MRT trial runs to start in October

IJM Corporation Bhd and Apex Communications are among the local companies which were awarded part of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 2 contracts

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians will get their first feel of the much anticipated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) this October with the commencement of trial runs.

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) director of operations and assets management, Mahmood Razak confirmed on Thursday the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line will start a three-month trial run from Oct 1.

This would precede the official launch of operations on Dec 31.

"Phase one of the MRT SBK Line from Sungai Buloh to Semantan, will be almost complete by October, as all civil structural works for the elevated stations and guide ways are complete.

"Overall progress of the MRT SBK Line was at 86.52% as at end-June," he told Bernama.

The supporting facilities, including car parks and feeder buses will commence operation by then to start serving the public.

Mahmood said MRT Corp is providing 14 parking facilities of multi-storey and open-air car parks for the 51km-long MRT SBK Line.

"There will be 8,000 parking bays available along the line, with 1,200 at the Sungai Buloh and Kajang stations respectively. The rest are at stations along the line," he added.

Mahmood said Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd feeder buses will cover a three-kilometre radius around stations with a 10-minute frequency, subject to traffic conditions.

"People can either drive to the stations or be dropped off by public or private transport. For the first phase, 140 buses will be deployed to cover areas around the Sungai Buloh Station to Semantan Stations.

"For the entire line, a total of 300 buses will be available. Many aspects has been configured to cater for an integrated public transport," he added.- Bernama