120 RapidKL buses coming to Klang Valley streets

BALAKONG: Some 120 RapidKL buses, including 40 double-deckers, will hit Klang Valley streets in September.

Capable of picking up an additional 10,000 passengers a day when they start operating, these buses – especially the double-deckers – are expected to service the region’s most heavily-used roads.

“We’re looking at the routes we’re going to ply (by) doubling the capacity,” said Prasarana group managing director Azmi Abdul Aziz.

He said the double-deckers can ferry up to 108 people at a time while the single-deckers can take 70 people.

Standing at about 4.2m high, the diesel-powered double-deckers will have 83 seats – and enough standing room for 25 people.

Spanking new rides: RapidKL employees Nurliyana Bahasa (right), 24, and Nurul Nadiah Mahmud, 26, posing with the double-decker buses.

Made by British bus maker Alexander Dennis, each of these will have a TV screen to tell riders how many free seats there are on the upper deck.

Disabled-friendly and fitted with security cameras, the double-deckers cost RM1.4mil each.

The Star noticed that some taller riders may have to stoop on the bus’ upper deck ceiling as it was a bit low.

Azmi said the bus type – an Enviro 500 – was just as big as double-deckers used in other cities.

He said if the buses were built any higher, they would not be able to go on a lot of routes.

He said the routes planned for these buses would be confirmed soon, adding that it would most likely be heavily-used ones.

In another matter, Azmi said Prasarana was awarded a three-year Saudi Arabian contract worth 807mil Saudi riyal (RM768.14mil) to run the 18.1km Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro during the haj pilgrimage season.

Operational only for seven days a year, it will have 17 train sets with 12 cars each, with a total ferrying capacity of 400,000 people during the one-week period.