The many benefits of rail-based transport

IN the heart of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, a gradual but steady transition from road-dependent to rail-powered travel is unfolding. I’ve witnessed this shift first-hand, boarding the MRT and LRT in the mornings to find them full, with standing room only.

As a transport economist, I find immense satisfaction in this. When I was with the Economic Planning Unit in the 1990s, it was an uphill struggle to persuade the public to adopt public transport. However, with the proliferation of rail-based networks – such as MRT, LRT, monorail and KTM services – it’s heartening to witness an increasingly receptive audience.