Rail Transportation in Kuala Lumpur

Feature Urban Railways in Asia

Hilmi Mohamad

be increased by 8.6 km when the KL network has 40 stations including the new Introduction Monorail is completed in August 2003. KL Sentral Station (Fig. 1). The electrification system consists of a 25-kVac Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital of catenary with six substations drawing Malaysia, has an area of 243 km2 with a KTM Komuter power from Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the population of 1.4 million and a total national power company. current employment of 838,000. It is the KTM Komuter started revenue services as The meter-gauge track with multiple centre of Malaysia’s economic activity the first electric rail service in Malaysia aspect signalling allows trains to run at with 12.4% of total GDP. KL is situated on 14 August 1995 between Kuala up to 120 km/h. KTM Komuter uses within a larger economic zone known as Lumpur and Rawang. The service was three-car electric multiple units (EMUs) the Klang Valley, spanning an area of later expanded to cover 153 route-km of from three different suppliers—Jenbacher 2843 km2. Vehicle ownership in electrified double track between Rawang Transportation System (18 sets), Marubeni Malaysia has passed 10 million vehicles and Seremban, and Sentul and Port Klang Corporation (22 sets) and Union Carriage with an estimated 2.5 million vehicles in (Pelabuhan Klang). The KTM Komuter and Wagons (22 sets). The EMUs have the Klang Valley alone. With the rapid vehicle growth rate of 8% per annum, the government realized that Figure 1 Kuala Lumpur Rail Transit System uncontrolled urbanization and motorization would result in Terminal Putra (Gombak) P Rawang KTM Komuter B P environmental deterioration and more Taman Maluri PUTRA traffic trams and accidents. P Kuang Sentul Timur P Wangsa Maju To meet these challenges, the government Sri Rampai P Sg.Buloh STAR has embarked on major developments in P Sentul Sentul P Setiawangsa P land transport over the last 20 years. P Kepong Jelatek P Titiwangsa Dato Although construction of highways and Keramat P Ampang P Segambut Damai ring roads in and around the city has Kg Baru Ampang Park PWTC Chow Kit P Cahaya improved the traffic flow to some extent, Interchange station Putra KLCC Medan P Cempaka Sultan Tuanku the city centre is still plagued by morning Interchange station Ismail P Pandan Indah STAR and evening traffic jams. The urban bus within walking distance Dang Wangi Bukit Nenas Raja Chulan Pandan Jaya P Bandaraya transportation, which was based on P Car park Bank Bukit Bintang Maluri P Negara Imbi minibuses, has been revamped by Masjid Plaza Hang Chan Sow Miharja P Feeder bus Rakyat Tuah P Pudu Lin amalgamating bus operations into a few Jamek Kuala Lumpur Pasar Seni companies. The last 10 years have also Merdeka Cheras P KL Sentral KL MONORAIL seen development of new rail-based Tun Sultan Taman Bangsar Sambanthan Sulaiman Salak Selatan P Seputeh transport systems like KTM Komuter, the Kelana Jaya Paramount Taman Jaya Kerinchi P Salak Selatan STAR LRT, the PUTRA LRT, and the Taman Asia Jaya Universiti Abdullah Angkasapuri P Bandar Tun Razak P Bahagia Hukum Pantai Dalam P Express Rail Link (ERL) for the new KL Bandar Tasik Selatan P PUTRA Petaling P International Airport. Jalan Templer P P Sungai Besi Kg Dato Harun P Serdang P With the exception of KTM Komuter Seri Setia Bukit Jalil P P Sri Petaling P operated by Malaysian Railway (KTMB), Setia Jaya P Kajang P Subang Jaya P UKM P the other urban railway systems were KTM Komuter A Batu Tiga P STAR constructed according to a build-operate- Shah Alam P Bangi P Padang Jawa P P Batang Benar Putrajaya P transfer (BOT) formula where the private Bukit Badak P ERL P Nilai companies/consortiums signed concession Klang P Teluk Pulai P Salak Tinggi P P Labu agreements with the government to build Teluk Gadong P the railway systems and operate them for Kg Raja Uda P P Tiroi Jalan Kastam P KTM Komuter B some period. At the end of 2002, KTM Pelabuhan Klang P P Seremban Komuter, STAR, PUTRA and ERL had 266 km KL International Airport of railways in the Klang Valley. This will

the automatic train protection (ATP) time commuting to enjoy the advantages Go smart card that is also accepted by system, which monitors the train speed of larger houses. This trend is expected the STAR and PUTRA LRTs, buses and toll and applies the brakes automatically if to continue with more property highways. the driver fails to respond. This safety development occurring further from the Commuter services have affected feature permits one-man operation, city but closer to commuter lines. A property development around commuter which had never been used before in similar phenomena will probably occur stations. When commuter services first Malaysia. in the north when commuter services are started, most stations could only be KTM Komuter’s 215 daily services start extended to Tanjung Malim. accessed from one side. However, at 05:30 and stop at 24:00. Services run To cater for long-distance commuters, development of housing estates and at a headway of 15 minutes during the KTM Komuter operates two express commercial properties around stations morning rush from 05:30 to 09:30, and services in the morning from Seremban has required the opening of second this frequency is also maintained during to KL, and two express services from KL access points. The need for better access the evening peak from 15:30 to 20:00. back to Seremban in the evening. They and links with bus stops and other The service frequency is reduced to one make only three stops, reducing the transport modes like taxis has required train every 30 minutes at other times. journey time from 1 hour 15 minutes to construction of covered walkways, etc. To ensure efficient ticketing, KTM exactly 1 hour. Popular stations like Seremban, Kajang, Komuter uses an automatic fare To increase peak capacity, especially over Serdang and Sungai Buloh also need collection (AFC) system with ticket the section between Sentul and Port larger car parks. vending machines (TVMs), automatic Klang, two three-car sets are coupled Property development near commuter gates and magnetic-strip tickets. together to form a six-car set with only lines has created new markets. KTMB Although the AFC system has a closed- one driver. Three six-car services run identified a few locations such as Mid system design, KTM Komuter faces some during the morning and evening peak Valley, Sri Damansara and Seremban problems, especially where the railway hours. Two for construction of new stations to fences have been breached by villagers KTM Komuter caters for various travel meet increasing demand. The most for illegal crossing of tracks. To control requirements with various types of attractive site is at Mid Valley where fare evaders, KTM Komuter employs tickets. In addition to the normal single there is a mega-shopping complex as roving ticket inspectors to make spot and return tickets, regular users can buy well as a hotel, offices, and ticket checks. 12- and 24-trip tickets at 20% discount. condominiums. This new station is At present, KTM Komuter carries about Regular travellers using a monthly season expected to be completed in mid-2004. 64,000 passengers daily, 61% of whom ticket enjoy a 33% discount. To Currently, KTMB is constructing an are young people between 19 and 29. It encourage people to travel during off- electrified double track between is also carrying increasingly more white- peak times, the Tiket Mana-Mana pass Rawang and Ipoh. When completed in collar passengers than when it started. KL entitles the holder to unlimited travel 2005, services will run 55 km further Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya, Bank anywhere on the network on any north to Tanjung Malim with five Negara, Serdang, Seremban, and Kajang weekday after 09:00. It costs just additional stations from Rawang. This stations have high ridership because they MYR6.00 (MYR1.00 = US$0.26). A project will also include rapid train are either in densely populated similar Tiket Kembara day pass for services with new train sets between KL residential areas or are situated close to weekends and public holidays costs Sentral and Ipoh. Another big project government offices or commercial MYR10.00. It is more expensive than the in the pipeline that should be buildings. KL Sentral is the biggest weekday pass because many people use completed in 2006 is the double- connecting station where passengers can KTM Komuter at weekends for leisure, tracking and electrification of a 7.2-km transfer between LRT, ERL and intercity shopping, visiting friends and returning extension from Sentul to Batu Caves, trains. to their hometowns. In line with the passing through new stations at Batu Although located 73 km from KL, government intention to create common Kentonmen, Kg. Batu and Taman Seremban Station collects high revenues ticketing, KTM Komuter will be installing Wahyu. The extension will serve a new because it serves many commuters. contactless Touch’n Go smart card Sentul Station that will be built for the Property in and around Seremban is readers in 2003, giving passengers the joint-venture Sentul Raya property cheaper than in KL and its suburb, so choice of using a normal KTM Komuter development on the site of a former some people are willing to spend more ticket or a prepaid contactless Touch’n railway central workshop.

articulation. The two end carriages each minutes during peak hours. Services run Light Rail Transit had a driver’s cab and were semi- between 06:00 to 24:00. The morning permanently coupled back-to-back to the peak is between 07:00 and 09:00 and the KL has two light rail transit (LRT) intermediate carriage to form a three-car evening peak is between 16:00 and systems—the STAR LRT and the PUTRA set. The trains are now configured with 18:00. Initially, the capacity was 10,000 LRT. The STAR LRT system was four and six cars. passengers in each direction per hour established as a BOT project with a 60 The STAR LRT uses a 750-Vdc third rail using 35 two-car trains. Today, the year lease in November 1991. Revenue electrification system. The signalling is service frequency is between 2.9 and 3.3 operations started on 16 December 1996 based on trackside signalling backed up by minutes during peak hours and between for phase 1 from Ampang to Sultan Ismail an ATP system. The AFC system uses 5 and 10 minutes at other times. (12 km). The line from Pudu to Ampang magnetic-stripe technology with station The system is fully automatic with runs mainly on an abandoned line gates. Passengers can buy tickets either driverless trains supervised by the control formerly operated by KTMB. After KL was from TVMs or at ticket counters. The STAR centre in Lembah Subang Depot. This is awarded the 1998 Commonwealth LRT trains start at 06:00 and stop at 24:00. achieved by using an automatic train Games in 1994, the government decided The service frequency ranges from one train control (ATC) system. The electric power to extend a line southwards to serve the every 3 minutes during peak hours to one is supplied from the national grid to National Sport Complex. As train every 10 minutes at other times. The substations providing 750 Vdc for compensation for operating this low- capacity is 33,200 passengers in each traction and 240/415 Vac to station density extension, STAR received direction per hour. Currently, the STAR LRT facilities. The power supply and approval for a 3-km extension northwards carries about 92,000 passenger each day. distribution system is remotely controlled from Sultan Ismail to Sentul Timur into a The PUTRA LRT was established on 15 and monitored by the Supervisory high-density residential area. February 1994 with a 60-year concession Control And Data Acquisition System The southern extension (phase 2) to design construct and operate a 29-km (SCADA). between Chan Sow Lin and Sri Petaling LRT from Subang Depot via KL Sentral to Since the PUTRA LRT is fully automated, was completed 2 months before the PUTRA terminal at Taman Melati. The it has various safety systems. The ATC Commonwealth Games and KL took mostly elevated route runs through many system uses fail-safe and redundant pride in the smooth transport services high-density residential and commercial computers, and incorporates ATP sub- provided by the STAR LRT and KTM areas on a dual-track guideway. It systems in software. Komuter to thousands of spectators. The includes a 4.4-km tunnel and 2.2 km at The PUTRA LRT’s AFC system uses northern extension was completed in grade. There are 18 elevated stations, magnetic-stripe tickets as well as December 1998, increasing the total five underground stations and one station contactless Touch’n Go smart cards. A route length to 27 km. at grade. It is considered to be the world’s monthly season ticket costs MYR70.00 Originally, each STAR LRT train consisted largest, fully automatic driverless system and allows the holder 1 month of of three single-articulated, two-section using linear induction motors. unlimited travel on the network. carriages with a motorized bogie at each Revenue operation began on 1 Magnetic stored-fare (SF) cards can be end and a trailer bogie under the September 1998 with a headway of 5 purchased from TVMs or at ticket

counters but monthly season tickets can design, finance, construct, manage, time is required to carry the baggage by only be purchased from ticket counters. operate and maintain concession. The train to the airport baggage handling Today, the PUTRA LRT carries about engineering, procurement and system, KLIA Express operator insists that 150,000 passengers each day but the construction contract was awarded to the passengers must check-in at least 2 hours steadily increasing passenger volume SYZ Consortium—a joint venture before their flight departure. The requires more frequent or longer trains. between Siemens AG of Germany, International Air Transport Association Stations on the PUTRA LRT are serviced Siemens Electrical Engineering Sdn. Bhd. (IATA) has assigned the XKL code to KL by PUTRAline flat fare (MYR0.50) feeder and Syarikat Pembinaan Yeoh Tiong Lay CAT so baggage can be tagged to XKL buses. The first operations began with a Sdn. Bhd. The total project cost MYR2.4 from any disembarkation point if a fleet of 90 buses providing services in a billion, financed by a combination of passenger chooses to collect his or her 3-km radius at intervals of 15 minutes equity holdings and loans from a local bags at KL CAT. The checkout facility at during peak hours and 20 minutes at financial institution as well as export KL CAT has yet to be implemented. other times. credits from Germany. Today, the KLIA Express and KLIA Transit After some years of operation, both the Revenue service started on 14 April 2002 carry about 7000 passengers each day. STAR LRT and the PUTRA LRT faced with KLIA Express non-stop high-speed serious financial difficulties in servicing services between Kuala Lumpur City Air loans related to construction of Terminal (KL CAT) and KLIA. Trains Monorail infrastructure and purchase of rolling depart from both terminals every 15 stock. The government restructured both minutes from 05:00 to 01:00 with a The 8.6-km long KL Monorail links the companies in September 2002. They journey time of 28 minutes. They have a recently opened KL Sentral Station (where now operate as the STARline and seating capacity of 156 passengers per it connects with the KTM Komuter and PUTRAline under a company responsible four-car train, and offer an ambience Intercity services, the PUTRA LRT, and the for managing critical public similar to business class on an airplane. ERL), with Titiwangsa (where it connects infrastructure. Reservations are not required because the with the STAR LRT). It also connects with service is operated as a shuttle and the the STAR and PUTRA LRTs at two single fare is MYR35.00. intermediate stations en route. There are Express Rail Link The KLIA Transit is a fast commuter 9 stations between KL Sentral and service operating between both terminals Titiwangsa spaced at about 800 m in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with additional stops at Bandar Tasik central business district. The monorail was built as a major hub airport for SE Selatan, Putrajaya and Salak Tinggi. It is seen by many to be KL’s missing Asia like the airports in Singapore and runs every 30 minutes during peak hours transport link because it will connect with Bangkok. Since it is about 57 km south and the journey time is 35 minutes. The and complement the other urban of KL, a rail link to the city centre was trains can carry 540 people including transportation systems. Construction has seen as essential for getting people to and standing passengers. been completed and the system is now from the airport quickly and the easy The train were built at the Siemens SGP being tested and commissioned with access was expected to enhance KL’s plant in Vienna, Austria; eight sets are revenue service anticipated in August reputation as an efficient commercial and dedicated for the KLIA Express, while four 2003. financial hub. sets are for the KLIA Transit. The KL Monorail is a straddle system and The 57-km long ERL runs over double The ERL uses automatic signalling and the guideway runs mainly above the tracks electrified to 25 kVac along the traffic management system with ATP. The median of main roads in KL’s central entire alignment. There are passing KLIA Express has a semi-open ticketing business district. Initially, the services tracks at intermediate stations to allow system with gates at KL Sentral Station will use 12 sets of two-car trains but each KLIA Express trains to pass KLIA Transit but not at KLIA. There is also a plan to set can be increased to four or six cars trains standing at stations. Since trains install the contactless Touch’n Go smart by inclusion of intermediate cars. The run at speeds up to 160 km/h, the track card system too. maximum speed is 80 km/h with an is standard gauge (1435 mm) instead of The KLIA Express offers baggage check- acceleration rate of 1.1 m/s2. The round the meter gauge used elsewhere on the in for Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific trip time is 39 minutes assuming station KTMB network. Airways and Royal Brunei Airlines at KL standing times of 20 s and a 30-s The ERL was constructed under a 30-year CAT in KL Sentral Station. Since sufficient turnaround at the terminus. Therefore,

60 PUTRA LRT the system can operate at a headway of 50 2.5 minutes. Each car has 24 seats and each two-car train can carry 107 people. 40 STAR LRT To assure absolute safety, the driver-only 30 KTM Komuter trains are supervised by an ATP system 20 at all times. Ridership (million) The stations are constructed mostly from 10 ERL lightweight materials making maximum 0 use of precast concrete components and 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 fabricated steel assembled off-site. With a platform length of 40 m, each station can accommodate trains of up to four cars in length. The 750-Vdc power for passengers using the services during the short and quick entries and exits whereas traction is drawn from the national power past 5 years. Ridership seems likely to the ERL had to ensure that its passengers grid, transformed, rectified and supplied grow as standards of service and could enjoy facilities like those at an to power rails. accessibility improve. airport. The design solution was to give The signalling system uses bi-directional Since KL’s rail networks are operated by each operator its own concourse in order fixed blocks with both trackside and cab different operators, integration is an to assure enhanced passenger services. signals for extra safety. Like traditional important issue. Physical integration with Apart from the station facilities, the LRT systems, the SCADA and associated good station transfers are very important station also houses the KTMB Railway systems are managed from an operation for efficiency. Five stations in KL meet Maintenance Depot for rolling stock control room in an operations control these requirements—KL Sentral, Masjid cleaning, maintenance, and overhaul. centre. Jamek, Titiwangsa, Hang Tuah and Ultimately, the station will form part of The monorail route mainly serves major Bandar Tasik Selatan. Other stations like the integrated KL Sentral development commercial areas such as Jalan Tuanku Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara and Dang that will include offices, shops, hotels and Abdul Rahman and Chow Kit as well as Wangi are within walking distance of condominiums. The station came into tourist areas like Bukit Bintang and main Pasar Seni, Bandaraya and Bukit Nenas operation on 16 April 2001 and the interchanges like KL Sentral. Since it has stations, respectively. whole development, especially the to pass through very developed and KL Sentral is an excellent example of an commercial component, is expected to expensive areas, a monorail running over integrated transport terminal. The station be completed in 2012. The station has the median of public main roads was the and facilities were developed based on 12 platforms and 14 tracks (Table 1). most cost-effective construction choice. a concession agreement between the The Railway Maintenance Depot is Another monorail is presently being government and concessionaire located at ground level under the station designed for Putrajaya, the new controlled by Malaysia Resources building and has five tracks for government administration centre. Corporation Berhad (MRCB). The station marshalling carriages, five tracks for was designed as part of the overall KL maintaining carriages, four tracks for Sentral master plan for redevelopment of maintaining locomotives, plus other Integration the old KTMB marshalling yard at infrastructure like a locomotive load test Brickfields—a 72-acre site running from facility, administration building, etc. The The opening of the KL Monorail in August Travers Bridge in the west to Istana Bridge station is managed under a 15-year 2003 will complete the first phase of the in the east. The requirements of both concession agreement between the Integrated Kuala Lumpur Transit System individual rail operators and passengers government and Semasa Sentral Sdn. (IKLTS) with a total of 98 stations, covering was considered in the design. All three Bhd., a subsidiary of MRCB. The main most of KL and its suburbs. Although operators—KTMB, the PUTRA LRT and intent is to ensure that the integrity of the some areas, like Bandar Damansara and the ERL had specific passenger station and the Kuala Lumpur Sentral major areas of Cheras and Bukit Jalil, are requirements. For example, KTMB’s development is maintained. not covered, the network will form the intercity travellers needed large waiting Like KL Sentral, Bandar Tasek Selatan basis for future extensions and station areas and sufficient space for luggage Station connects four railway services— additions. Figure 2 shows the number of while PUTRA LRT’s passengers needed KTM Komuter, KLIA Express, KLIA Transit

Table 1 Platforms and Tracks at KL Sentral Station Operators Platforms Tracks KTMB Intercity 2 2 MYR100 and offering unlimited use Commuter 4 4 within certain zones. These integration Through tracks - 2 concepts were further reinforced by PUTRA LRT (elevated) 2 2 ERL KLIA Express 22advertising and promotion with a joint KLIA Transit 22opening ceremony, press releases, pamphlets, newspaper advertisements, etc. and the STAR LRT. It will also connect should give priority to easy transfers. In with a new interstate bus terminal that is this regard, the government is planning to be built nearby. Although the to construct interstate bus terminals close Feeder Buses connections are not in the same building, to PUTRA LRT stations for east-coast they are quite close to each. During the buses and close to KTM Komuter stations Since KL’s integrated urban transit system Commonwealth Games in 1998, Bandar for northbound buses. covers a limited number of routes, it Tasek Selatan was a very effective and But physical integration alone is not cannot be 100% effective without feeder busy transfer between KTM Komuter and sufficient to make public transport an buses. KL has a tropical climate and most STAR LRT services, connecting directly attractive choice for the public— people are not willing to walk more than to the National Sport Complex. This passengers are now demanding seamless 600 m in the heat and humidity. phenomenon still continues during major travel between different operators. Therefore, people who use public events at the National Sport Complex like Unfortunately, all bus and rail operators transport either live very close to the soccer matches and concerts. have adopted different ticketing systems, railway stations or travel by car to the Completion of the Southern Sector making it very expensive to modify the station. Unfortunately, the limited space Interstate Bus Complex will make the systems to create a fully integrated AFC at stations restricts the available parking station even busier. system. To resolve this impasse, the and demand always outstrips supply. As Masjid Jamek Station is an important government had decided to adopt a a consequence, good feeder bus services interchange between the PUTRA and common ticketing system using the are required to increase the catchment STAR LRTs, which are now under the contactless Touch’n Go smart card area and improve station accessibility. same management and have introduced system for KTM Komuter, STAR LRT, The STAR LRT used to contract feeder bus a monthly season ticket allowing the PUTRA LRT, ERL, KL Monorail, Park May services to private minibus companies holder unlimited travel on both systems. Bus and Intrakota Bus. This contactless while PUTRA LRT had their own feeder However, good integration is not limited technology is also available in the new bus services. Since their integration, the only to rail. KTM Komuter’s Putra Station Malaysian Identity Card known as services are being reorganized. KTM is a popular transfer between KTM Mykad. A passenger with either a Komuter used to cooperate with the Park Komuter and interstate express buses Touch’n Go card or Mykad will be able May and Intrakota bus companies to bound for the east coast departing from to transfer without having to buy different provide services at popular stations. Most the Putra Bus Terminal. tickets for each operator. The PUTRA LRT feeder bus services must be improved in KTM Komuter’s Nilai Station has become and Park May buses have already terms of service standards, reliability, a popular interchange for budget installed the Touch’n Go infrastructure frequency and punctuality. The travellers going to or coming from KLIA and the system is expected to be ready government has conducted a study on who catch a bus from Nilai Station to for the other operators in late 2003. feeder bus requirements, and will soon KLIA or vice versa. Although the total Even before implementation of common propose a new policy to address this issue. train and bus fare is just MYR7.20, the ticketing, the rail operators have been In the meantime, the Triton Bus Company trip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Nilai cooperating to come up with package has been given a feeder bus licence and Station is also very busy during the tickets, especially for events. For is serving some PUTRA LRT stations. Formula One racing season when it example, KTM Komuter and STAR LRT Triton is also working with KTM Komuter becomes an interchange point to the race introduced package tickets for people to serve KTM Komuter stations. When the track at Sepang International Circuit. travelling to the National Sport Complex. feeder bus services become more Since physical integration between KTM Komuter also worked with PUTRA widespread and efficient, more people various transport mode is important, all LRT and Park May Bus on a monthly will be attracted to KL’s public transport. future construction of transport terminals Karib Card season ticket priced at

26 Japan Railway & Transport Review 35 • July 2003 Copyright © 2003 EJRCF. All rights reserved. and commercial estates along railway This KL City Hall also plans to establish Impacts of Rail Services lines. Another new business potential is a Transit Planning Zone to facilitate transit advertising. Due to the high transit-oriented residential, commercial Although there has been no specific study visibility of trains and large number of and mixed-use development around on the impact of rail services in KL, passengers at some stations, many railway stations. general observations indicate positive companies now prefer in-train, on-train results. Since the introduction of KTM and station advertising. The KL Monorail Komuter 1995, followed by the two LRTs went even further by using exclusive Conclusion and the ERL, KL’s road congestion has not advertising to associate certain brand worsened significantly, suggesting that names with certain stations. The last decade has witnessed rapid rail-based transit systems have Another benefit of railways is technology development of rail-based public contributed towards helping more people transfer leading to local job creation in transportation systems in KL. The use public transport. Without urban rail both hardware and software. This is opening of the KL Monorail later this year services, KL’s traffic congestion would be important because it stems the outflow will be a cornerstone in KL’s rail much worse. of foreign currency to purchase infrastructure. Future development will The urban rail services have also created technology from overseas. concentrate on expanding the network, a new image for public transport. The adding stations and facilities, improving earlier perception of public transport standards, and improving feeder access. based on minibus services has now Future Developments There are many challenges in integrating changed. The inherent safety, the diversity of services into a system that punctuality, comfort and cleanliness of Since rail-based transit is a necessity for satisfies passengers’ requirements for rail services have won over many city modern cities, KL’s urban rail network will efficient, seamless, flexible and dwellers as evidenced by the increasing be expanded. The KTM Komuter services inexpensive public transport. numbers of white-collar workers using will be enhanced by the completion of its Hopefully the new Draft Structure Plan them. Passenger demand for quality is 62.2 km expansion plan. Kuala Lumpur 2020 will be a step in the also compelling operators to improve. The recently published Draft Structure right direction towards making KL a For example, passengers on the PUTRA Plan Kuala Lumpur 2020 envisions world-class city. I LRT and KTM Komuter are now turning KL into a world-class city and demanding more frequent services during emphasizes the role of rail. The Further Reading morning peak hours. The operators are government will examine the feasibility Draft Structure Plan Kuala Lumpur 2020, City Hall studying these demands because new of a new LRT line linking the Damansara Kuala Lumpur, February 2003. train sets are very expensive and they do and Cheras growth areas in the east and A. Adnan, Air-Rail Integration for the KLIA Express, not want their investment to be idle west. The STAR LRT will probably be UITP Conference, Kuala Lumpur, October 2001. during off-peak hours. extended north towards Taman Wahyu A. Trelfa, The Kuala Lumpur Monorail System, UITP The urban rail transit system also has and west towards Kepong, while another Conference, Kuala Lumpur, October 2001. changed passenger culture by educating line will be extended from Sri Petaling KTM Komuter —Malaysia’s First Electric Rail, KTMB, people to be more time conscious as well west to the area around Bukit Jalil. The November 1996. as courteous and caring by giving up their KL Monorail may also be extended to the seats to pregnant women, pensioners and proposed district centre at Bukit Indah, disabled people. However, there are new adding a further 21.8 km to the network. problems like vandalism, graffiti, night security, etc., so more education Hilmi Mohamad programmes will be required involving cooperation by the general public. Mr Mohamad is General Manager of Commuter Services at KTMB, which he joined in 1983 after Rail has created a new concept of living graduating from the University of New South Wales in Australia. He has held senior positions involving development planning, privatization, business planning and restructuring. in spacious country homes and commuting more than 30 km to and from work. Many property developers have realized this and are building housing