Monorail, Kuala Lumpur

Monorail is cool! Apart from the fact that it is cool because it takes you fast to where you want to go, high above the ground (so you get good views), it is really COOL because of the airco. And that's very nice in KL, where even the locals ( ;-) Jen) are complaining about the temp...

The public transportation in KL is just excellent. One reason what makes it a great city.

The monorail is finally finished and offers an alternative to navigating the clogged tarsealed arteries of KL. Since 1995, when I first visited, KL has become less pedestrian friendly, so the monorail and LRT make life a little easier for the city explorer. I didn't actually get a chance to use it in 2004 when I was in KL on business for a few days, but I did go up and have a look at the Bukit Bintang Station on Jalan Sultan Ismail (pictured). Fares looked reasonable from memory.

Among all modes of transportation in KL, I like monorail the most. It's just like a sigh-seeing train, travelling in the middle of the air, enabling you to look at the city from a different angle. Moreover, the trains are new, very well air-conditioned and fast.... they are really fast, i felt like having a ride in an amusement park~!~

When I first wrote this tip the monorail in KL was about to open on the 31st August. I had just seen a train go by the window of the internet cafe I was then sitting in (Sun 24th August).

The word 'mass' as in transit does not really come to mind as the two-car trains can't hold that many people.

On the other hand it will provide a very useful link from the Sentral (correct spelling!) Station to the Bingtang / golden triangle hotel area.

It is a pity they could not site the station at Sentral station a bit closer - it will mean a short walk through the car park to get the service.

This is the cooles way to go around KL. It is cheap, comfortable, fast and frequent. Looking at the jams below you, makes you smile ...

It is a new thing in KL and they had just extended the operational hours in November - from 7 am till 10 pm.

KL Monorail - the "missing link" in KL's integrated transportation system started its commercial operation on 1 October 2003.

With effect from 1 November 2003, its operation hours is from 7am till 11pm daily. By January 2004 it will be fully operational with additional trains and extending its operation hours from 6am to 12 midnite.

The route links Titiwangsa (Jln Tun Razak) and KL Sentral, passing through KL's golden triangle and major shopping areas. The fares start from RM1.20 to RM2.50.

The train system in KL is inexpensive and efficient, although it can get a little confusing--there are 2 different lines and you can't freely transfer between them. The Central station (which links to the train lines out of KL) looks state of the art.

4 more images

single fare from KL Sentral to Chow Kit was M$2.50

excellent birdseye views of KL skyline and traffic!