IPOH-KUALA LUMPUR ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE TO START EARLY NEXT MONTH

BATU GAJAH (Malaysia), July 27 (Bernama) -- The Electric Train Service
(ETS) between Ipoh (capital city of northern Perak state) and Kuala Lumpur will
start operations on the first week of August with eight return trips daily,
Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha said Tuesday.

At a fare of between RM30 (US$9.4) and RM35 (US$11), each trip would take
about two hours and would only stop at selected stations, he told reporters at
the launch of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad's Complex by the Sultan of Perak,
Sultan Azlan Shah here Tuesday.

Kong said the number of stops for the ETS service had to be reduced to
meet the estimated time for each trip, besides giving comfort to the passengers.

"Each trip will use one set of ETS train which comprises six passenger
coaches... each coach has a capacity of 50 passengers and the total number of
passengers for each trip will be between 300 and 350," he said.

Meanwhile, Kong said the RM78 million (US$24.4 million) complex built on a
60 hectare site would house the KTMB Academy development centre, train
maintenance depot and workers' quarters.


"The modern infrastructure made available at this complex will also enable
KTMB to increase its productivity, especially when highly-skilled personnel were
produced by the academy.

"The Transport Ministry is also optimistic that the complex will play a
vital role in KTMB's sustainable development," he said.

He said the academy would also function as an Asean Train Excellence Centre
(Acer) since the proposal was being discussed by train operators from Asean
countries. (US$1=RM3.19)

-- BERNAMA