PETALING JAYA: The Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) Shah Alam Line has recorded good progress with its final batch of train sets scheduled to undergo crucial test runs in the coming weeks, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said to date, most train sets have already completed the Fault-Free Run (FFR) tests, which is a crucial component before LRT3, which connects Shah Alam and its surrounding areas, begins operations.
“The final batch of eight is undergoing FFR in the coming weeks and hopefully once that’s done, (it will be operational) by April.
“Our targeted date is still June but we try to bring it forward,” he told The Star during a special interview.
Loke said the FFR test is compulsory for all new trains before they begin operations.
Under the FFR test, the trains are required to travel at least 4,000km without a single glitch.
“So, if there are any faults during the tests, then it has to be reset to 0km again,” he said.
To date, two train sets, involving 14 of the 22 trains, have completed the 22-day FFR testing process.
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 had faced multiple delays due to work package restructuring and the Covid-19 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.
On the recent incidents of disruption involving the Kelana Jaya LRT Line service, Loke said his ministry is working hard to address the issue.
“Kelana Jaya LRT is an ageing system.
“We are trying our best to mitigate and minimise disruptions,” he added.
On Monday, the Kelana Jaya LRT Line was disrupted during the morning peak hours after several train units were taken out of service due to technical issues.
The situation worsened the following day with one disruption in the morning and another in the afternoon.
Rapid Rail, which operates most of the LRT, said the delays on Tuesday was due to a malfunction involving train doors and platform screen doors at the KLCC station.
