Write up by Carolyn Ritchie
Photos by Carolyn Ritchie and Ellen Matthew
“Let’s go on a train” was the suggestion for this month’s Explorers’ Out and About Trip… The new MRT system was formally opened in July, and on Monday 11th September a group of Explorers got together to see just what all the fuss was about.
We met at the home of Tracy Simpson to watch an amazing National Geographic short film on You Tube. This gave us a tremendous insight into the planning, construction and delivery of this mammoth task, some thirty meters below the centre of Kuala Lumpur. After an insightful presentation from Philippa Matthew explaining some of the finer details and architectural merits of this amazing new transport system it was time to venture out and experience it for ourselves.
We joined the number 9 green line, Kajang to Sungai Buloh, at Cochrane Station (beside MyTown Mall) and travelled to Bandar Utama Station, (the nearest stop to 1Utama Mall).
The system is incredibly slick and well thought out with very clear signage, easy to follow route maps and to save you buying a ticket you can use your Touch and Go card.
We all stood at the front of the driverless carriage and loved whizzing through the tunnels which are all lit up so you can see where you are going. At one point we were climbing steadily and were then thrust from the dark depths below the city, to a wonderful view looking down on the city from high.
It was great to see familiar places from a different perspective and for some it helped them gain a better understanding of the geographical situations of Bangsar Shopping Centre and TTDI. So if you have not yet ventured out and used public transport this could be the way to try it, it’s clean, easy, and very, very cheap….. go on, give it a go!!