This southern lass shall no longer complain the next time she has to take the bus back to Johor. I never thought the day would come, but it has! Thanks to the new Terminal Bersepadu Selatan-Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS-BTS).
As far back as I can remember, Malaysian bus stations are smog choked rodent infested buildings with lots of seedy characters hanging around. As such the opening of TBS-BTS early this year, heralds a new era in the country's express bus transportation industry.
In fact this RM570 million state-of-the-art complex is one of the best things to happen in this country, post-Mahathir era. Barring of course Islam Hadhari and that highly Utopian concept -1Malaysia.
For someone who has griped a fair bit about the state of public transportation in Malaysia, I have nothing but praise for the terminal operator - Maju TMAS (Terminal Management and Services).
What's great about this new terminal:
It operates like an airport
There is a centralised ticketing system in place. Passengers get to pick the bus company, departure time and seats of their choice just by the touch of a screen.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticketing counters manned by TBS staff or at the self-service kiosk found at the concourse level.
There are huge screens throughout the complex displaying information on bus arrivals, departures and gate numbers.
Passengers must proceed to the departure lounge 30 minutes before their bus is due to arrive. Only those with tickets will be allowed downstairs.
Once downstairs passengers are required to proceed to their respective departure gates and hand their tickets to the personnel on duty to be recorded into the system. In all there are 21 departure gates. Ample seating is provided at each gate.
An announcement will be made just before the bus arrives at the gate. Information about the bus will also be displayed on the screen above the gate.
Easily accessible
TBS is well connected to the Ampang Line LRT, the KTM Komuter service and the KLIA Transit system via a pedestrian bridge.
Has direct access to the BESRAYA (Sungai Besi Expressway) and the MRR2 (Middle Ring Road 2).
Taxi and shuttle bus bays are available on the ground floor. Long distance taxi service is available at level 4 of the complex.
Cool restaurants and retail outlets
Starbucks Coffee, Kenny Rogers, KFC and Wendy's are slated to open at TBS. As for the retail outlets there will be 7-Eleven, Be Pharmacy and Blue Dot Communication among others.
Other services
TBS is WiFi enabled. It will also house a POS Malaysia Bhd branch, clinics, a luggage center and lockers for the further convenience of passengers.
It's hard to get lost
There are plenty of information panels throughout the building to guide passengers. If you're still lost, just look around you, the management has ensured that there are personnel strategically located at different areas of the terminal to offer assistance.
Happy travelling folks!
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