View Full Version : KTM Intercity:TimetableRestructure
R. Zimmermann
28-03-06, 12:07 PM
At present there is only one train (overnight) Buttertworth/KL v.v. which deprived me of seeing anything outside last week. The line is closed to
all traffic at daytime to facilitate the double tracking work going ahead. At least that is what I was told by KTM-people.
The Hyundai sleeper cars are fine, but the standard of service (if any) is much lower than on our SRT: no car attendant, no washing facilities and microwave food only in the buffet car.
jpatokal
28-03-06, 06:49 PM
The Hyundai sleeper cars are fine, but the standard of service (if any) is much lower than on our SRT: no car attendant, no washing facilities and microwave food only in the buffet car.
Actually the "Premier Night Deluxe (http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.cfm?id=241)" trains between Singapore and KL (only) do have shower facilities and an attendant bringing in your choice of Anchovy Sandwich or Chicken Burger for breakfast. More details in a little tongue-in-cheek trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317727) I wrote a while back...
jpatokal
07-12-06, 10:48 AM
From New Straits Times (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20061206185532/Article/index_html):
"In the first nine months of last year, the total number of KTMB commuter riders stood at 22.58 million. This year at the same period, the number had gone up to 25.89 million.
"The government is very confident that we can hit 33 or 34 million before the end of this year," he was speaking to reporters before chairing his ministry's post-cabinet meeting.
KTMB also recorded a robust 17 per cent growth or RM62.9 million in profits for its commuter service. In the same period last year, its profits stood at RM53.9 million.
Its inter-city service recorded 2.8 million riders (against 2.6 million last year) with income generated RM52.5 million (RM50 million last year).
As for its cargo service, it recorded profits of RM83 million, against RM80.5 million last year.
Ridership up and profits up bodes well for the future, although if you read the article very carefully you'll note that intercity services are (presumably) still losing money. Let's hope the long-delayed double-tracking to Ipoh, now scheduled to open in 2008, fixes that...
Govt studying proposal to take back KTM
KUALA LUMPUR: Support has been given by the Transport Ministry to the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya’s (RUM) bid to take KTM Bhd back to the public sector.
Its minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said that any suggestion that would improve the railway sector in country would have the ministry’s support.
He added that the ministry’ secretary-general Datuk Zakaria Bahari had been tasked with looking into the matter. KTMB was privatised on Aug 1, 1992.
In his speech at the RUM dinner Saturday night, Chan also said the Government, through the Ninth Malaysia Plan, had allocated a large sum to improve KTMB services.
“It is my hope that KTMB employees will make those projects which are being and will be implemented a success,” he said.
Chan also donated RM30,000 to the union’s education fund.
In his speech, RUM president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said all of KTMB’s development had been paid for by the Government and not from the company’s allocation.
“Looking at this situation, we think it is compulsory that the Government have KTMB back in the public sector,” he said.
He also said that KTMB needed help from the Government to develop it.
He added that if the Government did not intend to do so now, then benefits such as salary and allowances enjoyed by government employees should be given to KTMB staff, which totalled about 5,100 people.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/nation/20070708161949&sec=nation
2007/09/12
1,400 chug along on longest train
By : Azira Shaharuddin
Hordes of students and staff of Sekolah Menengah Teknik Selangor in Sungai Buloh arriving at the Ipoh Station during their ‘Ekspres Emas Kembara Merdeka’ programme, yesterday.
http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/National/20070912082639/insidepix1
[Photo: New Straits Times - Hordes of students and staff of Sekolah Menengah Teknik Selangor in Sungai Buloh arriving at the Ipoh Station during their ‘Ekspres Emas Kembara Merdeka’ programme, yesterday.
KUALA LUMPUR: It was the longest train in Malaysian history, and it carried the highest number of passengers ever — 28 coaches with 1,400 passengers.
But unlike the normal train service, this was special as all passengers were students of Sekolah Menengah Teknik Selangor in Sungai Buloh.
They were accompanied by teachers, school support staff and representatives from the parent-teacher association and the school’s alumni.
And they were not going anywhere in particular. It was a day trip from here to Ipoh and back. They even had lessons on board the train.
The students had Bahasa Malaysia and Islamic or Moral lessons in the morning and on their return trip, it was History.
The "Ekspres Emas Kembara Merdeka" programme was an initiative by the school in conjunction with the nation’s 50th Merdeka celebrations.
"This is a unique effort by the school. I am sure nobody has done it before," said its headmaster Mohd Ghazaly Haroun.
"I wanted to take them on a study trip and the idea came spontaneously."
The school is now looking to get this feat listed in the Malaysia Book of Records for the most number of passengers on a train.
They are also hoping to get a mention in the record books for being the first school to conduct lessons on a train.
"This is a historical event as we have never taken an entire school on a train ride before," said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd Intercity Strategic Business Unit general manager Sarbini Tijan.
He added that such a programme would probably be an annual event as they had sent letters to all schools including those in Sabah and Sarawak.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070912082639/Article/index_html
See previous post. I've been looking for pictures of the actual train, but it seems that the KTM Railfans (http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/index.php) were all hard at work on that day. I'm told the train was pulled by a 'Blue Tiger' Diesel electric loco - the largest rail loco used in SE Asia, and I believe built by Adtranz-GE in Germany:
http://www.trainweb.org/sepurinter/Websitephotos/Malaysia/Mal_freight/blue_tiger.jpg
Here's a page of specifications for KTM's 20 Class 26 Loco's. Don't be fooled by the artist's impression at the top. The spec is further down, with some technical drawings:
http://www.keretapi.com/26class.html
http://www.keretapi.com/loco/bluetiger/diagram2.jpg
The quote is accurate, the reporter's gloss is not. According to scuttlebutt on Skyscrapercity (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=13700277&postcount=186):
:(
KTM to start new Ipoh-Singapore train service
By LISA GOH
KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will start a new line between Singapore and Ipoh from Oct 1, using its double tracking route.
KTMB Strategic Business Unit’s Intercity Services general manager Sarbini Tijan said this route, which runs through Kuala Lumpur, would only operate on weekends initially.
"We will start with the weekends, with a day and a night trip from Singapore to Ipoh, and vice versa.
"So, in total, there will be four trips a day. It should be running daily by next year," he said at a joint press conference by KTMB and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta).
However, he added that there would be daily service during peak periods such as Hari Raya Puasa.
Sarbini also said the service would start with diesel trains, but "electric trains are on the way".
The fare for Singapore-Ipoh has not yet been confirmed. The fare for KL-Ipoh is RM18 for second class, and RM10 for economy class.
He said this service was an addition to the existing KL-Penang route via Ipoh which runs two trips a night - one northbound, and one southbound.
"But those are only night trains, except for weekends, when we run day trains," he said.
For updates:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2376
For updates:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2376
October 05, 2007 21:21 PM
KTMB Introduces Ipoh-Singapore-Ipoh Express Train Service
IPOH, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) today launched an express train service between Ipoh and Singapore as part of the Visit Malaysia Year promotion and to provide an additional transport facility for the coming festive season.
Its Inter-City Services general manager, Sarbini Tijan said with the new service, passengers from the north going to Singapore or vice versa would no longer have to change trains at the KL Sentral station in Kuala Lumpur to reach their destinations.
"Two trains will ply this new route and we hope it will help boost tourism in the northern states and Cameron Highlands in Pahang," he told reporters at the launch of the Ipoh-Singapore-Ipoh Express Rakyat train service by Perak Tourism Action Council general manager Rahmat Ithnin at the Ipoh railway station here.
Ticket prices are RM100 for first class and RM48 second class. The service will be available daily until Oct 22 with stops at Kampar, Slim River, Tanjung Malim and Rawang.
"After Oct 22, the train service will only be available on Saturday and Sunday. Daily services will resume from Nov 7 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year," added Sarbini.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
jpatokal
07-10-07, 07:35 PM
More KTMB spin. It's a not a "new" service, it's just an extension of the existing Singapore-KL Express Rakyat. But it is the first train terminating at the recently revamped Ipoh train station, and the forerunner of the long-awaited intercity KL-Ipoh services.
Dear Valued Customers,
In anticipation of the school holidays which starts from November 17, 2007 to December 31, 2007, KTM Berhad will extend its train services, Ekspres Rakyat between Singapore – Ipoh - Singapore from November 17, 2007 until December 09, 2007.
Schedule for the additional services is as follows: -
Train No. 2UP (Singapore – Ipoh)
Will operate every Saturday and Sunday
Departing from Singapore Station at 0840 a.m.
Arrival at Ipoh Station at 1840 p.m.
Train No. 1DN (Ipoh – Singapore)
Will operate every Saturday & Sunday
Departing from Ipoh Station at 1100 a.m.
Arrival at Singapore Station at 2135 p.m.
Kindly be informed that the additional train services are subject to demand. Please surf the website for the latest schedule on the additional services or contact KTMB Call Center at Tel No: 03-2267 1200 or email at callcenter@ktmb.com.my
Tickets are available at all KTMB Stations or via e-ticket system (https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.asp)
http://www.ktmb.com.my/Article.asp?Id=2371
New thread created exclusively for discussion of KTM Komuter:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=18292#post18292
Also scroll down for a 2004 picture of the 'missing' station!
KTMB loses railway stop
By IAN MCINTYRE
ianm@thestar.com.my
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/18/nation/n_01tracks.jpg
[Photo: The Star]
See bigger version of the picture above:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/69/tokuban.jpg
PASIR MAS: Thieves have carted off an entire railway stop, following a spate of thefts of metal equipment belonging to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).
Confirming this, KTMB east coast manager Ibrahim Sulaiman said that two weeks ago thieves, keen on extracting the steel components, removed a store and stop sign that indicated the stopping point for trains in Pekan Tok Uban.
He said the company was deeply concerned over the growing theft of its equipment. It had lodged a police report since.
“Periodically, we detect thefts of our steel tracks, bolts, nuts and equipment from our storerooms,” he added.
Ibrahim said people now had no respect for KTMB equipment, unlike years ago when the train service was a major public transportation provider.
Give us shelter: Train passengers found themselves exposed to the elements when they discovered that metal thieves had carted off the entire stop at Pekan Tok Uban, near Pasir Mas, Kelantan. — SAZUKI EMBONG / The Star
As most of the KTMB equipment is located in the open, thieves have a field day despite daily patrols.
He hoped the thefts would not result in any misalignment of the tracks, which may lead to mishaps.
He estimated the losses since the start of the year at thousands of ringgit and appealed to villagers to keep a lookout for the thieves.
Ibrahim also lamented the high number of squatters living near rail tracks.
“Despite countless reminders to move, for their own safety, some of the squatters remain stubborn.
“Some even attempted to sabotage KTMB services when they were ordered to move,” he said, adding that they would trespass, walk along tracks and even allow their cattle to roam inside restricted zones.
Ibrahim said a comprehensive plan must be in place, to tackle these problems.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/18/nation/19501072&sec=nation
KtmRailwayFan.com just happen to have a 2004 picture of the rather rundown-looking railway building:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/33/025_-_To_Uban.JPG
[Photo: http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbuTGUGI4KM
15 January 2008, 0747h at Tanjung Pagar KTM, Singapore.
This is the first Ekspres Rakyat (ER2) travelling through to Butterworth (Penang) again in 6 and a half years since its truncation to Kuala Lumpur on 27 June 2001 due to Rawang-Ipoh double tracking and electrification works.
However, this train, led by YDM4 6725, left 7 minutes behind the new scheduled departure time, and its destination placard still shows: K.LUMPUR - J.BAHRU - SINGAPORE.
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2669&highlight=
Today is the day when Ekspres Rakyat runs as Singapore-Butterworth (Penang) through train again!!!
Very Happy!
I have went down to Tanjung Pagar just now to see for myself the first Singapore-through-to-Butterworth Ekspres Rakyat in 6 and a half years.
When I reached Tanjung Pagar this morning, the station was quite empty and there's no ceremony about the full restoration of Ekspres Rakyat at all, just the announcement "ding dong............Ekspres Rakyat to Butterworth"
After that, I went to outside the station to see the train. It left at 0747h (7 mins behind schedule) and was led by YDM4 6725. This was one of the glorious moment in my life - as I have managed to be the first one to see the first fully restored Ekspres Rakyat in Singapore.
The train, quite empty (around 10% of the max capacity), still carried an ABC. But when it comes to the destination placard (which the train did carry), the placard still reads:
K.LUMPUR - J.BAHRU - SINGAPORE
Search KTM website on 15/01/2008
DN 1 - EKSPRES RAKYAT BUTTERWORTH 7:00 → SINGAPORE 21:40
UP 2 - EKSPRES RAKYAT SINGAPORE 7:40 → BUTTERWORTH 21:35
Also enjoy these very atmospheric (heavily photoshopped) images that appear to have been taken at the KTMB Yard (Tanjong Pagar) in Singapore:
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=124
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=40
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=39
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=38
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=37
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=35
http://fotobyimran.com/index.php?showimage=32
I have a couple of questions that are based on short branches shown the map in the previous post.
What is the Falim Branch currently used for at Ipoh? I know it was originally part of a branch to an iron-mining district, and I noticed ten years ago that a short leg of the branch was still in use. Is it a KTM depot or freight facility? This is suggested by the map's indication of the branch as 'new' double track.
There is a branch marked off the Klang Valley line which goes to the old international airport. I believe this branch was built in comparatively recent times. Is it still being used? If not, what are the chances of it being adapted to industrial and/or Komuter use?
http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/9/9/2/f_01m_925daca.jpg
See also today's previous post.
Part of the UMNO strategy to capture Kelantan State from PAS perhaps? Must be welcomed nonetheless!:
KTM to increase passengers to Kelantan by 30%
By C.A. ZULKIFLE
TUMPAT: Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Berhad wants to increase its passengers to Kelantan by 30% this year following the launch of two additional train services to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Last year, KTM recorded 1.3 million passengers. This year, it plans an increase of 30% based on the combination of additional services and the attraction of the "Visit Kelantan Year 2008" campaign, said KTM east coast regional manager Ibrahim Sulaiman.
The two additional services are the "Express Wau II" to Kuala Lumpur and "Express Timuran II" to Singapore. The two new services complement eight other daily services to the same cities.
KTM said it would also respond to passenger demand by increasing its train frequencies and coaches during peak travel periods such as school and festive holidays, Ibrahim said on Thursday after Wakaf Baru assemblyman Rosdi Abd Aziz launched the "Express Wau II" service here.
The "Express Wau II" departs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9.10am barring any technical hitches.
It has four classes of coaches with an average passenger load of 274.
Ibrahim also announced that for this year, KTM would upgrade three existing stations in Kelantan which are Wakaf Baru (Tumpat), Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah and build two new stations in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai with a budget of RM14mil.
The new stations would facilitate train travel besides providing more amenities to passengers.
The railway operator has eight station passes in Kelantan and 41 stops where it also provides daily localised services to residents here.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/17/nation/20080117134800&sec=nation
KTMB spends RM200mil on new intercity and commuter trains
By CHOONG MEK ZHIN and NURBAITI HAMDAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) announced the purchase of extra coaches for intercity trains and commuter trains costing RM200mil in an effort to upgrade its services.
“This move will temporarily relieve the problem of the lack of trains running right now,” said KTMB managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah at a press conference after handing out goodie bags to passengers at the Intercity KTM platform in KL Sentral here yesterday in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
“Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently chaired a Cabinet meeting and it allocated RM40mil for the 20 new intercity trains,” said Mohd Salleh.
The 20 new trains will consist of passenger and power-generating coaches that will boost the number of intercity trains available.
“We are preparing the tender and the new trains can be expected within two and a half years,” he said, adding that the Government had approved the plan.
In addition, KTMB will purchase eight units of commuter trains for RM160mil.
With these new commuter trains, passengers will be guaranteed more seats, as there will be four coaches on each train, as compared to the three currently.
Apart from the additional trains, Malaysians can also expect to see electric trains travelling outside Kuala Lumpur boundaries for the first time next year.
Travel between Ipoh and KL Sentral, with stops at all major towns in between, will only take two hours and twenty minutes.
“The trains are expected to run in 2009. There will be five trains with six coaches each,” said Mohd Salleh, adding that the electric trains will cost RM260mil.
On a related matter, he said KTMB had proposed to the Government that it create a bypass line for freight trains travelling through KL Sentral.
“The trains carry dangerous goods such as oil. We do not want anything bad to happen,” he said.
KTMB is also upgrading the current single track to a double line between Seremban and Sungai Gadut and this will be ready by 2011.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/7/nation/20261095&sec=nation
These other lines have already been mentioned in several other posts in this thread.
ONG: KL-Ipoh commuter train service will only start in 2010
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, THURS:
The KL-Ipoh commuter train service, slated to start this year, will be operational only in early 2010, Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said today.
Since the approval to buy new trains was only given recently, it would take at least another two years for the trains to arrive, he said.
“We have ordered the new trains,” he told reporters after his visit to the KTM Berhad head office at KL Sentral.
The journey between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, which will take two hours and 15 minutes, will start from KL Sentral with stops in Rawang, Tanjong Malim, Tapah, Kampar and Batu Gajah before reaching Ipoh.
The service will be available only after completion of the ongoing RM4.3 billion Rawang-Ipoh double-track project which started in 2001.
However, the project was bogged down by delays since 2003 following changes involving an earlier consortium tasked with implementing the project.
To date, 98 per cent of the project has been completed and contractors are now in the final phase of testing the electricity cables.
KTMB is expected to spend about RM150 million to buy six new electric trains, with each train having six coaches, in order to have a service interval for every two hours.
Currently, the commuter service has been extended from Rawang to Rasa station from Kuala Lumpur.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/20080417165718/Article/index_html
See also related post in KL Metro Railwatch thread:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20960&postcount=130
jpatokal
18-04-08, 09:34 AM
The KL-Ipoh commuter train service, slated to start this year, will be operational only in early 2010, Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said today.
Since the approval to buy new trains was only given recently, it would take at least another two years for the trains to arrive, he said.
“We have ordered the new trains,” he told reporters after his visit to the KTM Berhad head office at KL Sentral.
Bloody ridiculous. The project was delayed by five years and counting, you'd think they'd have the time to order trains :mad:
So what happened to the KL-Ipoh Intercity services?
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/nation/21149190&sec=nation
There was also a fatal derailment in Southern Thailand yesterday:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20928&postcount=105
2008/05/08
Dewan Rakyat: Safety checks for rail tracks
By : V. Vasudevan, B. Suresh Ram, Eileen Ng, R.S. Kamini, Ili Liyana Mokhtar and Joseph Sipalan
THE Transport Ministry will examine all railway tracks to ascertain their level of safety.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he would propose that this be done by an independent body and hoped it could be done soon.
"I am concerned about the condition of our railway tracks. It is time we have a comprehensive audit of them," he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
The move comes in the wake of the May 3 Ekspress Rakyat train derailment in Seremban, which killed the engine driver and injured 12 of the 210 Singapore-bound passengers.
The locomotive and three of the 12 coaches plunged into a ravine. Six coaches went off the tracks.
Ong said an interim report of the accident had been filed.
Nevertheless, a committee headed by his ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Zakaria Bahari, had been set up to investigate the cause of the derailment and "the committee will present its findings as soon as possible".
He said the Ipoh-Rawang double-tracking railway line would be operational once Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad had taken delivery of additional electric multiple unit (EMU) coaches by 2010.
He said the company would get 13 new EMUs by 2010.
The company has 80 EMUs, 30 of which are being used for its KTM Komuter service. The rest are in the workshop.
On complaints that the Komuter service was plagued by delays, Ong said this was caused by a shortage of coaches and spare parts for them.
He said KTMB had been directed to make contingency plans to address the situation.
On the Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double-tracking project, Ong said the cost increase of RM4.49 billion was due to the higher prices of construction materials as well as rising labour costs.
The project, which was awarded to MMC-Gamuda-JV, was put on hold in 2003 for economic reasons.
In 2003, the construction cost was to have been RM8 billion, but when the government revived the project in December last year, it had ballooned to RM12.485 billion.
This spike in the cost brought a howl of protests from opposition leaders who demanded to know the reason.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2234666/Article/index_html
Monday June 2, 2008 MYT 7:52:22 PM
KTM offers entertainment to attract more passengers
By ZANI SALLEH
KUALA LUMPUR: Train passengers will in the near future be able to surf the Internet while travelling between destinations.
This is one of the services that should be available once the new train coaches are ready in three years' time.
KTM Berhad general manager, Intercity Services, Sarbini Tijan said the plan is an effort to attract passengers especially the younger travellers to use the train services.
He also said other services include entertainment on board such as live shows and watching movies in a mobile cineplex onboard the train.
In the pipeline are other services such as allowing passengers to hold birthday parties on the train or having karaoke while travelling.
"Even telematch and other games could also be organised on board," he said, adding that the services are expected to launch with the KL-Ipoh route when the coaches costing RM240mil arrive from South Korea in 2010.
He told reporters this Monday at a press conference while representing KTM managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah to launch ticketing booking services through SMS (short message service), mobile ticketing at KL Sentral.
KTM in collaboration with Yomobile Sdn Bhd is now offering passengers the option of booking tickets via SMS.
It costs RM2.50 for booking and confirming the departure date and time as well as ticket collection. Price of ticket not included.
All the passenger needs to do is send an SMS via mobile phone by typing KTM and send it to 32425.
Yomobile chairman Datin Salina Ahmad said the charges do not include standard charges by the telephone network operator.
For long term bookings, between one or two months, tickets must be collected within seven days prior to the day of trip.
For short term, within seven days, tickets must be collected two days prior to the day of trip.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/2/nation/20080602155234&sec=nation
Tuesday June 17, 2008
KTMB to restructure train timetable
MUAR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad has been directed to restructure all train schedules and service-related plans to benefit the people.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Kiat said the directive included a thorough auditing of rail tracks and railway stations, including those located in small towns.
“We have decided to undertake a detailed auditing and checks on rail tracks to ensure safety.
“We also want to monitor the punctuality of every train as it is very important,” he said after opening a new building for SRJK Kung Yu in Kundang Ulu yesterday.
Ong said all coaches would also be checked, and old and abandoned units may be reconditioned to make them serviceable.
He added that the cost of the total overhaul of the railway system was being determined and KTMB may buy new coaches or rent used ones.
He said the recent fuel price increases had made it vital to improve the public transportation system.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/17/nation/21570656&sec=nation
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