MALAYSIA | Railways

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Ipoh station

by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Waiting lounge
Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

[nazrey]

Blue tiger locomotive
Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com
Doing shunting work with cement tank cars



Cement Wagons

[nazrey]

Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Concrete partnership
Pictures by KonstantineChoo of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Ipoh c1919
Picture from TimLight99 of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Putrajaya monorail suspension bridge
April 2006

[nazrey]

Double Railway Track

[nazrey]

Keretapi Tanah Melayu on track to recovery
By Sharen Kaur
May 23 2006
BusinessTimes


KTMB has drawn up plans to improve products, services and capacity.
Besides acquiring new trains and engines, it intends to make train travel
a more pleasant and comfortable experience for commuters

KERETAPI Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) future looks more promising, especially since the Government has announced the implementation of several new railway infrastructure projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

But for managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah, the amount allocated may not be enough.

Under the 9MP, the Government allocated RM4.1 billion for railway infrastructure, whereby RM2.9 billion represents on-going construction activities, and RM1.1 billion for new projects.

"There is little room to improve especially on track capacity. This is because the RM4.1 billion allocated is definitely not enough to complete projects successfully. I may have to re-examine KTMB's strategy and re-privatise the more critical projects now.

"Furthermore, nothing much was mentioned on the much anticipated billion ringgit Northern and Southern double-tracking project. The double-tracking projects would have been the future for many, especially KTMB," Mohd Salleh told Business Times in Kuala Lumpur.

KTMB had finalised a 17-year business growth plan in 2003, which would have seen the national railway company on the road to recovery. The plan consisted of three levels - the recovery stage from 2003 to 2006, the consolidation stage from 2007 to 2010, and the growth period from 2011 to 2020.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope that in the mid-term review planned in 2008, the Government will have something more concrete to announce on the North and South double-tracking project," added Mohd Salleh.

Rail projects approved under the 9MP include the Sentul-Batu Caves double-tracking rail project; the extension of double track commuter lines in Negri Sembilan; procurement of rolling stock; rehabilitation and upgrading of railway infrastructure involving tracks and bridges; and the building of double tracks from Taiping to Padang Renggas.

In the meantime, Mohd Salleh said, KTMB has its own plans to improve its products, services and capacity so it could be more efficient as a service provider.

These include acquiring six new train sets to service the line from KL Sentral to Ipoh, introducing new services to cut short travelling time in some areas, implementing a new commuter service from Rasah/Batang Kali to Rawang by year-end, and increasing passenger services during peak hours at some areas to alleviate congestion on the road.

"We have six KL-Singapore-KL services while for Penang, we have two services to and fro KL-Butterworth-KL. We will increase these services but only after the completion of the Rawang-Ipoh double-tracking project. We will also bring back our Express Rakyat services, which we had to cancel due to the double-tracking job," said Mohd Salleh.

KTMB is also looking at ways to improve facilities and disabled-friendly services at all its commuter stations, introducing second entrance and elevated entry at some stations, and preventing illegal crossing of tracks.

"We will soon identify 20 locations for building pedestrian motorcycle lanes. We are looking at 10 locations in Klang Valley alone. We will submit a paper to the Cabinet soon and call for tenders," said Mohd Salleh.

Other measures to improve services include expanding the use of Touch & Go and MyKad for travel, and requesting that the Government divert one line from Port Klang to Seremban so that the company can run more trains.

"This bypass is very important as our turnaround time is very critical. KTMB has been faced with this problem for many years now. Port operators and factory owners have to also be mindful of our operations."

Mohd Salleh said KTMB also hopes to educate the public on why train services are more useful and convenient compared to prime movers.

"Total fuel consumption for rail services is 8.4 million litres a year, while for prime movers it is 36 million litres. We could carry the same load as prime movers using less fuel," he said.

[Wisarut]

Bung Nazrey,

Look Great for Ipoh station after double tracking/renovation ...

However, it would be MUCH BETTER if there are at least 10-20 trains a day that pass Ipoh station

[nazrey]

Plans to start Sentul-Batu Caves rail project by year-end
By Sharen Kaur
BusinessTimes
May 29 2006

The letter of award may be issued for the high-speed
rail project within the next couple of months


THE Government may issue the letter of award (LOA) for the three-packaged Sentul-Batu Caves high-speed rail project within the next couple of months so work can start by year-end, KTM Bhd's (KTMB) chief says.

The project involves the installation of a double-tracking system along a 7.5km stretch and upgrading of the Batu Caves station.

KTMB managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah told Business Times that the Government had talked about finalising the Sentul-Batu Caves project under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).











"The Government is considering issuing the LOA to the right contractors so that works could commence by year-end. The extension of our rail services to Batu Caves will benefit the public greatly," he said.

Meanwhile, companies holding the letter of intent (LOI) for the project are believed to have negotiated their final offer price with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and KTMB.

The companies are Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd, a unit partly-owned by YTL Corp Bhd; Saujana Beta Dev Sdn Bhd, a unit of Brunsfield Corp Sdn Bhd; and privately-held Golden Land Development Sdn Bhd.

The three received the LOI for package one, two and three respectively from MOT late last year.

It is believed the individually-negotiated packages has brought the total project cost to about RM660 million, compared with RM420 million negotiated by DRB-HICOM Bhd and the Government in late 2002.

DRB-HICOM had offered to work on package one, two and three costing RM210 million, RM90 million and RM115 million respectively at that time.

DRB-HICOM received the LOI for the project in 2002, but the LOA was not issued as they had delayed the completion of the Rawang-Ipoh double tracking project.

The Government subsequently invited the three companies in mid-2005 to participate in the project due to their past experience in civil infrastructure works and their association with foreign railway partners.

"Sentul Raya is asking for RM318 million, while Saujana Beta and Golden Land are asking for RM190 million and RM120 million each, plus an additional RM30 million for consultant fees, and local authority charges like connection charges for electricity, and dealing with City Hall and the Public Works Department," said a source who has seen the documents.

The price difference is mainly attributed to the increase in raw material cost and technology.

Under the 9MP, the Government allocated RM30.3 bilion for transportation infrastructure.

This includes RM17.3 billion for new road construction and improvement of existing roads, RM1.6 billion for public transportation, RM3.6 billion for railway infrastructure, RM1.3 billion for port development, RM2.9 billion for airport development and RM3.6 billion for road improvement in rural areas.

"At RM660 million, it means that it will also cost between RM80 million and RM85 million to construct every 1km of the 7.5km stretch, which is about 2.5 times more than the cost to build every 1km of the Ipoh to Rawang double tracks," said the source.

[nazrey]

DRB-Hicom gets RM425m VO settlement
29-05-2006
THEEDGEDAILY


DRB-Hicom Bhd has secured a full and final settlement of RM425 million from the government upon the resolution of the issue of payment of variation order (VO) and loss and expense claims in relation to additional works at the Rawang-Ipoh electrified double tracking rail project.

This confirms the FinancialDaily report recently that the company had secured a RM400 million settlement from the government for the VO. It was reported that the sum was within market expectation of between RM350 million and RM450 million.

"Subsequent to this, DRB-Hicom is in further discussion with the government in regards to related issues pertaining to liquidated ascertained damages and release of performance bond.

"DRB-HICOM is hopeful and positive that this matter will also be amicably resolved in due course," DRB-Hicom said in a statement on may 29.

DRB-Hicom was the main contractor of the RM2.58 billion project until May last year when it mutually terminated the contract with the government. Last June, UEM Builders Bhd was appointed to take over and lead the project.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Keretapi Tanah Melayu on track to recovery
By Sharen Kaur
May 23 2006
BusinessTimes


KTMB has drawn up plans to improve products, services and capacity.
Besides acquiring new trains and engines, it intends to make train travel
a more pleasant and comfortable experience for commuters

....
Rail projects approved under the 9MP include the Sentul-Batu Caves double-tracking rail project; the extension of double track commuter lines in Negri Sembilan; procurement of rolling stock; rehabilitation and upgrading of railway infrastructure involving tracks and bridges; and the building of double tracks In the meantime, Mohd Salleh said, KTMB has its own plans to improve its products, services and capacity so it could be more efficient as a service provider.

These include acquiring six new train sets to service the line from KL Sentral to Ipoh, introducing new services to cut short travelling time in some areas, implementing a new commuter service from Rasah/Batang Kali to Rawang by year-end, and increasing passenger services during peak hours at some areas to alleviate congestion on the road.

....

Other measures to improve services include expanding the use of Touch & Go and MyKad for travel, and requesting that the Government divert one line from Port Klang to Seremban so that the company can run more trains.

Glad to hear the news about KTM and KTM Komuter.

I wonder about the plans for this extension from Rawang up to the Perak border...how necessary is it? Any information about the projected demand? If the demand is there, why not start running a bus service to capture that commuter market?

My thought is that KTM Komuter would be more effective if they could make a 10 minute service frequency (and advertise their services more often).

This idea of a direct route from Port Klang to Seremban...does it refer to Komuter Service? If so, yeah, its a good idea. Actually, KTM Komuter could operate a 3rd line, from Subang Airport to Seremban, via MidValley (bypassing KL Sentral). Passengers who want service to KL Sentral could get off at MidValley or Angkasapuri as well.

The Sentul-Batu Caves extension is loooooong overdue...and so is the service to Ipoh...especially now that Air Asia is using Ipoh for their services. Is there any information about what types of trainsets will be purchased?

I would also love to take a high speed train from KL to Butterworth and then board the Penang Monorail.


Cheers, m

[nazrey]

Ipoh Railway Station
by Dylan Lim of flickr.com

[nazrey]

KTMB to award tender for repair work on EMUs
15-07-2006
The Star


KUALA LUMPUR: KTM Bhd (KTMB) is in the process of awarding a tender for repairs to 12 of its Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) so that the frequency of the KTM Komuter trains can be increased.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said an allocation had already been set aside for the repairs of the EMUs now lying idle and in need of repairs.

He said KTMB would bring the number of trains in service to 58 once the 12 units were back in service.

He said there had been a steady increase in the number of the KTM Komuter users over the years and additional trains were needed to increase the frequency of the service.

Trains now run at one every 15 minutes during peak hours and one every half-hour during off-peak hours.

กงThere were 21,000 commuters using the service daily in 2001 and this has increased to 85,000 last year. In the first six months of this year, there were 94,000 users a day,กจ he said, adding that the number rose to about 105,000 on weekends.

He attributed the increase to the campaign to promote the use of public transport by the Government following the hike in petrol price.

Chan was speaking to reporters after opening the newly completed Kepong Sentral KTM Komuter station.

Also present were KTMB chairman Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and its managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah.

The minister said steps to improve efficiency were not linked to any plans to increase the fare.

Lim said KTMB understood that any fare increase would burden the rakyat, and was instead looking at other ways of increasing its revenue such as selling more advertising space.

Chan said there were plans to extend the public transport system, such as the LRT, to different parts of Subang Jaya and Puchong.

[nazrey]

Kepong Sentral KTM Komuter station. (New)
by kelvinkhew of ktmrailwayfan.com

[nazrey]

Rail travel expansion
Wednesday August 30, 2006
By MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR
TheStar





PUTRAJAYA: A new light rail transit line linking Kota Damansara and Cheras will be running in four years’ time, and the present LRT networks expanded, under a special RM10bil Government allocation for an efficient and cost-effective public transport system in the Klang Valley.

The new line will cover some 30km and cut across Kuala Lumpur.

The Kelana Jaya line (formerly Putra LRT) will be extended to Subang Jaya and USJ, while the Sri Petaling line (formerly Star LRT) will cover Puchong.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who made the announcement, said Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) – the holding company under Ministry of Finance Incorporated – had tabled its public transportation plan in the Klang Valley up to 2010.

SPNB owns the rail lines as well as the Cityliner and Intrakota buses operated by Rapid KL.

“Apart from the new rail line, SPNB will buy train coaches, new buses, develop new infrastructure, set up a new ticketing programme and build integrated transport terminals in Gombak and Bandar Tasik Selatan.

“Rapid KL will get 1,130 buses and repair its present fleet of 600 buses. So by the first quarter of next year, Rapid KL will have more than 1,700 buses plying bus routes within the Klang Valley,” he told newsmen after chairing the first meeting of the Cabinet committee on public transportation.

Also present was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

To enhance the bus service, SPNB and Rapid KL will provide shuttle services to housing estates within the Klang Valley.

Najib hoped that with all the new elements in place, public transportation in the Klang Valley would be a fully integrated system comprising the LRT, monorail, commuter train, Express Rail Link and buses.

The new and extended LRT lines and more buses on the road will boost the Government’s effort to increase public transport usage in the Klang Valley. The average number of daily passengers for rail-related transport barely reached 450,000 last year.

“The low percentage of city folks using public transport is one of the contributing factors to traffic congestion,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that the Government wanted to increase the percentage of public transport passengers from 11% to 40% to be in line with big cities worldwide.

Najib also said that the RM4.4bil the Government was supposed to have saved when it slashed fuel subsidies, the savings to be channelled to improving public transport, had been wiped out by escalating global fuel prices.

“So this money (RM10bil) is a special allocation because the Government is committed to improving the system,” he added.

SPNB chief executive officer Shaipuddin Shah Harun said the cost to build the new line and two extensions was estimated at RM7bil.

However, he said, the company was still studying how best to connect the new line between Kota Damansara and Cheras to the existing lines and the extensions from Kelana Jaya and USJ and from Sri Petaling to Puchong.

“We are still studying the geographical area where the lines would run, the suitability of each station, the cost and time to construct the project,” he added.

He said, for example, there were several options for the line between Kelana Jaya and USJ.

“The study to identify the potential routes started three months ago. We are half way through it. The final report should be completed in October,” he added.