THOUSANDS of commuters on one of the Klang Valley's busiest rail corridors found themselves stranded on Thursday after KTM Komuter and Electric Train Service operations ground to a halt between Bangi and Seremban.
Reports of shuttle buses being deployed across multiple stations and passengers being told to seek alternative transport spread quickly online.
Did a construction site mishap knock out KTM services between Batang Benar and Labu
Verdict:
TRUE
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) confirmed in a statement on July 23 that a wooden structure from a bridge construction site fell onto the railway tracks before striking the overhead line electrical system between Batang Benar and Labu.
The incident damaged the electrical supply system and brought train operations on the affected route to a standstill.
The construction was being carried out by a Public Works Department contractor as part of a wayleave project.
KTMB said a Site Entry Permit had been issued to the contractor. However, the contractor was found to have violated the conditions and safety procedures attached to the permit.
These included failing to submit a complete work implementation schedule and failing to notify KTMB of the actual time work would be carried out on the day of the incident.
Under KTMB's Site Entry Permit standard operating procedure, three technical representatives from the Regional Engineer, Signalling and Communications, and Electrification divisions are required to be stationed on site for monitoring once full approval has been obtained and complete documentation received. Because the contractor did not submit the required documentation, the monitors were never deployed and the work proceeded unsupervised.
The result was a wooden structure falling onto live railway infrastructure with nobody from KTMB on the ground to prevent it.
KTM Komuter services from Pulau Sebang heading to KL Sentral were terminated at Seremban, while services towards KL Sentral and Batu Caves only operated from Bangi.
There were no KTM Komuter services between Bangi and Seremban until further notice, with passengers on the affected route advised to seek alternative transport.
Three shuttle bus services were deployed between Seremban, Tiroi, Batang Benar, Labu and Bangi to assist Komuter passengers.
For ETS passengers, seven shuttle bus services were operating from KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kajang and Seremban. Passengers who chose not to continue their journey from their departure station were entitled to a full fare refund.
KTMB said its technical team was actively carrying out repair works to restore the overhead electrical system and ensure train services resumed as soon as possible.
The company apologised for the disruption and advised passengers to check its official social media channels or contact station staff for the latest service updates.
Source:
KTMB official statement (corrected), July 23, 2026
