IPOH: The government’s plan to acquire 50 new train sets within the next three years is necessary to meet demand, particularly now with the upcoming Ipoh Sentral project, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the expansion was necessary to meet the growing demand for the Electric Train Service (ETS) and commuter services.
He said the government hoped to acquire the new train sets within the next three years under a lease programme with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC),
“The arrangement would allow the country to expand its fleet more quickly, while spreading out payments through an instalment and maintenance package.
“This lease programme with CRRC will enable faster delivery of a larger number of train sets. Our plan is to have 50 sets ready within three years,” he told reporters after the Perak DAP dinner held at the Ipoh Convention Centre here on Sunday (Aug 24).
Loke also said that as part of the Ipoh Sentral project, one key condition imposed on master developer Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) was that the public recreational park must be built first.
He said the people must feel the benefits of the development from the start.
Loke said also as part of the development, a new railway station will be built in Ipoh to replace the current operations at the city’s old station.
“The existing station, a historical and heritage building, will be preserved and repurposed for other uses, possibly as a gallery or museum.
“The rail and train operations will be moved to the new station so that the old building can be properly conserved.
“We already have an allocation for its preservation, but as a heritage site, it must be safeguarded,” he said.
