@MyRapidKL Rolls Out New Refurbished Trains for the Rakyat

The newly refurbished LRT train rolling out from Kelana Jaya Station.

Rolling out into service today, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad’s (Prasarana) first refurbished LRT train provides a glimpse of the ‘new’ RapidKL trains, which will be smarting brighter paints, striking decals and new features, including on-board infotainment screens.

“The refurbished two-car trains for the Kelana Jaya LRT Line would project a vibrant and dynamic image, in line with the 10th anniversary of RapidKL this year. 

There’s plenty in store for our customers; beginning with the introduction of our first refurbished two-car LRT train and of course, the new four-car monorail trains which is coming into service soon,” said Group Director of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad’s Infrastructure Development Division, Encik Amiruddin Ma’aris, who manages both initiatives.

Brightly lighted with LED headlights and fitted with LED screens for on-board infotainment, the refurbished trains have also been fitted with newly-designed seats for added comfort for the commuters and split windows that will allow emergency ventilation.

The trains had been in service since 1998 since the days of PUTRA-LRT, which was taken over by Prasarana in 2002 along with the trains and assets of STAR-LRT, which is now known as RapidKL LRT Ampang Line. PUTRA-LRT, on the other hand, was rebranded as RapidKL LRT Kelana Jaya Line.

College students (from left) Kanisha Pandesan, Geenita Kalimutu,  Yuganthiran Ravendran and Hamapriya Vejakumar admiring the new infotainment monitor on the new train.

Amiruddin said the refurbished trains would be fitted up with close circuit TV for passengers’ safety and LED dynamic route map in the near future. The dynamic route map would include the 12 new stations under the LRT Line Extension Project (LEP), which is currently under full swing.

“In total, we are looking at the refurbishment exercise of 12 sets of two-car train under the Mid Life Refurbishment (MLR) project. The rest of the train sets will be coming in stages with the second set tentatively to enter service in November,” said Amiruddin, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Prasarana Integrated Management and Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (PRIME).

Under the same MLR project, Amiruddin said Prasarana would also be working on the coupling of 22 sets of the existing two-car trains into 11 sets of walk-through four-car trains, which would also undergo identical refurbishment works including a new coat of paint, new decals, the added features with the bogies being overhauled.

All refurbishment works are carried out at the RapidKL Kelana Jaya Line depot in Subang. The coupling and cab modifications of the two-car trains into 11 sets of walkthrough four-car trains is the first of such project to be carried out in Malaysia.

A strategic business unit established by Prasarana in January 2013, PRIME is also working on bringing in 14 new sets of four-car trains for Kelana Jaya LRT Line under the LEP, which would further enhance Prasarana’s position as the country’s largest public transport operator.

“The 14 sets of new four-car train would be supplied by Canada-based Bombardier, and are scheduled for acceptance by the second quarter of 2016.

In addition to the 14 sets of new trains for the Kelana Jaya Line, Prasarana would also be bringing in 50 sets of new six-car trains for the Ampang Line.

Under the project, the first new six-car train set for the Ampang LRT Line is scheduled to be delivered from Zhuzhou, China by the end of November 2014. It would be introduced when the first phase of the extended Ampang LRT Line commences operations in October, 2015 with the opening of the first four stations – Awan Besar, Muhibbah, Alam Sutera and Kinrara BK5.

“So, as you can see, we are in for a very busy period from now. There’s a hive of activities here as we continue with efforts and initiatives to transform the country’s public transport system and bringing transport convenience and comfort closer to the people,” said Amiruddin.