Gua Kelam 2 train no longer running

The train in Gua Kelam 2 in Perlis is no longer running. Apparently it ceased operation in 2013. Although I have never been on it, I have been into Gua Kelam 2 many times, before the train project even started. I was with the Malaysian cavers who discovered the cave in 1992. And I was with the team who later surveyed the cave. In 1996 and again 1998 British Cavers also explored the cave, see Axbridge Caving Group report and the 1998 report.

A report about the train was published in Bernama 28 Dec 2015. I will reproduce it here as the Bernama reports don't stay on their www.

Safety Factor Cited For Discontinuation Of Cave Train Service

KANGAR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Safety of the people has been cited as the primary reason for the discontinuation of the train service in Gua Kelam 2 (Cave of Darkness 2) in Kaki Bukit that ceased operation in 2013 after a three-year run.

Perlis Tourism Committee chairman Abdul Jamil Saad said today a study by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and the Public Works Department found that the cave walls would not be able to withstand the level of the train vibrations.

He also said that the state government could not come up with the millions of ringgit that would be needed to strengthen the cave walls if the train service was to be resumed.

"The state government decided against resuming the train service due to the safety factor although it has helped to draw tourists to the cave," he told Bernama.

The service, then handled by the State Department of Forestry with the collaboration of the Tourism Ministry, involved a two-coach train carrying a maximum of 20 passengers per trip on a 400-metre journey every two hours per day.

Besides Gua Kelam 2, the Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness) of 370-metre length that stretches into the Nakawan Range from Kaki Bukit town to Kampung Wang Kelian is also a major tourist draw.

It is odd that the train stopped running in 2013 yet this was only in the news at the very end of 2015.
It is also 'interesting' that one excuse/reason is "the cave walls would not be able to withstand the level of the train vibrations". I suspect this is just an excuse as there are trains in other caves around the world that don't affect the cave walls. Probably the oldest and most famous is the train at Postojna Cave in Slovenia. This train has been in operation for more than 140 years and covers 3.7 km.


The Gua Kelam 2 railway in 2010 -

Geckos in Malaysian caves

I sometimes see gecko eggs in caves in Malaysia, and much less often, see the actual gecko.

Geckos are commonly seen in houses in Malaysia, where they are called cicaks, due to the call that they make.

The cave geckos belong to the genus Cyrtodactylus, commonly known as bent-toed geckos.

These geckos were seen in caves in Perlis

Eggs

This one in Perak

and some eggs

These photos were taken in Dark Cave at Batu Caves

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Update :

3 new species of gecko have been found in and around Merapoh caves by Dr Lee Grismer. See article in The Star on 3 Sept 2013, "In search of herps".

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© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Tasik Meranti Road Shaft, Perlis

In July 2010 I joined some British cavers from South Wales on a caving expedition to Perlis. The objective was to look for new caves and to survey them, and explore known ones that hadn't been mapped, and for one member to dive resurgences.

We stayed in Perlis State Park.

We found some new caves, and visited some I have already been to. We surveyed the caves

roots growing thru rock

old Landie

Well laden for exploring a new cave at Tasik Meranti

and getting ready. The entrance is right by the road. We needed to use SRT as there was a pitch in the cave

and inside

another vertical section

We called this cave Tasik Meranti Road Shaft.

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Tasik Meranti Road Shaft register number Prs 85/03.

See more on Wang Mengkuang .

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Wang Mengkuang cave tin mine, Perlis

Wang Mengkuang 2 is a natural cave that has been mined for tin. It is in Tasik Meranti area, north of Kaki Bukit in Perlis. I visited the cave with some cavers from UK in 2010. It is about 407 m long.

The horizontal passage has a clear stream running out

In some areas the narrow passage has been widened

There are a few bats

Some of the old pipes are heavily calcited.
There are still pegs in the walls and light bulbs left by the miners

The cave now ends in a sump, here is Tony looking into it

Wang Mengkuang 2 register number Prs 85/02.

See more on a nearby cave Tasik Meranti Road Shaft.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

some tourist sights in Perlis

During our caving expedition to Perlis, we did have some time off from caving to do tourist things.

I have been to Perlis many times for caving and know the area quite well, but it has been a few years since my last visit. I was surprised at the number of changes, such as new roads, more tourist facilities etc. There's a new market at the Wang Kelian border.

We were so close to the Thai border at Wang Kelian that I used to pop across to the Thai side for meals, and go to the duty free shop. I was amused to see lots of Thais every day buying large floor mats from the Malaysian side and taking them across to Thailand - these mats are made in China!



Wang Kelian market

Early morning in Perlis State Park -



The road is green and rubbish bins made from old tyres

Kaki Bukit fire station , but there are 3 bikes blocking -



Kaki Bukit temple

View from top of the hills




 Gua Kelam

new stairway to Kelam 2

adit entrance                                       

river exit to Kelam 2



 keep clean - but people dump rubbish

 Railway entrance to Kelam 2 -

 Going towards Wang Kelian (above)

 chickens going for a ride!

 Thorny tree

 park toilets

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission