Work in progress: Amir (left) and Hwang (third from left) having a light moment in front of a train at the LRT Stadium Shah Alam station. — KK SHAM/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has emphasised that the Shah Alam LRT Line, formerly known as LRT3, will only open once every safety requirement is fully met.
The company said the project is currently in the testing and commissioning (T&C) phase, which involves several critical stages, including the trial run, fault-free run (FFR) and trial operations.
Only after these stages are completed can the technical documents be submitted to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) for the rail operator licence.
The line is presently at the FFR stage, a comprehensive integration test to ensure all train systems work cohesively and safely as a complete network.
On Dec 8, The Star reported that the LRT is expected to be delayed until at least the second quarter of 2026. According to industry sources, the primary cause of the delay lies in the T&C phase, the final and most demanding stage.
Sources also said trainsets have struggled to achieve and sustain the designated operating speed of 80–90kph, an issue that cannot be dismissed as a minor one.
Other matters still unresolved include required documentation, with critical standard operating procedure reportedly not yet fully finalised.
As a result, the LRT line will not open this year.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Prasarana president and group chief executive officer Amir Hamdan said the new opening date will depend on the outcome of the T&C phase.
“There will be gradual updates, and another media briefing will be held in mid-January next year,” Amir said.
“As the operator, we are ready to run the Shah Alam Line safely and efficiently, subject to the full handover of assets from the project team.”
He added that more than 800 trained staff are already in place, along with an emergency response plan to ensure coordinated and efficient operations.
Amir also said 24 key documents are required for both the rail operator licence and operating licence.
As of November 2025, the completion rate stood at 81%, with the remainder now being finalised ahead of trial operations.
Project director Patrick Hwang said the main train, known as the “Golden Train”, must complete the FFR requirement of 4,000km of continuous operation without any failures.
Other trains in the same group must clock 3,000km, while the remaining trains must complete 2,500km before being approved for service.
Hwang said the “Golden Train” has achieved its mileage target, while three other trains have completed 3,000km, reflecting steady progress towards meeting regulated mileage standards and overall fleet readiness.
“The tests will now be conducted with higher intensity over a longer period, including more stringent inspections of all systems, safety features and individual train functionalities,” he said.
“We are also prioritising stress testing to ensure a safe and reliable rail system,” he added.
Prasarana reiterated that there will be no compromise on safety, reliability or system stability, in line with Apad’s stringent standards.
All repair and technical enhancement works are now being prioritised to ensure the Shah Alam Line is fully ready, stable and safe before it opens to the public, the company said.
