On the return trip back to Singapore, I chose to travel on Transtar. This will be my fourth trip with Transtar. I’ve tried their Premium Double-Decker and First Class Single-Decker coaches on my previous trips. This time round, I will travel onboard the luxurious First Class Solitaire coach, which is currently only available on the Singapore-Genting Highlands route.

I made my way down to their branch at Hock Seng Building, Lavender Street a week before my departure date. This branch is also known as the Transtar Express Terminal where Premium and First Class coaches to Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Genting Highlands depart. I did not buy my tickets in Malaysia as seats for First Class Solitaire has almost always sold out way earlier. I chose to book at this branch because the staff are more accommodating and it’s less crowded than Golden Mile Complex branch. Luck was on my side as there was only one seat left for the trip back to Singapore. Booking and payment was done in just under 10 minutes. My inaugural trip on the First Class Solitaire has been confirmed!

PC3L and PC5G ready for departure to Singapore

There are currently four Solitaire buses on the roads, PC3L (green), PC5G (green), PC22G (maroon) and AGG555 (maroon). The e128d Twindex bodywork was designed and assembled by sksBus coachworks, one of the largest coachbuilders in Malaysia. Transtar has plans to operate as many as 23 Solitaire buses by 2010. The Solitaire, however, will not replace the First Class buses. As mentioned earlier, the Solitaire is only available on the Singapore-Genting Highlands route.

The Solitaire seats a maximum of 18 passengers; 14 on the upper deck and 4 on the lower deck. There is an extra seat on the lower deck but this is not used most of the time. Like any other First Class buses, a row of single seats lined both sides of the buses. But what sets the Solitaire apart are the innovative cocoon seats. Instead of reclining seats, the cocoon seats slides down at the push of a button to become a ’sleeper’ bed. All seats are equipped with a massage system, also at a push of a button. The Solitaire features an individual entertainment system with over 170 channels of the latest blockbuster movies, music videos and concerts from the world’s top performers, award-winning documentaries and children programmes. A video game system loaded with popular games such as Super Mario Brothers are also available. All of these are available throughout the journey.

18 Individual Seats, Personal TV with Entertainment System, Seat Belts, Audio/Video-On-Demand, PC Games, Coach Attendant with F&B Service

View from the front

View from the back

A blanket and a bottle of mineral water is also provided for each passenger

Food and beverage are also served onboard by the coach attendant. For those who prefers to do some work on the laptop, or need to recharge their handphones, a power point is available at each seat.

Fast-forward and it’s time to head back to Singapore. Transtar Express has two ‘drop-off’ and ‘pick-up’ points in Genting Highlands; First World Hotel Bus Terminal and Genting Hotel. The Premium buses will arrive and depart from First World Hotel Bus Terminal whereas the First Class and Solitaire buses will call at Genting Hotel. A waiting lounge for First Class and Solitaire passengers was also available.

The seat in an upright position

The seat in the full 'sleeper' mode

It was quite hard for me to find the Passenger’s Lounge at Genting Hotel, where I was told to check-in. Although the unit number was stated on my ticket, there seem to be no indication of such a lounge at the hotel’s directory. Believe it or not, it took me nearly half an hour just scouring around Genting and Highlands Hotel. To make it worse, the Solitaire buses were parked just outside Highlands Hotel, and not Genting Hotel! At that point of time, I was thinking, maybe the lounge has been moved to Highlands Hotel and it was not updated on the ticket. Still, I did not find any Transtar Lounge at Highlands Hotel. I only found the Passenger’s Lounge while walking through the shopping arcade, for the third time! Only this time round, I decide to venture nearer to the Skyway Cable Car Station. 

There were a few passengers at the lounge when I checked in. After showing my ticket to the ticketing officer and confirming the bus, I was told that I may board the bus immediately. I wasted no time and headed to the bus, which was parked outside Highlands Hotel entrance. The bus deployed for the 3.15pm trip was PC22G, a Euro-4 compliant Scania K380EB triaxle, double-decker coach. The coach attendant for the trip, Ms Hidayu, stood by the door to welcome all passengers onboard. At 3.15pm sharp, the bus left Genting Highlands. The journey down the steep slopes of Genting Highlands was a breeze. A brief stop for some shopping will be made at Batu Caves, as announced by the coach attendant on the way down.

The rear view of PC22G

The bus reached Batu Caves at around 4.10pm, almost an hour after we left Genting. The other passengers onboard alighted to do some shopping at the local produce shop while I took the opportunity to snap some pics of the bus. The bus continued the journey back to Singapore at around 4.35pm. It’s interesting to note that the bus took a rather scenic journey through the Kuala Lumpur city centre before entering the North-South Highway.

PC22G at Batu Caves

Nyonya Fried Rice with Butter Chicken

A light snack was served not long after the bus reached Sungai Besi Toll Plaza. A cup of tea/coffee and 2 slices of Egg Mayo and Tuna Sandwich was served to all passengers. I was a bit disheartened to know that only sandwiches were served. Or so I thought. The bus made a 10-minute toilet break at Kg Bemban, Malacca. Almost 10 minutes after the bus continued the journey, Ms Hidayu once again went along the aisle and prepared the tray as well as the cutleries – for dinner! My initial thoughts that meals won’t be served were wrong. A packet of Nyonya Fried Rice with Butter Chicken and Pickled Vegetables were served for dinner. It was sumptuous and piping hot. It was back to the movies after that. The super comfortable bus made the journey even more relaxing. Time flies so fast…

The onboard Coach Entertainment System

The bus reached Gelang Patah Toll Plaza just before 9pm, 5 hours after we left Genting. 20 minutes later and we will soon reach Tuas Checkpoint for Singapore’s immigration clearance. Just before we entered the Immigration Complex, we were told to switch off the monitors, due to Singapore’s regulation that does not allow such entertainment to be shown while on Singapore’s roads. The bus finally reached its destination at Lavender MRT Station at 10pm. A longbut fun and exciting 6-hour journey.

My trip on Transtar this time round is the best yet. From the point of booking, to checking-in, to boarding and all the way to the point of disembarkation, I was treated to smiles and hospitality not seen with other bus companies I’ve travelled on. Everything was done without a hassle and up to my expectations. The level of comfort and entertainment onboard the Solitaire coach is certainly worth every single cent of my money. Food was also above my expectations. However, I’d love to see more variety of drinks to be served onboard. Not just tea and coffee. I have to say that Transtar has really prove itself as one of the premier coach providers between Singapore and Malaysia. I will certainly recommend anyone to try out their Solitaire service, because it lives up to its name!

I’m pleased to award First Class Solitaire a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Contact Details:
Singapore – Transtar Travel Pte Ltd
Golden Mile Complex
#01-15, Beach Road
Tel: +65 6299 9009

Regent Star Travel
#B1-01, Lavender MRT Station
Tel: +65 6292 9009

Transtar Express Terminal
Hock Seng Building
#01-01/02, Lavender Street
Tel: +65 6295 9009

Genting Highlands – Transtar First Class Passenger’s Lounge
Lot G/LG 6.00, Genting Hotel
Tel: +603 6101 1771

Genting Highlands – First World Bus Terminal
Transtar Express Counter No. 1
Tel : +603 6436 2088

Kuala Lumpur – Transtar First Class Passenger’s Lounge
No 10, Ground Floor, Pasarakyat Bus Terminal
Jalan Melati (off Jalan Imbi)
Tel: +603 2141 1771

Online Ticketing:
http://www.transtar.com.sg
http://www.transtar.travel

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