KTM Komuter Northern Sector

The KTM Komuter Northern Sector (Malay: KTM Komuter Utara) is one of the five KTM Komuter services run by Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). The service was introduced on 11 September 2015 following the completion of the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrification and Double-Tracking Project in December 2014, which also saw the extension of ETS services to Padang Besar from Ipoh.

KTM Komuter Northern Sector
1   2
KTM Class 83 at Padang Besar Railway Station
Overview
Native name	KTM Komuter Utara
Status	Operational
Owner	Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Locale	Greater Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis
Termini	Padang Besar Ipoh Butterworth
Stations	23
Website	www.ktmb.com.my
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	KTM Komuter
Services	1  Ipoh–Butterworth  2  Padang Besar–Butterworth
Route number	1   2
Operator(s)	Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Komuter Division)
Depot(s)	Bukit Tengah
Rolling stock	KTM Class 81 3-car formation KTM Class 83 3-car formation KTM Class 92 6-car formation
History
Opened	11 September 2015 (2015-09-11)
Technical
Line length	Butterworth–Ipoh: 162 km (101 mi) Butterworth–Padang Besar: 169.8 km (105.5 mi)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed	Up to 120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map Northern Sector network to Hat Yai Thailand Malaysia international border Padang Besar Bukit Ketri Arau Perlis Kedah state border Kodiang Anak Bukit Alor Setar Kobah Gurun Sungai Petani Kedah Penang state border Tasek Gelugor Butterworth Perai River swing bridge Bukit Tengah Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam junction Simpang Ampat Nibong Tebal Kerian River bridge Penang Perak state border Parit Buntar Bagan Serai Bukit Merah Lake Railway Bridge Kamunting Taiping Larut Tunnel Bukit Berapit Tunnel Padang Rengas Kuala Kangsar Perak River bridge (Formerly Victoria Bridge) Sungai Siput Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur, Gemas & Johor Bahru Sentral

Currently, the KTM Komuter Northern Sector consists of two routes, namely the Butterworth - Padang Besar route and the Ipoh - Butterworth route. The lines share tracks with KTM ETS services, though the Komuter services call at stations also not served by ETS.

Lines, stations and rolling stock

The KTM Komuter Northern Section consists of two routes:

•  1  Ipoh-Butterworth Line
•  2  Padang Besar-Butterworth Line

Since November 2021, the Butterworth-Padang Rengas route replaced the Bukit Mertajam–Kamunting route. The Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Tengah and Butterworth stations are common stations between the two lines. On 16 September 2023, the Butterworth–Padang Rengas route was extended southwards to Ipoh.

⇄ = cross-platform interchange

Station Name	Platform type	2	1	Interchange station/Notes
Padang Besar	2 Island	●		Northern terminus. ⇄ KTM ETS
Bukit Ketri	2 Island	●
Arau	2 Island	●		⇄ KTM ETS
Kodiang	2 Side	●
Anak Bukit	2 Side	●		Access to Sultan Abdul Halim Airport within 5 to 8 minutes by taxi. ⇄ KTM ETS
Alor Setar	2 Side	●		⇄ KTM ETS
Kobah	2 Side	●
Gurun	2 Island	●		⇄ KTM ETS
Sungai Petani	2 Side	●		⇄ KTM ETS
Tasek Gelugor	1 Island 1 Side	●		⇄ KTM ETS
Bukit Mertajam	2 Island	●	●	Interchange station ⇄ KTM ETS
Bukit Tengah	2 Island	●	●	Interchange station
Butterworth	2 Island	●	●	Access to George Town by Penang Ferry Service. Interchange and central terminus. ⇄ KTM ETS
Bukit Tengah	2 Island	●	●	Interchange station
Bukit Mertajam	2 Island	●	●	Interchange station ⇄ KTM ETS
Simpang Ampat	2 Side		●
Nibong Tebal	2 Side		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Parit Buntar	2 Side		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Bagan Serai	2 Side		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Kamunting	2 Island		●
Taiping	2 Side		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Padang Rengas	2 Island		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Kuala Kangsar	2 Side		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Sungai Siput	2 Island		●	⇄ KTM ETS
Ipoh	2 Side		●	Southern terminus. ⇄ KTM ETS

The train that are used to run on this track were the Class 83 and Class 92 while the other sets are used to operate on the Central sector.

Schedule

KTM Komuter Northern Sector has 2 routes/lines, in which they have their own schedule.

The (modified—with additional handle bars) interior of a Class 83 EMU train.

History

The KTM Komuter Northern Service was introduced on 11 September 2015. The initial service ran between Gurun in Kedah, Butterworth in Penang and Kamunting in Perak. On 1 January 2016, a service between Butterworth and Padang Besar in Perlis was introduced. With the introduction of KTM Komuter services on this section, two KTM ETS services that ran between these stations have ceased, reducing the number of ETS services between the stations to make way for the new KTM Komuter service.

On 17 January 2016, the original Gurun-Butterworth-Kamunting route was replaced with two separate routes: Butterworth-Gurun and Butterworth-Kamunting. These two lines together with the Butterworth-Padang Besar line operated until 1 July 2016, when the Butterworth-Gurun route was scrapped.

A further revamp of routes on 1 September 2016 saw the Butterworth-Kamunting line being modified, with the northern terminus moving from Butterworth to Bukit Mertajam, and the southern terminus being extended by two additional stations from Kamunting to include Taiping and ending at Padang Rengas.

From November 4, 2021, trains from Padang Rengas and Padang Besar now terminate at Butterworth, making Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam the shared interchange stations between both lines.

An extension of the Padang Rengas line to Kuala Kangsar, Sungai Siput and Ipoh began running on 16 September 2023.

See also

• Keretapi Tanah Melayu
  • KTM Intercity
    • KTM West Coast Line
    • KTM East Coast Line
    • KTM ETS
  • KTM Komuter
    • 1 Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line
    • 2 Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line
    • 10 KL Sentral-Terminal Skypark Line
• Malaysian Railway System

External links

• Keretapi Tanah Melayu official website
• Keretapi.com – Railway Fan website
• Keretapi Tanah Melayu Railway Fan Club website
• KTMB Media Release – KTM Komuter Shuttle Northern Sector