SOUTHEAST ASIA'S LONGEST CARGO TRAIN LAUNCHED

PADANG BESAR (Malaysia), Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad
(KTMB), the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia, launched Monday what is
touted to be Southeast Asia's longest cargo train, measuring 800 metres.

KTMB Kargo general manager Azman Ahmad Shaharbi said the train, with 50 coaches,
would serve the Padang Besar-Penang Port sector and took nine hours per trip.

The duration would be reduced significantly to between four and five hours upon
the completion of the Ipoh-Padang Besar double tracking project in 2013, he
said.

"With the increase in the number of coaches, we will also be able to transport
more goods and fulfil the customer's requirements," he told a news conference
after the launch, here.

He added that among the enhancement made to the locomotive was changing the
vacuum braking system to that of an air braking system.

He said that tests carried out in April and July this year showed that the
locomotive was capable of pulling up to 50 coaches.

KTMB president Dr Aminuddin Adnan said the RM2.5 million (US$806,972)
Ipoh-Padang Besar double tracking project, passing through northern states of
Perak, Kedah, Penang and Perlis, was now 53 per cent completed.