Booking train tickets

[Baz Faz]

Next month we'll be in Malaysia. I am trying to book train tickets (or at least get times) for 3 journeys with zero success. On the modern long distance trains you have to have bought a ticket with a reserved seat and I can't do it. Malaysian Railways own site is slow and frustrating. In theory I can book one month ahead but I find a date more than a fortnight ahead just comes up with a message that the trains aren't scheduled yet.

Man in Seat 61 recommends 12GoAsia but that simply says there are no seats available for any train, no matter what date I put in. However, delving into their site I came across this gem:

Then you have to enter the names of the passengers. If you travel by train or aircraft, it is necessary that you also enter your passport number and gender. You should know if you are male or female

I like that last bit about knowing whether you are male or female. We have a friend in America who has turned from Charlie to Carla and is having an operation next week. I wonder what he/she would put in...

[Baz Faz]

Aha, I have managed to find some dates/times on the Malaysian Railways site for one of the journeys. But trying for another journey I am stymied because Monday on the calendar is obscured by an announcement that I have 3 messages. The messages turn out just to be advertising stuff but I have not yet found a way of getting rid of them so that I can tap on Monday on the calendar.

[kuskiwi]

That message is loud and clear Baz ... Your life is to be dictated by advertising so travel on an advertising free day.
Love the You should know if you are male or female line. I work with someone who has changed name and gender but who still has a very deep voice and confuses the heck out of most people when talking to themn.

[Baz Faz]

I thought I would abandon train travel in Malaysia and travel by bus. The first bus I looked at was from KL to Ipoh. Fortunately I didn't book it but googled Ipoh bus station. Turns out it is 15 kilometres from the city. What a farce. So I did more research on trains and have got a site that will book the train tickets (you have to book tickets and get an assigned seat) and I can print out a voucher and pick the tickets up at the station. And I don't have to decide whether I am a man or a woman. Triumph.

[Voy]

Just praying that this really works when you present the voucher. My confidence level is not very high.... I'm sorry to say.