Tests on LRV fault free runs in Kinrara start today

PETALING JAYA: Prasarana Malay­sia Bhd (Prasarana) will be testing its new six-car Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) on a new stretch of the extended Ampang LRT line between Kinrara BK5 and Bandar Puteri stations from today in preparation for its opening at the end of March.

With the Sri Petaling and Kinrara BK5 stations already in operation, the LRV fault free run (FFR) tests would now run through IOI Pu­­chong Jaya, Pusat Bandar Puchong and Taman Perindustrian Puchong stations before entering Bandar Puteri station and proceeding to the pocket track to make a U-turn.

Prasarana Rail and Infrastructure Projects Sdn Bhd (Praise) CEO Datuk Zohari Sulaiman said the FFR was a comprehensive test and could run up to 24 hours.

“We will take all adequate measures to minimise any discomfort and inconvenience to the residents,” he said yesterday.

The first phase of the Ampang line extension project was opened on Oct 31 last year, covering four new stations – Awan Besar, Muhibbah, Alam Sutera and Kinrara BK5 – while the second phase is due to open on March 31, covering the remaining seven stations and running to Putra Heights.

Zohari said the FFR test was an endurance test for light rail vehicles before the train was certified fit for operation.

Nine of the new six-car LRVs, named as Amys, had completed the test, including seven trains that had been put into operation.

“Under the test, the trains would need to reach 1,500km without any major failure on the light rail vehicles system such as train signalling, propulsion, braking, door, etc.

“If any major fault were to occur, miles of the tested light rail vehicles will be reset to zero,” said Zohari.

The test will be carried out under close observance of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Prasarana has purchased 50 sets of the six-car trains from CSR Zhuhou Electric Locomotive Com­pany (ZELC), including 20 under the Ampang LEP.

The remaining 30 are purchased to replace the current fleet of six-car trains, which had been in service since 1998.

Prasarana has received 24 units of the six-car LRVs. Of the 50 units, 35 will be shipped to Malaysia as CBUs with the remaining 15 to be assembled locally at CSR ZELC plant in Batu Gajah, Perak.