KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) passenger train services have been disrupted since 6.24 am today after the 25 kV overhead line was severed at KM 434.423 between Batang Benar and Labu stations.
It said preliminary checks indicated that the incident was likely caused by ‘animal bridging’, where an animal comes into contact with both a live wire and an earth wire, creating an unintended electrical path that disrupts the OHL protection system and power supply.
"The incident disrupted the power supply along the route, causing delays to several services, while some were terminated early to allow inspection and restoration work to be carried out safely.
"It affected Electric Train Service (ETS) and KTM Komuter services on the Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang-Batu Caves route," it said in a statement.
Following the incident, KTMB implemented several operational adjustments, including for ETS service EP9532 from JB Sentral to KL Sentral.
The train will terminate at Seremban station, and passengers will take buses to KL Sentral and intermediate stations.
For ETS service EP9523 from KL Sentral to JB Sentral, passengers will be taken to Seremban station by bus before continuing their journey to their respective destinations.
"ETS passengers will take the shuttle buses provided at KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan and Kajang to Seremban station before continuing their journey by ETS,” it said.
For KTM Komuter services, train No. 2008 from Pulau Sebang to Batu Caves will terminate at Seremban station, while train No. 2006 on the same route will terminate at Labu station before returning to Seremban.
Passengers are advised to use alternative modes of transport to continue their journey.
Meanwhile, for trains No. 2012 and 2014 from Pulau Sebang to Batu Caves, two Komuter sets have been deployed to Kajang and Bangi stations to pick up passengers and transport them to the stations along the route up to Batu Caves.
Passengers who choose not to continue their journey due to the disruption will be entitled to a full fare refund, subject to the applicable procedures.
KTMB said its technical teams were working to inspect and restore the affected infrastructure at the site, with services expected to resume as soon as possible. Repair work is estimated to take about three hours.
"KTMB apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience and cooperation throughout the disruption.
"Passengers are also advised to plan their journeys accordingly and obtain the latest updates through KTMB's official channels, social media platforms and station staff,” it added. - Bernama
