PETALING JAYA: For many senior citizens in Klang and Shah Alam, a simple outing with friends, a medical appointment or a visit to shopping malls in the city centre once required careful planning.
Despite living not too far away, they often had to work around their children’s schedules or weigh the cost of taking an e-hailing ride.
But the newly opened LRT Shah Alam Line (formerly LRT3) is changing that.
The 37.8km rail line connecting Klang and Kuala Lumpur is more than just a public transport network, it is allowing senior citizens to rediscover something they thought they had gradually lost – the freedom to travel on their own terms.
Retired manager Datuk Raja Razman Raja Rome, 75, said the LRT line has made his journey into the city easier and less stressful.
He now drives about three minutes from his home to the station before boarding the train, avoiding the frustration of heavy traffic and search for a parking space.
”It gives me peace of mind. At my age, driving all the way to the city can be tiring, especially with traffic and parking,” he said.
More importantly, he said he no longer needs to rely on his children whenever he wants to travel.
“They have their own work and families to look after. I don’t like troubling them every time I want to go somewhere,” he said.
Retired factory worker Ravee Narayana, 60, said the LRT Shah Alam Line has given him and his wife more opportunities to spend quality time together.
The couple drove from Jambatan Kota to the nearest station before boarding the train for their outings.
“We can now plan a day out. Sometimes we just want to walk around, have a meal and come home. Before this, we would think twice before going because driving was such a hassle,” he said.
Retired accountant Hoh Chooi Lan, 78, from Taman Sri Andalas, said the convenience of the public transport service has encouraged her to visit the city more often.
“I used to think twice before making a trip there because I didn’t want to drive,” she said.
She believes retirement should not mean being confined to the home.
“We’ve worked hard all our lives. Now is the time to enjoy ourselves, visit friends, walk around shopping malls, have coffee and spend time with people,” she said.
For 85-year-old S. Chandran and his wife, 79-year-old M. Letchumy, their first journey on the LRT Shah Alam Line marked a new chapter of independence.
Their children dropped them off at Bandar Bukit Tinggi station, but the rest of the journey was entirely on their own.
“When our children heard we wanted to try the train, they were happy because they knew it would make things easier for everyone.
“They don’t have to take leave from work or spend hours driving us into the city anymore,” Chandran said.
Letchumy said the rail service had restored their confidence to travel independently.
“We’re getting older, but that doesn’t mean we should stop going out.
“We still want to visit relatives, meet our friends and enjoy life. The train gives us that opportunity,” she said.
Retired school teacher Noraini Hassan, 68, has also embraced the new service.
She now regularly uses the LRT to meet former colleagues and take part in community activities.
“After retirement, connections become even more important. It’s easy to become isolated if you don’t have any means of transportation,” she said.
