JOHOR BARU: KTM Bhd’s Electric Train Service (ETS) alignment work progress to JB Sentral here is on schedule, the state government revealed.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said there is no delay in work being carried out along the alignment from Segamat to Johor Baru.
“Work on the ETS is on schedule based on the timeline given. In fact, testing for the ETS service to Kluang will start on Thursday.
“If all goes well, the ETS service between Segamat and Kluang can start by Aug 15,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Mohamad Fazli said if the work progress kept to the timeline, the ETS service to Johor Baru would start by the year’s end.
He said that, according to the schedule, the work on the alignment at JB Sentral is anticipated to be finished by November, after which testing would commence.
“Once everything gets the nod, we are looking at December for the ETS service to start its operations to JB Sentral,” he added.
Sunday Star reported that those hoping to ride the ETS to Johor Baru will have to wait until the end of the year, if not next year.
Checks along the 180km alignment from Segamat to JB Sentral recently showed that significant electrification and signalling works were incomplete, especially along the 100km stretch between Kluang and JB Sentral.
At the section near Johor Baru, the catenary system is still undone, with contact wires and other critical components of the overhead line equipment (Ohle) yet to be installed.
Ohle is the system of overhead wires and supporting structures that supply electricity to power electric trains, and it is a critical part of railway electrification.
The 192km stretch from Gemas to Johor Baru was touted to be ready for service by August, with Transport Minister Anthony Loke also saying so earlier this year.
However, there has been no update since the short stretch between Gemas and Segamat began ETS operations on March 15.
On another matter, Mohamad Fazli said the state government has sent its proposed second Rapid Transit System link to connect Iskandar Puteri and Tuas in Singapore to the Federal Government.
