FIRST CHINA MADE EMU FOR KTM COMMUTER SERVICE TO ARRIVE BEFORE SEPTEMBER

From Alan Ting
ZHUZHOU (Southeast China), July 7 (Bernama) -- The first consignment of 38
Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) units of six-car trains ordered by Malayan Railways
Limited (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad - KTMB) for commuter services will arrive
in Malaysia before September, said Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha.

He said the EMU, build by China state owned CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive
Co. Ltd (CSR ZELC) were well ahead of the schedule with the first consignment
expected to be put into service before the end of this year.

"The delivery will be in stages with full delivery of the total 38 EMUs
by June next year," he told Malaysian reporters here after "the roll out
ceremony" for the first of the 38 EMU sets of the six-car trains ordered by KTMB
at SCR ZELC plant here.

Also present were the Governor of Hunan Province Xu Shousheng, chairman of
CSR ZELC Zhao Xiaogang and KTMB President Dr Aminuddin Adnan.

KTMB has signed an agreement with ZELC, a well known China EMU builder on
May 19 last year to purchase custom-build EMU sets of the six-car trains for
commuter service in Klang Valley under the government's National Key Results
Areas (NKRA) for public transport.

Kong said the custom build EMU specifically to run on Malaysia meter gauge
(measuring one metre or 3 ft, 33/8 inches wide) which can travel up to 140 km/h.

He said the purchase of 38 EMUs cost RM1.89 billion (US$627.7 million) and
was awarded to ZELC based on the lowest price offered in their bid for the
government procurement tender.

"The contract does not include Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) which
we are still looking into awarding soon," he said.

The trains of six sets has a futuristic design, using latest train
technology from China with two KTM engineers based here for the past three
months to ensure all systems follow the specifications set by KTM.

Each train set is capable of carrying about 900 passengers and this means
KTM can double its passenger transport rate as well shorten the waiting period
from currently 30 minutes to 10 and to only seven and half minute at peak hours.


Meanwhile, Dr Aminuddin said the 38 new EMUs will be used to serve the
routes between Rawang-Sungai Gadut, Batu Caves-Port Klang, Sentul-Port Klang and
Batu Caves-Rawang.

He said with the entry of new EMUs from China, the usage of "EMU hybrid'
will be reduced.

KTMB had introduced the use of EMU Hybrid trains since last year to overcome
the problem of cancellation, delays and shortage of trains.

The KTM Komuter EMU Hybrid sets use diesel locomotive power with the help of
power-generating car that provides electricity for their air-conditioners,
public address system and automatic doors.