Kereta api Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) (Jawi: كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin. Previously known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) and the Malayan Railway Administration (MRA), Kereta api Tanah Melayu acquired its current name in 1962. The organisation was corporatised in 1992, but remains wholly owned by the Malaysian government. Fares are generally reasonable, but the low frequency of the intercity trains does not usually make them competitive with other modes of transportation.
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| KTMB Headquartres, Kuala Lumpur |
Situated at the far corner along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (it was previously Victory Avenue) and Jalan Perdana in Kuala Lumpur, the Malayan Railway Administration Office, also known as Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Berhad), KTMB was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a colonial-government architect who was at that time the Architectural Assistant to the Director of Public Works. The Malayan Railway Administration Office building was formerly known as the FMS Railway Head Administration Office. The initial planning started in 1913 and construction began at 1914. However, due to the impact from World War I and sluggish economy, construction progress was rather sluggish and the building was only completed in November 1917 after the First World War ended. It was handled and planned by C.E Spooner, the Director of PWD and also General Manager of F. M. S. Railway from 1901- 1909 with the help of Ang Sing, a local contractor. The total sum of construction was RM780,422. The Malayan Railway Administration Office building is the final government building to be built under the “Monumental Buildings Programme”. The programme started with the construction of Sultan Abdul Samad building and ended with Malayan Railway building namely around 1895 to 1917. During the Second World War in 1945, this building was the train administrative centre at that time which escaped the bombing in 1945 during World War II. This building is located opposite the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station building, separated by Jalan Hishamuddin. Initially, this building is used as FMS Railway Head Administration Office. Later in 1946, it was known as “Malayan Railway Administration Headquarters”, and in 1985 it is fully-utilized as KTM Berhad’s head office.
