Rapid KL City Shuttle

[allurban]

they also need route managers at the terminals and along the routes as well.

cheers, m

[OshHisham]

Mr Muaz, one question i wanna ask. why RapidKL coaches doesn't use NGV? bus operators i believe is the main contributor of air pollution from vehicles. does government has any policy or roadmap on that? the black fumes are such annoying.

thank you.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by OshHisham

Mr Muaz, one question i wanna ask. why RapidKL coaches doesn't use NGV? bus operators i believe is the main contributor of air pollution from vehicles. does government has any policy or roadmap on that? the black fumes are such annoying.

thank you.

Great question - all buses in Putrajaya are NGV and I did write a letter once questioning why buses in KL - such as RapidKL's City Shuttle buses - were not NGV.

The simple answer is a total lack of infrastructure - RapidKL would have to build NGV filling stations at its bus workshops / garage areas - and they dont want to make the investment.

They could fill up at existing stations that sell NGV but there arent enough of these and can you imagine a RapidKL bus queueing up behind taxis for NGV

In conversation with RapidKL's former CEO he made it clear that he wanted to increase the level of service first before worrying about NGV.

As for the dirty diesel that is another story. Malaysian diesel is filthy - but the government is improving the diesel - we will be moving to EURO IIB standards (IIRC) soon ... which is a step forward but bit sad because the European manufacturers recently moved to EURO V standards...for their buses.

Cheers, m

[rizalhakim]

Rapid KL jobs: Consider needs of the disabled
By : MOAZ YUSUF AHMAD, Subang Jaya





THE recent announcement of 1,500 jobs at RapidKL probably caught many people by surprise and made many happy. Coming at a time when the economic mood is sour and people are talking about retrenchment, 1,500 jobs at RapidKL is a positive thing. Since RapidKL bus drivers and executives receive a base salary of RM2,000 a month (plus daily allowance for drivers), being employed there might be an attractive option.

It is also nice to see RapidKL acknowledging it is understaffed and needs to employ more people to offer the service that the public expects. Conversations with junior and senior management, drivers and supervisors have made this apparent. RapidKL does not have enough drivers and mechanics to operate and maintain its fleet of buses.

One wonders how RapidKL could have survived so long if it were so severely understaffed. It comes as a surprise to the passengers who wait at the terminals for 20-40 minutes while the drivers lepak and joke around but still it is true, RapidKL is understaffed. Besides, after fighting through the traffic congestion, drivers should take a break for safety.

The public expects RapidKL to stick to its promises made in January 2006, when the service was introduced.

Excuses like "traffic is unpredictable so we cannot have bus schedules" are not acceptable when global positioning systems and the ITIS are available. RapidKL must concentrate on picking the "low-hanging fruits" or fixing the problems that are easy to fix -- delayed buses, pilferage from the farebox and fare evasion -- and improve the service for the people.

I note that RapidKL chief executive officer Suffian Baharuddin made it clear that the jobs were open to disabled candidates and RapidKL would not discriminate against them. But there is discrimination.

RapidKL's headquarters is located in Lembah Subang in Petaling Jaya, at the end of the Kelana Jaya line, which is accessible. Unfortunately, passenger service stops at Kelana Jaya, which is about 1km east of Lembah Subang. At that point, a person wishing to get to the RapidKL headquarters would have to get a taxi or wait for the T607 shuttle bus. This service is not an accessible one. There is another depot at the Ampang LRT station but this is on the Ampang line, which is not accessible at all.

I ask Suffian to please demonstrate his commitment to hiring disabled employees by making sure that all buses serving its headquarters and Ampang LRT station are fully accessible and that all new buses purchased by RapidKL are fully accessible.

He could also call for the Kelana Jaya line to be extended to Lembah Subang before year-end and that the Ampang LRT line be made fully accessible by 2012.

I (and I am sure, many others) await a response from RapidKL.

[allurban]

Monday February 23, 2009
RapidKL’s Q-system has passengers lining up to board the buses
By PRIYA MENON

WALKING along Jalan Sultan Mohd and Pasar Seni bus hubs used to be a trying experience for some, what with the high volume of human traffic in the area. However, things have take a turn for the better nowadays even if the facilities may not be at its best.

Both bus hubs service 20,000 passengers daily with more than 10 routes at Jalan Sultan Mohd and six routes at the Pasar Seni hub.

With more than 60 buses plying the routes and stationed at the Jalan Sultan Mohd and Pasar Seni hubs, chaos were once the order of the day with uncontrollable crowd and even cases of people falling off the buses in their haste to get into them.

As a solution to this predicament, the RapidKL introduced a Q-system on Nov 18, 2008.

The system that required passengers to line up before boarding the bus has reduced the number of accidents that arises from unnecessary pushing and shoving.


Proper order: The Q-system requires passengers to line up before boarding the bus.

Traffic coordinators (TCs) are at hand to manage the crowd and ensure that they queue and wait for their turn to board the bus.

However, the disabled and elderly folk are given first priority to board the bus.

Passengers, who had been using the bus hubs for years applauded RapidKL’s new system.

“It is good that they have implemented the system. Now the older generation can take the public transport without any hassle,” Nursyafenaz Ariffin, 20, from Klang said.

Multimedia University (MMU) CyberJaya student, Lim Chia Syen, 20, who hails from Penang said that the system was very efficient.

“I use this hub every week and I think it’s very good that they have started this system. It’s good for everyone, “ he said.

RapidKL senior general manager for bus operations Zoolina Mohd Naim said that they would have to closely monitor the system first before introducing it to other locations.

“So far places like KL Sentral uses the system for two routes. Now we are thinking of Titiwangsa and are working with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to implement it soon,” she said.

Each lane is divided for a different route. Some of the lanes have been cordoned off with a yellow barricade to ensure that passengers wait within the barricades.

Zoolina added that there were times the TCs and drivers had to deal with rude passengers, who thought that the TCs were too harsh and abrupt.

“It is not that we are rude or harsh but sometimes we have to shout in order to be heard above the noise in the hub,” she said.

Despite the efficacy of the Q-system, the bus hubs managed by the DBKL are still in need of facelifts.

The roof of the current bus stop is not wide enough to cater for the large number of passengers in the area.

“When it rains, the water from the roof splashes onto the passengers waiting outside the bus stop,” Mastura Sharuddin, 28, an accountant said.

She added that the DBKL should think of upgrading the hubs for the benefit of the people. RapidKL said they were working closely with the DBKL as well as other local councils to address certain issues related to their routes and hubs as well.

[rizalhakim]

Proper order: The Q-system requires passengers to line up before boarding the bus.

[rizalhakim]

Cops to ride buses to deter criminals
By RASHITHA A. HAMID


PETALING JAYA: Policemen will soon hop on RapidKL buses and other forms of public transportation to make rides safer.

Those up to no good had better keep their hands to themselves because the intended victim might just be a policeman in plainclothes.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said the policemen would be taking the bus from time to time.


Cops aboard: In a move to protect users of public transport from pickpockets and robbers, policemen will soon be deployed in RapidKL buses. Petaling Jaya OCPD ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed says the policemen can be in uniform or plainclothes. Policemen may also board the LRT and trains on their crime prevention rounds.

The policemen, he added, might be in uniform and sometimes in plainclothes.

If need be, they might even conduct checks on passengers.

“We do not want the public to feel uneasy with the presence of a policeman in the bus,” he said.

ACP Arjunaidi said the police were now working hand in hand with RapidKL and hoped to eventually work with other bus companies and train service providers.

He said the number of thefts and pick-pocketing incidents had decreased since police arrested six men when they tried to rob a tailor on a KL-bound RapidKL bus last year.

RapidKL safety and health officer Ahmad Samsuri Ahmad Mukri said they were cooperating with police as they did not want the public to be fearful when using public transport.

[nazrey]

RapidKL Makes Changes To T429 Bus Route
March 30, 2009 19:57 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (Rapid KL) will make changes to its T429 bus route (Putrajaya Sentral-Cyberjaya Transport Terminal) starting Wednesday.

RapidKL communications general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said the new T429 route will start from the Putrajaya Sentral bus hub and stop at Persiaran Multimedia, Persiaran Tasik, Persiaran Multimedia before heading to the Cyberjaya Transport Terminal.

He said the return route would start at the Cyberjaya Transport Terminal and stop at Persiaran Multimedia, Persiaran Bistari, Persiaran Multimedia, Persiaran Apec, Persiaran Rimba Permai and back to Putrajaya Sentral bus hub.

"This change is made following requests from commuters using this route, who previously had to catch two buses to get to the Cyberjaya Transport Terminal," he said in a statement here today.

For more information, commuters can visit www.rapidkl.com.my or call the company's helpline at 03-76256999 (Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm). Any feedback can be sent to suggest@rapidkl.com.my.

-- BERNAMA

[rizalhakim]

RapidKL berkempen Beli Barangan Malaysia






KUALA LUMPUR 6 April- Lebih 800 buah bas RapidKL dan Rapid Penang yang mengangkut kira-kira 458,000 penumpang setiap hari akan dilekatkan sebanyak 1,200 pelekat 'Beli Barangan Malaysia - Pilihan Bijak' bagi membantu kempen 'Beli Barangan Malaysia'.

Selain itu, pelekat tersebut juga akan ditampal di semua kaunter tiket stesen transit aliran ringan (LRT) dan bas RapidKL.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif RapidKL, Suffian Baharuddin berkata, kempen itu dilakukan sebagai langkah menyokong kempen yang telah dianjurkan oleh Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna yang bermula pada bulan Januari lalu.

"Pihak RapidKL akan menampal sebanyak 1,200 pelekat di stesen-stesen LRT aliran Ampang dan Kelana Jaya.

"Pelekat tersebut juga akan ditampal di dalam bas RapidKL dan juga bas Rapid Penang," katanya pada majlis pelancaran promosi Kempen Beli Barangan Malaysia di Stesen LRT Masjid Jamek di sini hari ini.

Majlis pelancaran kempen tersebut telah disempurnakan oleh Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Katanya, perkhidmatan RapidKL enyediakan platform terbaik untuk menjayakan kempen tersebut kerana ia menjadi pilihan 320,000 penumpang LRT untuk aliran Kelana Jaya dan Ampang dalam sehari.

"Jumlah penumpang bas RapidKL pula ialah sebanyak 400,000 orang sehari manakala Rapid Penang mengangkut sebanyak 58,000 penumpang," ujarnya.

Beliau percaya usaha yang dilakukan oleh RapidKL itu dapat memberi dan meningkatkan kesedaran kepada pengguna di Lembah Klang dan Pulau Pinang untuk membeli barangan tempatan.

"Kami yakin pelekat yang ditampal di kaunter tiket stesen LRT dan di dalam bas ini dapat membantu meningkatkan kesedaran pengguna di Lembah Klang dan Pulau Pinang untuk menyokong dan membeli barangan Malaysia," katanya.

Suffian juga memaklumkan bahawa RapidKL sedang membuat perancangan untuk bekerjasama dengan agensi yang terlibat dalam industri produk tempatan untuk mengadakan promosi barangan Malaysia di stesen-stesen LRT terpilih.

Suffian berharap usaha yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan dan pihak RapidKL itu akan membuahkan hasil yang memberangsangkan daripada orang ramai khususnya pengguna RapidKL dan juga Rapid Penang.

"Sebagai warga Malaysia, kita seharusnya menyokong kempen Beli Barangan Malaysia ini," tegasnya.

Sementara itu, pekerja RapidKL, Wan Nor Azlina Meor Hamzah, 35, berkata, kempen yang dilakukan itu dapat memberi kesedaran kepada pengguna untuk membeli barangan tempatan.

"Selain itu, melalui kempen itu juga sedikit sebanyak dapat mempromosikan barangan tempatan.

Seorang pelajar, Muhamad Din Hasanuddin, 22, ketika ditemui berkata, kempen itu diharap dapat membantu negara menghadapi masalah ekonomi semasa.

Tambahnya, kempen itu akan mengingatkan orang ramai terutamanya pengguna RapidKL dan juga Rapid Penang supaya membeli barangan buatan Malaysia.

[allurban]

Id like to ask Datuk Shahrir to become the spearhead of the Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD)

Cheers, m

[rizalhakim]

RapidKL changes E1 bus route

2009/05/28


PETALING JAYA: There will be some changes on the E1 bus route of RapidKL (Putrajaya Sentral -- Pasar Seni via North-South Highway) starting June 8.

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd communication general manager, Ebi Azly Abdullah, said that the changes to the route were to reduce the travelling time and to give efficient service to E1 commuters.

"The new E1 route is via the Maju Expressway (MEX) and it will reduce the travelling time to 40 minutes compared to the current travelling time which takes 60 minutes," he said.

The new route will be as follows:


- Route (to):

Sultan Mohamed Terminal (Pasar Seni) - Jalan Cheng Lock - Jalan Tun Sambanthan (KL Sentral) - Jalan Syed Putra (Mid Valley) - Lebuhraya Timur Barat - Maju Expressway (MEX) - Precinct 9 - Putrajaya Sentral.

- Route (return):

Putrajaya Sentral - Precinct 9 - Maju Expressway (MEX) - Lebuhraya Timur Barat - Jalan Syed Putra (Mid Valley) - Jalan Tun Sambanthan (KL Sentral) - Jalan Cheng Lock - Sultan Mohamed Terminal (Pasar Seni).

The E1 route will operate with a frequency of 20 minutes every day. For details, visit www.rapidkl.com.my or call 03-7625 6999 or e-mail suggest@rapidkl.com.my.

[allurban]

Persistence has made a difference...

not sure if we helped or not... see: http://transitmy.org/2009/05/29/rapi...-has-paid-off/

Cheers, m

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

RapidKL changes E1 bus route

2009/05/28


PETALING JAYA: There will be some changes on the E1 bus route of RapidKL (Putrajaya Sentral -- Pasar Seni via North-South Highway) starting June 8.

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd communication general manager, Ebi Azly Abdullah, said that the changes to the route were to reduce the travelling time and to give efficient service to E1 commuters.

"The new E1 route is via the Maju Expressway (MEX) and it will reduce the travelling time to 40 minutes compared to the current travelling time which takes 60 minutes," he said.

The new route will be as follows:


- Route (to):

Sultan Mohamed Terminal (Pasar Seni) - Jalan Cheng Lock - Jalan Tun Sambanthan (KL Sentral) - Jalan Syed Putra (Mid Valley) - Lebuhraya Timur Barat - Maju Expressway (MEX) - Precinct 9 - Putrajaya Sentral.

- Route (return):

Putrajaya Sentral - Precinct 9 - Maju Expressway (MEX) - Lebuhraya Timur Barat - Jalan Syed Putra (Mid Valley) - Jalan Tun Sambanthan (KL Sentral) - Jalan Cheng Lock - Sultan Mohamed Terminal (Pasar Seni).

The E1 route will operate with a frequency of 20 minutes every day. For details, visit www.rapidkl.com.my or call 03-7625 6999 or e-mail suggest@rapidkl.com.my.

[ilyasr2]

Can somebody tell me does there exist such a bus route between PTPL-KUTPM college in Sect 13, Shah Alam and Shah Alam bus hub? I remember it existed before, when I was in Malaysia last July, but I cannot find the route (based on the schemes on their website) anymore. Can somebody explain why did RapidKL decided to cancel the route,since I am sure many students,workers and residents from nearby areas (including my neighbourhood) depend on this route to get to town.

[ilyasr2]

It seems to me that they completely neglect the section 13 shah Alam stadium area. It shouldn't happen like this....a lot of residents can benefit from this and the other precious routes connecting section 13-town centre.

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by ilyasr2

It seems to me that they completely neglect the section 13 shah Alam stadium area. It shouldn't happen like this....a lot of residents can benefit from this and the other precious routes connecting section 13-town centre.

No bus to that area...

[ilyasr2]

Then something must be done to make bus services to that area available...

[allurban]

Originally Posted by ilyasr2

Then something must be done to make bus services to that area available...

TRANSIT proposed making Shah Alam Stadium into a public transport hub, integrated transport terminal and terminus for the Kelana Jaya LRT.

Cheers, m

[allurban]

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: CVLB should look to RapidKL for the answers
By MOAZ YUSUF AHMAD for Transit

2009/06/08

MINISTER in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz recently visited Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown area, taking a look at public transport problems at Jalan Silang, the Klang bus stand and other areas. The media reported that Nazri was angry with the pollution and obstruction to traffic there. Nazri also noted that he thought that the bus operators were using the pajak (pawning) system -- the closest that any politician has come to admitting that this exists. I hope that some action will be taken against bus operators that pajak their buses to others.

Nazri said there were six major bus operators serving Kuala Lumpur and six entry points to the city. He has directed the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) to give each bus operator its own separate entry point and bus stand. The CVLB has two months to plan the new routes.

The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit-Klang Valley (Transit) would like to suggest that the planning of new routes can be accomplished a lot sooner by simply asking RapidKL for information.

In 2006, RapidKL divided the Klang Valley into six zones. To serve these six zones, it identified five separate entry points as bus hubs and terminated the stage bus services there. For access into the city, RapidKL offered a city shuttle service and a single all-day ticket, Touch 'n Go service and monthly passes. Prasarana also bought hundreds of new buses for RapidKL.

The problem was that only RapidKL followed the new system. Other bus operators continued to pajak their buses, block the streets of KL, raise their fares to the maximum allowed and cut costs to the bare minimum, polluting the air with their old, poorly maintained buses.

It is these bus operators who are claiming that the system is unfair because RapidKL gets financial support from the government.

So what is the solution? Ironically, it is in the hands of the CVLB. With the support of the Federal Government and the Kuala Lumpur City Council, the CVLB can act as a de facto local public transport authority, instead of waiting until the new public land transport commission is created.

The CVLB can plan the new routes, package the zones to include a mix of profitable and social routes, and make each zone available under contract via an open tender to the existing bus operators. They can work with Prasarana to buy more buses to supplement the existing fleets.

The bus operators then would have to abandon the pajak system, start paying their employees a competitive salary, buy new buses (or lease them from Prasarana) and maintain their existing fleet. By following this system, the CVLB will be able to bring back accountability to the bus operators and better public transport services in the Klang Valley.

RapidKL had a good route plan for Klang Valley in 2006 but was unable to implement it because the system was unfairly tilted in favour of the other bus operators. If the CVLB takes the RapidKL zones as a starting point and uses the BastrenKL map guide for overview, they may be able to plan a better system for the Klang Valley.

Transit suggests that the CVLB keep RapidKL's route system and devise a single ticketing system. Let RapidKL run the City Shuttle and LRT. Transfer the Cyberjaya Dedicated Transport Service to the Putrajaya Corporation which has more buses.

Let the additional buses go to the operators selected to provide services for each area. That way, RapidKL can concentrate on LRT and the City Shuttle, the other bus operators can improve their services, and public transport users get a single, effective public transport system.

Nazri and CVLB must realise that it is RapidKL that has all the answers.

[ilyasr2]

Really?Oh thank God there will be some proposed improvements at least!! but hopefully they won't wait until we have the transport terminus before we can even enjoy BASIC bus services around our area. Well I am not asking for more, I just want regular bus service to cover our area...

[^tamago^]

Open each area for tender and let RapidKL win all of them