Wee: ECRL project proceeding on schedule

PETALING JAYA: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is progressing smoothly and according to its construction schedule, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“I am happy that the construction progress of the ECRL project is running smoothly and according to the construction schedule.

“With the effort and cooperation of all parties, I am confident that we can complete the ECRL project as planned,” he said during a visit to the construction site in Kuala Terengganu yesterday morning.

Dr Wee Ka Siong visit Terengganu - fb

Dr Wee was briefed by Kuala Terengganu Division Bridge Construction chief Wang Jian Guo.

The 665km-long ECRL will traverse Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, and link to Port Klang via the northern part of Selangor.

The minister also visited the Road Transport Department (JPJ) state headquarters in Kuala Terengganu, where he praised the performance and quality of service provided.

Dr Wee commended the staff led by its director Zulkarnian Yasin.

“The implementation of the completely cashless payment system is a good approach as it simplifies things for people and saves time spent queuing at JPJ counters.

“By optimising the use of the six existing kiosks and adding another six this year, it can guarantee fast service and reduce waiting time at the counters, providing comfort to the public when dealing with JPJ.

“The existence of a special lane or ‘prime lane’ that prioritises the disabled, pregnant women, elderly and victims of the recent floods is praiseworthy as it will help the public with their dealings here at JPJ,” he said during the visit.

Dr Wee said the addition of 20 JPJ cars this year will help provide services to people who lived far from the department or Urban Transformation Centre branches, especially catering to rural folk.

He said the Stage Bus System Transformation (SBST) known as MyBas, (a subsidy programme for stop-and-go bus services), has been implemented smoothly in Terengganu

“There are four routes between Kuala Terengganu-Merang Jetty, Kuala Terengganu-Marang, Kuala Terengganu-Bukit Payung and within Kuala Terengganu city which have been created to meet the needs of the people,” he said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Dr Wee who is the MCA president, officiated the re-opening of the Marang MCA division service centre, following repairs over a one-and-a-half year period.

The Star.com.my

KTMB offers special charter service to ferry bicycles

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 ― Cycling enthusiasts can now explore further experience including in the countryside with the introduction of special charter trains or the Express Bicycle Coach (XKB).

The new service by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) allows cycling enthusiasts to bring along their bicycles into the specially prepared coach to their desired destination to start cycling.

KTMB chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin said the service was introduced to give hardcore cycling enthusiasts a new and unique experience besides fulfilling the demand from passengers who want to relive the experience of diesel locomotive services as opposed to electric train services.

“When taking the train, they can explore interesting cycling locations along the KTMB train route throughout the country, including Thailand through the cooperation of the State Railway of Thailand.

“This would indirectly make their trip a safer journey apart from being less tiring because they don't have to drive to a farther location,” he told reporters after the launch of the new service here recently.

At the launch, some 150 participants were invited to take a ride on the XKB from the Kuala Lumpur station to the Tanjung Malim station before cycling for almost four hours over a distance of 49 kilometers via Sungai Bil - Behrang Ulu - Sungai Dara - Sungai Bil and cycling back to the Tanjung Malim station.

Mohd Rani Hisham added that the bicycle coach that was introduced was originally a modified passenger seat coach that could accommodate 60 bicycles at a time.

“For now, we have prepared three bicycle coaches and the bicycles will be placed on special equipment to ensure they remain stable during the journey.

“We have also added an ADNS coach (Air-conditioned Day/Night Second) or a sitting coach that can accommodate 60 passengers in the XKB package,” he said and added that the XKB service was a gesture to show support for the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS).

 

He said the rental cost depends on the type of coach and the travel distance based on the needs and wants of the customers which are offered at an affordable price.

“We also provide rental of special coaches with different facilities such as leisure coaches, conference coaches, special salon coaches, sleeper coaches and buffet coaches which can be accompanied by a bicycle coach according to the customer's request,” he said adding that they were prepared to collaborate with event organisers or promoters.

For cycling enthusiast, Dr Razul Ikmal Ramli who in his 40s, the XKB service was a good effort in encouraging more people to venture into the sport as it facilitates travelling as well as saves time and energy.

 

“Every facility provided is very organised in fact KTMB also provides a special route for cycling, thus allowing fans to enjoy the beauty of the location while promoting the tourism activities available in the area.

“After all, cycling is a recreational activity that promotes green mobility in an effort to maintain a green environment,” said Dr Razul, who is also Mata Hati Malaysia’s secretary.

Meanwhile, bank officer Mohd Saleh Zakaria, 50, plans to use the service during a trip with his cycling club, Santai Riders Cycling Club to the east coast at the end of the year.

“Earlier we rented a bus when we had a cycling trip from Perlis to Hatyai, Thailand, perhaps after this, we will try to take the train.

“I'm sure if we were to drive, it will be tiring and we will run out of energy to ride later,” he said.

YouTube content provider Mohammad Jazlan Nangar, 34, described the service as a golden opportunity for folding bike enthusiasts to ride as a group.

“The presence of this bicycle coach gives us more options, especially when cycling in a group outside the Klang Valley,” said Jazlan who has been involved in cycling since 2014. ― Bernama

Related post;

PULSE - Prasarana Journey Planner

MRT Kajang Line - First MRT Line Opening in 2016

MRT KAJANG LINE

The first line of the Klang Valley MRT Project implemented is the 46km Kajang Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line).

The line begins from Sungai Buloh, located to the north-west of Kuala Lumpur, and runs through the city center of Malaysia’s capital city before ending in Kajang, a fast developing town to the south-east of the city.

MRT Kajang Line 4 coach train

The line runs underground for a distance of 9.5km beneath the centre of Kuala Lumpur while the rest of the alignment is elevated. The line has 31 stations of which seven are underground.

When Phase 1 of the Putrajaya Line begins operations in mid-2021, 2 stations namely Sungai Buloh and Kampung Selamat will be transferred to become stations on the Putrajaya Line. Kwasa Damansara will become an interchange station for both the Kajang Line and Putrajaya Line. Trains for both lines will start and end at this station, allowing passengers to transfer from one line to the other.

 

In 2011,NKRA (National Key Result Area) for public transport is to increase ridership by 40% so that the initiative to build up the MRT is to support other established public transport operators such as KTM, ERL and Prasarana itself

Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) Station will also become an interchange station for both the Kajang Line and Putrajaya Line when Phase II expected begins operations in January 2023.

Phase I of the Kajang Line from Sungai Buloh to Semantan began operations on 16 December 2016. The Phase Two, from Semantan Station to Kajang Station started its operations on 17 July 2017, allowing trains to run the entire alignment.

Each train set serving the line have four cars, allowing a total capacity of 1,200 passengers. The daily ridership is estimated to be about 400,000 passengers. Trains will run at a frequency of 3.5 minutes. (MRT Corp)

TRAIN FREQUENCY

Weekdays peak hours - every 4 minutes

Off peak hours - 7 to 15 minutes

Time	Frequency (minutes)
6:00 am - 7:00 am	10
7:00 am - 9:00 am	4
9:00 am - 5:00 pm	7
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm	4
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm	8
10:00 pm - 12:00 am	15

LRT, Monorail and MRT Best Transportation System in Malaysia - Work In Progress

There are talking about rail system generally and comparison made with another rail performance in another country such as US and UK. However, in Malaysia rail industry are growth gradually. 

As for now KTM is the 'pioneer' in the industry, later on is STAR LRT (Ampang/Sri Petaling line-1996) and PUTRA LRT2 (Kelana Jaya line- 1998), KL Monorail (Aug 2003) and the latest is Mass Rapid Transit (MRT- 2016)) Kajang line and Putrajaya line is in progress and shall be start their revenue in mid of 2021 for first phase

Few years ago, Ampang/Sri Petaling line had replace old train (Adtranz-Walkers) with the new set of train with SATO CBTC (communication_based control control) system as evolution of rail industry in Malaysia.

The new Ampang Line train - video from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad , click here

1996-Old STR-LRT train

TV3's doing the coverage on MRT SBK train system is showing that how important rail industry and something that must be proud of.

In October 2012, the consortium SSSC was awarded the contract to supply 58 new driverless four-car metro trains for the Metro Klang Valley MRT project. The fully automatic system, which went into service in December 2016 has since changed the way urban and suburban Malaysians commute.

Some value input video from Siemens  MRT.

'Each four-car train set has a capacity of 1,200 passengers. MRT Corp has set itself a daily ridership target of 400,000 commuters. The Inspiro trains are able to accommodate such loads as they are much more spacious than the light rail transit (LRT) trains that are in operation at the moment. The interior of the driverless trains is designed by DesignworksUSA, a subsidiary of the BMW Group'- 

The Edgemarket.com

Kajang line (formerly known as SBK) has started their operation in 2016 and the expansion project to complete Putrajaya line phase 1 is in progress

Debate on MRT Malaysia is better than New York City Subway or London Underground are always written in social media. However,  as Malaysian shall be proud of it as mention in the New Straits Time on July 27, 2017 wrotes by NOORSYAZWAN NAZRI, Final-year student of Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey

 

Sources from Youtube: Secret of New York City Subway System

As for conclusion, Malaysia are on the right track to become efficient rail service provider in future with the right mindset of people who run the country. It is work in progress ...

References: 

Prasarana Malaysia Berhad

 Nigel Craven (Youtube)

TV3 Malaysia Official

The Star.com.my

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