KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - PASSENGERS travelling on KTM trains will in the near future be able to surf the Internet, watch live shows and movies, hold birthday parties or even take part in karaoke and telematch games.

These are among the new onboard services when the operator rolls out its new train coaches in three years' time.

KTM Berhad general manager, Intercity Services, Sarbini Tijan said the move part of effort to attract passengers, especially the younger travellers, to use the train services.

He said that in the pipleline are new services including entertainment on board such as live shows and movies in a mobile cineplex onboard the train.

'Even telematch and other games could also be organised on board,' he said, adding that the services are expected to launch with the KL-Ipoh route when the coaches costing RM240mil arrive from South Korea in 2010.

He gave the details at a press conference on Monday to launch a new ticketing booking services through SMS (short message service) and mobile ticketing at KL Sentral.

It costs RM2.50 for booking and confirming the departure date and time as well as ticket collection. Price of ticket not included.

All the passenger needs to do is send an SMS via mobile phone by typing KTM and send it to 32425. -- THE STAR/ANN.