ID :
16687
Fri, 08/22/2008 - 18:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/16687
The shortlink copeid
LRT TO GET ADDITIONAL COACHES TO COPE WITH PASSENGER INCREASE
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB), the asset operator for the LRT-STAR and LRT-PUTRA, plans to procure an additional 32 train sets to increase ridership capacity to about 500,000 passengers daily, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said Thursday.
In a statement, he said the new trains would arrive in stages early nextyear with full delivery completed by 2011.
"In order to fulfill the increasing demand, or usage of both LRT-STAR and LRT-PUTRA which totals about 300,000 passenger daily, I am given to understandthat SPNB has planned to procure the additional train sets," added Ong.
In a surprise move Thursday morning, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who took rides on the KTM Komuter and LRT rail service from Serdang to the city centre, expressed dissatisfaction over the services provided and wantedimmediate improvements.
He said the existing services were not systematic and there were not enough coaches, adding that coverage was not comprehensive, leaving many areas notserviced.
Ong said the Government had allocated RM200 million to procure 10 sets of Electric Multiple Units (EMU) to meet the increasing demand or usage of KTMB Komuter services in Klang Valley, which totalled to about 100,000 passenger perday.
He said the new sets of EMU were expected to arrive in stages in 2010 and on top of that, five sets of Electric Train Sets would be procured to facilitate the KL-Sentral-Ipoh Fast Train services which were expected to arrive in2010.
Meanwhile, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) in a statement Thursday, said the critical shortage of train sets was the main cause of overcrowding incommuter trains.
It said the shortage was due to a major overhaul programme pertainingto 50 KTM Komuter train sets which had been operating since 1995.
Thus, KTMB was forced to operate only 27 train sets per day although theyneeded between 36 and 40 sets to operate efficiently.
The statement added that KTMB would also change the seating arrangement and increase the hand-grips in the coaches in line with the increase inpassengers.
In a statement, he said the new trains would arrive in stages early nextyear with full delivery completed by 2011.
"In order to fulfill the increasing demand, or usage of both LRT-STAR and LRT-PUTRA which totals about 300,000 passenger daily, I am given to understandthat SPNB has planned to procure the additional train sets," added Ong.
In a surprise move Thursday morning, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who took rides on the KTM Komuter and LRT rail service from Serdang to the city centre, expressed dissatisfaction over the services provided and wantedimmediate improvements.
He said the existing services were not systematic and there were not enough coaches, adding that coverage was not comprehensive, leaving many areas notserviced.
Ong said the Government had allocated RM200 million to procure 10 sets of Electric Multiple Units (EMU) to meet the increasing demand or usage of KTMB Komuter services in Klang Valley, which totalled to about 100,000 passenger perday.
He said the new sets of EMU were expected to arrive in stages in 2010 and on top of that, five sets of Electric Train Sets would be procured to facilitate the KL-Sentral-Ipoh Fast Train services which were expected to arrive in2010.
Meanwhile, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) in a statement Thursday, said the critical shortage of train sets was the main cause of overcrowding incommuter trains.
It said the shortage was due to a major overhaul programme pertainingto 50 KTM Komuter train sets which had been operating since 1995.
Thus, KTMB was forced to operate only 27 train sets per day although theyneeded between 36 and 40 sets to operate efficiently.
The statement added that KTMB would also change the seating arrangement and increase the hand-grips in the coaches in line with the increase inpassengers.
