Direct trains to Batu Caves for Thaipusam

KUALA LUMPUR: Devotees heading to Batu Caves for Thaipusam can look forward to a faster and more convenient journey this year.

KTM Bhd is providing 182 direct shuttle trains between the old KL railway station and Batu Caves in conjunction with the festival.

It will be the first time KTMB is offering the service which will run for three days from Jan 19 to 21. Thaipusam falls on Jan 20.

An additional 36 trains will also be provided for return trips on other routes which are the Rawang-KL, Seremban-KL and the Klang-Batu Caves lines.

“We expect 80,000 people to use the additional services this year,”said KTMB commuter services senior manager Azreen Mohamed Yusup, adding that food and drink stalls as well as a reflexology corner would be set up at the Batu Caves station.

She said passengers will also enjoy a special discount on ticket prices from any station heading towards Batu Caves.

Meanwhile, visitors to Batu Caves will be able to take a cable car ride to the Sri Subramaniam Swamy Temple at the top of the hill next year.

Temple chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said the RM10mil project is expected to be completed in time for the 2012 Thaipusam festival.

“The service will benefit the elderly and physically disabled who are unable to climb the 272 stairs,” he said.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the temple management and the developer of the cable car service, Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeways, during Thaipusam on Jan 20.

He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had accepted the invitation to join the celebrations and witness the signing of the MOU along with Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Vijay Gokhale.