Coast line, which had not seen upgrades for many years, will see upgrades in the form of rehabilitated track, new DMUs and rebuilt stations by 2021.
Railway network
The 1000mm gauge network consists of two main lines and several branch lines.
West Coast Line
The West Coast Line runs from the Malaysia-Thailand Border, where it connects with the State Railway of Thailand, to Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore, serving the West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia. The line runs through most of the major stations in Peninsular Malaysia, such as Gemas, KL Sentral, Ipoh, Butterworth and Padang Besar railway station.
East Coast Line
The East Coast Line branches off from the West Coast line at Gemas, running to Tumpat in Kelantan, serving two of Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast states, namely Pahang and Kelantan. Despite its name, it only meets the coast when it reaches Tumpat railway station. It runs through the interior, often through deep jungle, thus earning the nickname Jungle Railway.
Branch lines
There are several branch lines running from the two main lines. Some are mixed traffic, catering to passenger and freight traffic while others only cater to freight trains.
- Subang Jaya - Terminal Skypark (Passenger - Not In Service [7] )
- Putra - Batu Caves (Passenger)
- Butterworth - Bukit Mertajam (Mixed Traffic)
- Port Klang - Pulau Indah (Freight)
- Butterworth - North Butterworth Container Terminal (Freight)
- Kempas Baru - Tanjung Pelepas (Freight)
- Kempas Baru - Pasir Gudang (Freight)
Infrastructure
The total network spans 1,641 km (1,020 mi). The total length of the network was 1,700 km (1,100 mi), however due to the closure and subsequent removal of the section of tracks between Tanjong Pagar railway station and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, the network is now shorter.
The West Coast line is double tracked and electrified between Padang Besar and Gemas, along with all branch lines used for passenger service along this stretch. As part of the upgrades, all level crossings have been removed and modern signalling installed.
The stations along these line are a combination of heritage stations from the colonial era, such as Ipoh Station and Kuala Lumpur Station, and modern stations that were built when the line was double-tracked, such as Taiping, Butterworth, and Arau stations.
The remainder of the West Coast main line from Gemas Station to Johor Bahru Sentral Station is still in the process of being double-tracked and electrified under the Gemas - Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project.
The East Coast line is single-tracked. Having not seen many upgrades over the years, the line is considerably less modern than the upgraded sections of the West Coast line. Level crossings are still prevalent and the traditional token signalling system is still used. The stations along this line are older and smaller. Although the line will remain single-tracked, rehabilitation works are underway to replace the worn track and many stations are also being upgraded.
Most of the lines use concrete sleepers, which replaced wooden sleepers from 1982 for the Kerdau-Jerantut and Sungai Yu-Tumpat lines and became more widespread after upgrading works in recent years.
When the East Coast Line rehabilitation work and West Coast line double tracking is complete, the network will exclusively use concrete sleepers.
Rolling stock
| Class | Image | Manufacturer | Year Built | Built | Numbers | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 
|
 English Electric Co. Ltd.
|
1948-1949 | 20 | 15101-15120 | Diesel-Electric | Decommissioned.
as of July 2021: 1 unit, No. 15101 is preserved at KTMB Sungai Petani Station. |
| 16 | 
|
North British Locomotive Company
|
1955 | 6 | 16101-16106 | Diesel-Hydraulic | Decommissioned |
| 17 | 
|
 Kisha Seizo
|
1964 | 15 | 17101-17105 | Diesel-Hydraulic | Decommissioned |
| 18 | 
|
 Brush HMA
|
1979 | 10 | 18101-18110 | Diesel-Electric | Decommissioned. As of February 2024: No. 18109 is preserved at Johor Bahru Old Railway Station @ Museum and 1 unit preserved at Batu Gajah Depot. |
| 19 | 
|
Hitachi
|
1983 | 10 | 19101-19110 | Diesel-Electric | In Service. As of February 2024: 4 units active, 6 units inactive. |
| Class | Image | Manufacturer | Year Built | Built | Numbers | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 
|
English Electric Co. Ltd. Associated
Vulcan Foundry Locomotive Works |
1957 | 26 | 20101-20126 | Diesel-Electric | Decommissioned. No. 20125 preserved at Sultan Alam Shah Museum, Shah Alam and one of the cab of No. 20116 is on display infront of Victoria Station Restaurant in Jalan Ampang. |
| 21 | 
|
Kisha Seizo
|
1965
1968 |
25 | 21101-21115
21201-21210 |
Diesel-Hydraulic | Decommissioned. As of February 2024: 1 unit, No. 21111 is preserved at People's Museum, Malacca. |
| 22 | 
|
English Electric
|
1971 | 40 | 22101-22140 | Diesel-Electric | Decommissioned.
As of February 2024: 5 units preserved : National Museum (No.22121, re-numbered to 22102), First Galleria Taiping (No.22125), Tampin District Garden (No.22131), Johor Bahru Old Railway Station @ Museum 3 transferred for use by civil engineering contractors. |
| 23 | 
|
Hitachi Ltd. Japan
|
1983 | 15 | 23101-23115 | Diesel-Electric | In Service.
As of February 2024: 4 units active, 11 units decommissioned with 1 unit preserved at Istana Sultan Johor |
| 24 | 
|
Toshiba Corporation Japan, associated Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Japan.
|
1987 | 26 | 24101-24126 | Diesel-Electric | In Service. as of February 2024: 8 units active, 2 units inactive, 16 units decommissioned with 1 unit preserved at Mess Sri Kota, Bukit Tunku KL |
| 25 | 
|
 Electro-Motive Diesel
|
1990
2002 |
17 | 25101-25112
25201-25205 |
Diesel-Electric | In Service. As of February 2024: 15 units active, 2 units inactive. |
| 26 | 
|
 - Adtranz
|
2003 | 20 | 26101-26120 | Diesel Electric | In Service.
As of February 2024: All 20 units active. |
| 29 | 
|
 Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock
|
2005 | 20 | 29101-29120 | Diesel Electric | In Service. as of February 2024: All 20 units active. |
| YDM4 |
|
American Locomotive Company
|
1996 | 39 | Diesel Electric | Exported |
| Class | Image | Manufacturer | Year Built | Built | Numbers | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL | CRRC
|
2015 | 2 | EL001-002 | Electric | Decommissioned, returned to China |
| Class | Image | Manufacturer | Year built | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 
|
 Commonwealth Engineering
|
1960 | Diesel-Electric Railcar | Decommissioned |
| 28 | 
|
Hitachi
|
1966 | Diesel-Electric Railcar | Decommissioned |
| Railbus | 
|
 Ganz Mavag
|
1988 | Diesel Railbus | Decommissioned |
| 61 | 
|
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive
|
2019 | Diesel-Electric
Multiple Unit |
In service |
