PETALING JAYA: The long-awaited LRT3 Shah Alam Line is expected to begin operations by June at the latest, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
While asset owner Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has set a conservative timeline for June, Loke expressed confidence that the line could be ready as early as April.
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Speaking on a radio show on Thursday (Feb 5), Loke explained that the delay from the original October target was necessary to ensure passenger safety through rigorous testing.
He said the most critical stage is the Fault-Free Run (FFR), where each train must travel at least 4,000km without a single technical glitch.
"Unfortunately, during tests in November and December, we encountered software and signalling issues," he said.
ALSO READ: Safety first: Shah Alam LRT line will only open once all safety standards are met, says Prasarana
Loke explained that whenever a fault occurs, the test must be reset to zero, regardless of how many kilometres had already been completed.
He noted that the first batch of the line’s 20-plus trains has now passed the FFR, with subsequent batches currently undergoing testing.
Once the final trial runs are complete, the ministry will proceed with the commencement of operations.
Spanning 37.8km, the LRT3 line connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang.
Once operational, it is expected to serve a population of two million people in the western corridor of the Klang Valley.
The project began construction in 2016 but has faced multiple delays due to work package restructuring and the pandemic.
Previous deadlines had been pushed from 2020 to March 2025, with the most recent target of October last year missed due to technical challenges.
