New KTM Komuter trains launched

KUALA LUMPUR: Under the National Key Result Area (NKRA) policy, the Government wants the use of public transport in the Klang Valley to reach 25% or 600,000 passengers during peak hours, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the initiative to enhance the national public transport (NKRA-UPT) had begun two years ago, and for the comfort of the people, the Barisan Nasional government had invested RM1.9bil to acquire 38 sets of sophisticated MyKomuter trains which would be absorbed into the KTMB services in stages.

Muhyiddin said this initiative would not stop at the Klang Valley but would be extended throughout the country.

"To date, the Malaysian government has received 16 sets of MyKomuter from China, where four of them had already undergone stringent safety tests under the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) while the remaining 12 trains are undergoing tests and commissioning," he said in his speech when launching the MyKomuter set which began operations from KL Sentral Thursday.

All these trains had passed the stringent standards set by the international commissioning agency, namely the TUV (Technical Inspection Association), he said.

Members of the public using the MyKomuter service would receive free coupons to board the train worth RM2 which could be used for a six-month period, he said.

KTMB will also provide a 50% discount for the purchase of weekly tickets, and free transport for students wearing uniforms, the handicapped, and senior citizens for six months.

"Continuous efforts by the Transport Ministry, particularly the NKRA Unit and the KTMB in raising the quality of public amenities, especially the railway, reflects the continued concern of the Government on the importance of public transport in the country," he said.

He said that the use of KTM Komuter during peak hours had reached 1.4 times the passenger capacity limit as the commuter coach could only carry 150 passengers but now it had to carry 200 passengers at any given time.

"This causes discomfort to the passengers and also resulted in several other problems cropping up including maintenance, delays in scheduling and the cancellation of services. As a result, consumers chose to opt for their private vehicles as the mode of transport for daily tasks especially during the peak hours between 7am and 9am," he said. - Bernama