Seamless integration to take off next

PETALING JAYA: The existing KTM train station at Subang Skypark remains in the revamp plans to turn the airport into a facility that befits a “city airport”.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke gave the assurance when he made the announcement on the future of Subang Airport, which is being served by KTM’s dedicated airport service called the Skypark Link that connects passengers from KL Sentral all the way to the airport by making only one stop along the way – at the Subang Jaya station where it is also integrated with the Kelana Jaya LRT line.

“Of course, we will take into account the need to create seamless integration under the plans to rejuvenate the airport,” said Loke at the press conference yesterday.

Introduced in May 2018, the Skypark Link, a limited express service, is the second rail service after the Express Rail Link that connects KL Sentral with Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KLIA2.

The distance from KL Sentral to the Skypark Terminal is 26km, though the bulk of the construction cost lies in the 9km link that consists of twin tracks that begin from Subang Jaya all the way to the airport.

The journey from KL Sentral to Subang Skypark takes 30 minutes, which is an enviable achievement given the age of the refurbished rolling stock deployed on the line.

The five sets of three-car trains have been providing anything from around 21 to 31 trips per day, with ridership badly affected during the pandemic, though the service never really caught on with the commuting crowd in the very first place.

However, ridership has yet to recover, with fewer than 100 passengers using the service on a daily basis now.

In view of this, KTM will suspend this service beginning Feb 15 until things improve.

“As announced last week, the trainsets will be deployed for the KTM Komuter service in the northern sector, between Padang Besar and Butterworth,” said Loke.

In an event last month, he revealed that it costs RM15mil each year to provide the Skypark Link service. “The money can be reallocated for other services such as free rides for disabled folk and students,” he said.