KL Transport Integration:Messy Blueprint

[Ijud]

All Kuala Lumpur's transportation services including LRTs, monorail and buses will start using the common ticketing system by next year after the Transport Ministry received the full feasability study by November this year. The system which uses touchless smart card system "touch n' go" will give commuters the convenience of using one card for all the transportation systems and swift transfer between systems. All the tollways in the country will also fully implement the system by the middle of next year. "touch n' go" is one of the key benefits of Malaysia's new Identification Card system MyKad and MyKid for children. Malaysia is the first country in the world to use the smart card for it's Identification Card and Passport.

[Kiku99]

that's cool. i've heard that Thais will also get that kind of identification card soon (smart card).

[Ijud]

The Star: 27th July 2004

KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed public transport masterplan for the Klang Valley will see a 500km rail-based transit network being built in the country's most developed region.

The network, which should be fully developed by 2020, promises to address many longstanding problems faced by public transport users such as poor connectivity between different train services, unreliable bus services and the lack of a common ticket for all systems.

It would have 380 stations, which would place most residents within easy reach of public transport.

Currently, Klang Valley's rail-based network – served by commuter trains, light rail transit and a monorail – is 182km with 110 stations and only covers 48% of the area.

The proposed plan, called the Klang Valley Integrated Public Transport System and Land Use Development Plan, was the result of a study conducted by the Federal Territory and Klang Valley Development Division of the Prime Minister's Department since 2001.

The newly-formed Federal Territories Ministry has now taken over the final stages of the study.

Its minister, Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad said the plan was at the proposal stage.

“It will be presented to Cabinet for approval and implementation after feedback on the proposal is obtained,” he told reporters after opening a seminar on the proposed plan organised by the ministry here yesterday.

The proposed rail-network would comprise of rail transit lines that would run from suburban areas into the city centre.

These lines would have branch lines outside the city centre to provide greater area coverage.

Each line would not be more than 6km apart while stations on new lines would be placed between 800m to 1km apart.

The plan would also reorganise the bus system by creating regional and feeder buses.

Regional buses would serve people without access to rail-based transit, while feeder buses would cover an area within 3km from a railway or light rail transit station.

A new Klang Valley Public Transport Authority which would come under the Prime Minister's Department would also be created.

The authority would take over ownership of all buses, trains and stations in the Klang Valley.

It would then lease out routes to bus and rail operators, thus taking over the licensing aspect from various government departments and agencies.

It would also introduce a common ticket for all transit systems.

[mrtfreak]

this is great news. does this mean that damansara will have rail service? was thinking that they should implement a new line following this route:
bandar puteri terminal
bukit rimau
kota kemuning
sri muda
hicom
USJ
subang jaya (transfer to KTM B)
saujana (transfer to PUTRA E)
kelana jaya (transfer to PUTRA E)
SS2
damansara jaya
damansara utama
bandar utama
penchala
kepong (transfer to KTM A) terminal

further extension to:
sentul (transfer to KTM B)
sentul timur (transfer to STAR C & D)
setiawangsa (transfer to PUTRA E)

[Wisarut]

KL Ring Line would be Great

[jpatokal]

Originally posted by mrtfreak
this is great news.
Not really, as proposals are a dime a dozen (see also exhibit A, "Bangkok"). It'll be great news when I see Pak Lah cutting the red ribbon with a big pair of scissors at the opening ceremony.

[Ijud]

Originally posted by jpatokal
Not really, as proposals are a dime a dozen (see also exhibit A, "Bangkok"). It'll be great news when I see Pak Lah cutting the red ribbon with a big pair of scissors at the opening ceremony.

:D True! True! All we can do is just pray for da good things to happen!

[mrtfreak]

does anyone think that the majority of the lines will be monorail?

[Wisarut]

If the riding Quality of KL Monorail is at least at par with Putra LRT, that would be GREAT. However It is NOT! Too many bumping really NOT goign to impress KL people as well as those who live aroudn the suburbs.


Furthermore, The connection between KL Sentral station of KL Monorail and the actual KL Sentral is really SUCK! WHy don't they come up with the via duct linking both stations togather?

[Ijud]

Khun Wisarut,

Like I posted on the other thread... they (MTrans) are rectifying those suspension issues b'coz they had heard enough complaints from KLites before you did complain :D !

About the KL Sentral... actually the KL Monorail will be expanded to pass inside the upcoming KL Sentral shopping mall and to the real KL Sentral Station... so I don't think building a temporary via duct is a good solution for the time being!

[Wisarut]

Hmm I've already seen that Midvalley Magamall even though I have never been shopping there.

Yeah, Extending either Putra or KL Monorail to Puchong, Bandar Sunay or Damasala is a good idea ...

Hoever, I wonder what is OUG? What is PJS? What is USJ ?

[Ijud]

Mrtfreak that is a great idea larr!! Mebbe I'll try to forward your idea to MRCB... :D

Wisarut... OUG is an old school shopping mall at the Old Klang Road... PJS is Petaling Jaya Selatan and USJ is UEP Subang Jaya...

[jpatokal]

mrtfreak, your proposed line (more or less) was in fact originally planned for the KL Monorail, but the southern stretch was cut after the 1997 financial crisis. You can still see the proposed map at Urbanrail:

http://www.urbanrail.net/as/kual/kuala-lumpur.htm

The idea is not completely dead, but I don't think it will happen for a while... just look how long it's taking for the government to sort out the KL Sentral connection mess.

[Ijud]

From what I heard the KL Monorail will also be further extended to Mid Valley... the Star Line will be further expanded to Puchong... and Putra Line will be extended to Damansara... but it's all in the drawing board only! Dunno when they gonna start workin on it!

[mrtfreak]

hehehe, thanks ijud. have been mulling over these few lines for awhile. lolz, even drew up possible future route map. yes, KL Monorail was planned to go through klang lama. but it will not now as KL Sentral was supposed to be a shuttle station, but has ended up as a terminal. extension from tun sanbanthan station is virtually impossible as the depot now blocks the proposed old route. megamall is currently accessible by PUTRA's bangsar station, there is a shuttle bus available. the midvalley KTM komuter station on line A will be ready soon too. and its just outside the mall, near the north court enterance. if they want tourism, what they can do is make an elevated KTM shuttle line from seremban to port dickson. tourist would be more than happy to go to the beach resorts i am sure. it would also boost PD's business and development. there is an old, disused rail line that goes straight into PD town. i think maybe the line could follow its alignment. it would increase PD's connectivity too.

[jpatokal]

Originally posted by Ijud
All Kuala Lumpur's transportation services including LRTs, monorail and buses will start using the common ticketing system by next year after the Transport Ministry received the full feasability study by November this year.
This quote implies that the system would be ready by Dec 2003... it's soon going to be 2005, and Rapid KL has according to ljud's latest post completed the massive task of... repainting some buses. Way to go. :rolleyes:

[Ijud]

Originally posted by jpatokal
This quote implies that the system would be ready by Dec 2003... it's soon going to be 2005, and Rapid KL has according to ljud's latest post completed the massive task of... repainting some buses. Way to go. :rolleyes:

That's not all actually :p... they already installed and enabled Touch n' Go consoles at ALL Starline and Putraline LRT stations, ALL bus services servicing the Klang Valley and soon ALL KTM Kommuter stations... KL Monorails had also installed the Touch n' Go enabled contactless smartcard console at ALL stations but no exact date had been given on when they will offer Touch n' Go conveniences... :cool:

[jpatokal]

Originally posted by Ijud
That's not all actually :p... they already installed and enabled Touch n' Go consoles at ALL Starline and Putraline LRT stations, ALL bus services servicing the Klang Valley and soon ALL KTM Kommuter stations...
Really? Can you actually use them? I know PUTRA has 100% support, but at last check (late last summer) only a few STAR stations supported T'n'G.
KL Monorails had also installed the Touch n' Go enabled contactless smartcard console at ALL stations but no exact date had been given on when they will offer Touch n' Go conveniences... :cool:
Even better. Let's see when they get them working... hopefully not before I have a chance to use up the few ringgit remaining on my RM20 stored value card :cool:

[Ijud]

Originally posted by jpatokal
Really? Can you actually use them? I know PUTRA has 100% support, but at last check (late last summer) only a few STAR stations supported T'n'G.

Even better. Let's see when they get them working... hopefully not before I have a chance to use up the few ringgit remaining on my RM20 stored value card :cool:

- Yes... that was last year during testing phase... now as I told you... they already installed and ENABLED Touch n' Go consoles at ALL Starline and Putraline LRT stations...

- When they (KL Monorail) enable their Touch n' Go I don't know... hope it's end of this year or earlier as the console systems are ready... ;)

[MRTfreak2005]

The goverment should intergrate the public transport system...THis can see trough how badly the Masjid Jamek Interchange.People must cross the busy road and risk their life. Compared to Singapore Dobby Ghaut station, in intergrates the 2 lines eventough they are not the same operator.

[mrtfreak]

The goverment should intergrate the public transport system...THis can see trough how badly the Masjid Jamek Interchange.People must cross the busy road and risk their life. Compared to Singapore Dobby Ghaut station, in intergrates the 2 lines eventough they are not the same operator.
hey MRTfreak2005. in malaysia, i think this is a very complex issue. you took msjid jamek for an example, so will i. now, try to intergrate the star and putra stations, one above ground, one underground, sitting next to an annually flooding river without a common ticketing system yet. it would have cost much more to provide a direct connection. and no, commuters don't need to crss the road. they can very well use the underground corridor provided at the putra station to cross safely under the road. but knowing that some people are lazy, i guess it might be under utilised till the fact no one knows it exists. getting back to providing a direct link between the stations, the government would have had to use more money for the planning and construction. money that might not have been had at the time, and might influence the public transport coverage in a crippling way.

[Wisarut]

Majid Jamek Interchange reminds me abotu Asko-Sukhumvit since it has very similar feature ... No common smart card system issued yet ... riding the escalator from Sukhumvit to Asok and go down from Asok to Sukhumvit ... There are also the blind spot (the spot not having an escalator or even stair ... whcih reqrire some heroic action to go through .... :D :cool: :p

[MRTfreak2005]

Anyway..the best is still Singapore MRT, Tokyo Subways and KL Putra LRT only

[jpatokal]

One-card system for public transport stalled (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/4/22/nation/10761885&sec=nation) -- The Star, April 22

The Government spent RM10mil to set up electronic fare-card readers at KTM Komuter, monorail and Express Rail Link stations to allow commuters to use Touch 'n Go fare-cards on all systems. This was to make public transport in the Klang Valley more efficient.

But one-and-a-half years later, the fare-card readers remain idle because the rail operators and Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd, which runs the Touch 'n Go system, are still wrangling over the commission rate...

[mrtfreak]

ugghhh... man, they should just give some random rate first la. its annoying to have to queue up for tickets. yesterday was at the KLCC station, the ticket queue, OMG! took taxi instead. and at mid valley station, this indian guy stood so close behind me. sickening la... :mad:

[jpatokal]

KL Monorail and KLIA Ekpres/Transit are still holding out, but at least KTM has now hopped on the Touch'n'Go bandwagon:

http://www.touchngo.com.my/newspromotion_news.htm
http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.cfm?id=1290

Three down, two more to go?

[jpatokal]

Is this a system-wide card payment scheme for putra, star and komuter? As in, any station along these lines has touch and go facilities? Or only selected stops? I know all of putra's 23 stations have touch and go facilities.
It's systemwide for all three now.

[mrtfreak]

It's systemwide for all three now.
That's awesome. So now all you need is a Touch and Go card for these three lines. :D

[jpatokal]

So it's of course a major step that all operators are agreeing to use the card, although I'll reserve the champagne for the day when I can actually go from KLIA to Bukit Bintang with just my T'n'G... but will there be any sort of transfer discount to encourage use?

[mrtfreak]

So it's of course a major step that all operators are agreeing to use the card, although I'll reserve the champagne for the day when I can actually go from KLIA to Bukit Bintang with just my T'n'G... but will there be any sort of transfer discount to encourage use?
Ah, like rebates eh? ;) Hmmm, Ijud, any info on this?

[Ijud]

Ah, like rebates eh? ;) Hmmm, Ijud, any info on this?

None at this moment... :(

[Ijud]

So it's of course a major step that all operators are agreeing to use the card, although I'll reserve the champagne for the day when I can actually go from KLIA to Bukit Bintang with just my T'n'G...

Hope to see it happen by year end...

[Ganyc]

Is Touch 'n Go same as Singapore Transitlink card ? How much will it be to own a Touch 'n Go smart card for public transport travel in Kuala Lumpur ? I'm going to Kuala Lumpur in September this year.

[mrtfreak]

Is Touch 'n Go same as Singapore Transitlink card ? How much will it be to own a Touch 'n Go smart card for public transport travel in Kuala Lumpur ? I'm going to Kuala Lumpur in September this year.
Touch 'n Go is the malaysian equivilent of the EZ-Link card that was introduced in 1997/98 as a method of payment for tolls and the newly opened PUTRA LRT line. Since then, its use has been expanded to buses and the STAR and Komuter lines, system-wide. Not sure about the pricing. I wouldn't mind getting one either, beats all those queues! :p

[jpatokal]

Not sure about the pricing. I wouldn't mind getting one either, beats all those queues! :p
RM15 refundable deposit (at last check) and stored value in increments of RM10, available in eg. most major train stations (but not all). Stupidly, you have to fill out an application form to get it, although this is of absolutely no use to you because you can't even get your money back if you lost it. Instead, the FAQ (http://www.touchngo.com.my/faq.htm#lost) candidly admits they'll use the info to spam you!

If you cannot give me a refund on my card, why then did we have to fill in an application form? What are you going to do with the information?

All information provided in the application form is in-put into our system to be used for:-
a) Market research
b) Promotional and/or information dissemination via brochures, SMS or e-mails
c) Our Careline Consultants’ (Call Centre) reference to make it easier for them to address and solve customers’ queries more effectively when contacted.
So do what I did and fill it up us as Mickey Mouse from Disneyland. :mad:

[mrtfreak]

RM15 refundable deposit (at last check) and stored value in increments of RM10, available in eg. most major train stations (but not all). Stupidly, you have to fill out an application form to get it, although this is of absolutely no use to you because you can't even get your money back if you lost it. Instead, the FAQ (http://www.touchngo.com.my/faq.htm#lost) candidly admits they'll use the info to spam you!


So do what I did and fill it up us as Mickey Mouse from Disneyland. :mad:
Hahahahaha! Does that mean they'll go to the extent of sending SMS overseas? (amused)

[jpatokal]

So it's of course a major step that all operators are agreeing to use the card, although I'll reserve the champagne for the day when I can actually go from KLIA to Bukit Bintang with just my T'n'G...
Hot diggity dawg, there are some hard dates in this article (http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Saturday/National/20050730105044/Article/index_html): KL Monorail passengers can use Touch ‘n Go from Aug 5 and ERL is supposed to follow in September. Keep it up! :cool: Now I know why they're discounting the stored value tickets, better use up the one I bought last week and fast...

[mrtfreak]

That early? Wow. This is good news indeed! :cool: I should get myself a TNG card sometime. Beats the queues!

[mrtfreak]

Is the Putrajaya monorail included under the CTS?

[jpatokal]

Is the Putrajaya monorail included under the CTS?
Let's worry about that when they actually complete the thing...

[jpatokal]

Egads! They did it (http://www.touchngo.com.my/) and on time too! :eek:
Travelling within Klang Valley via public transport just become more convenient with Touch 'n Go. You can now use Touch 'n Go card to travel on the Kuala Lumpur Monorail beginning August 5, 2005. KL Monorail travels through the heart of Kuala Lumpur on elevated tracks, with a total of 11 stations. The station are: Stesen Sentral Kuala Lumpur, Tun Sambanthan, Maharajalela, Hang Tuah, Imbi, Bukit Bintang, Raja Chulan, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku, Chow Kit and Titiwangsa.

[Ganyc]

Hi,

How much will it cost for a tourist to buy a touch'n'go card for travel on KUL's LRT systems ? I am confused by the rates on http://www.touchngo.com.my.

Can the touch'n'go card be bought at KLIA for travel by the KLIA Expres train ?

I am going to KUL for one day in September 2005. Can you tell me which is cheaper, the individual LRT concession card (KL Monorail, Putra LRT, KTM Commuter) or the touch'n'go card ?

Thanks for reading and ready replying.

[admin]

I came across Wisarut's interesting comments on KL marss transit and thought I would post them:

Review of KL mass transit - by Wisarut Bholsithi
My short Comments on KL mass transit systems will be as follows:

1) KL Express (KL Sentral - KLIA) is very good indeed. However, KL Transit is not at a good place since the escalator for KL Express reaches the departure level while KL Transit reaches only the arrival level and KL Transit is at the blind spot so I could not find it...

Even worse, the ticket to Putrajaya was raised from 9.90 to 15 ringgit .... no wonder KL people especially those who live in Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya prefer riding Taxi or car than riding either KL Transit or KL Express ... since it cost them ONLY 30 Ringgit to ride Taxi ...

Even though the taxi to Puytrajaya is about 20-30 Ringgit we pay extra 100 Ringgit to the driver so he can function as a guide around Putrajaya ...

Putrajaya seem to be like a ghost town even though there are some construction going on by the migrant workers from Indonesia .... -> Despite of the gracerful Mosque, the grand bridges and Prime Minister Resident.

Too bad, during the Medeka week, the Cyber jaya is also look like a ghost town as well ... since most just go out ... due to the long Merdeka holiday
week.

The phase I could see in most of the buidings during Merdeka week is "Keranamu Malaysia" whcih is translated as "Proud to be Malaysian!" and this will be shown along with the faces of 5 Prime Ministers from the Founding father (Tuanku Abdul Rahman) to Pak Lah (PM Badawi).

The first 3 are No More ... ONLY Dr. M and Pak Lah are there.

2) KL Sentral ... Very good indeed due to veyr convenient connection with both KL Kommeter, KTMB Intercity station and KL Express but the KL Monorail station is about 100 meter far from the actual KL Sentral. Therefore, the KL Monorail owner SHOULD construct the via duct linking KL Sentral with the KL Monorail in the same way they have done to Bukit Bintang monorail station whcih linking SUgei Wang Shopping mall.

3) STAR .. No comment but the station look just Okay ... even though not as big as BTS station. The turnstile look pretty primitive comparing to BTS station turnstiles. The only great thing is the TVM machines whcih accept banknotes - wiht BW LCD screen... but they look rather rundown due to heavy useage. The single trip tickets look very rundown condition since it has been used since 1998

4) Putra ... very good indeed sicne it is closed to PJ Hilton (the hotel we lived durign KL Visit). However, they should make a link wiht the mall such as Amcorp Mall and Mid Valley Mall through the via ducts since the feeder buses seems not so reliable.

Too bad, the 20 Riggit Store vaue card CANNOt be used in STAR or vice versa. ONLY Touch 'N Go smart card will do this job whciuh is quirt expensive for thos who make a trip to KL for a few days.

The elevated Putra station look quite run down due to heavy use ... some don't have the via duct to connect with the major department store even though I expect the the owner will do so. The stations also at not very good access ... while the feeder buses are a butt of joke for KL people. The screen door of the undergroudn section has the handle to open whne the doors went out of order ....

5) KL Kommuter ... look okay but I have never tried them at all ... so I have no comment on that ...

6) KL Monorail .... quite good for linking int the Golden Triangle of KL. However, the violent vertical vibration along with the lack to store value tickets facility to handle both Putra and STAR also limited their application ...

Furthermore, the line has not been extended to the suburb as they wish to yet. If extended to suburbs (e.g. OUG) with connection to the Mid valley Mall and Putra at Abdullah Hukum (the subrub village - with the galvanized iron roofs ... for those not so well-off KL people), that would be very nice...

Probably, I should try using Touch'n Go next time after they have installed the smart card readers in all KL Monorail, STAR and Putra stations .... because some staions did not have the smart card readers installed yet.

[jpatokal]

A few comments as a heavy user of KL's public transport...

Touch'n Go is now finally available on all lines and all stations, except KLIA Ekspres/Transit and they're supposed to join the fun Real Soon Now(tm).

Putrajaya's public transport is completely useless, you can't even get a taxi from the ERL station without booking ahead and most of the KLIA Transit service's (few) users are park-and-riders. The Putrajaya Monorail is supposed to fix this but it'll be another few years at best until even the first line is ready. Putrajaya and Cyberjaya are both growing, more slowly than planned, but the progress since my first visit in 2001 or so is remarkable.

The Putra LRT two-car trains are actually too small for the volume of traffic during rush hour, but scuttlebutt says that the driverless system can't handle 4-car trains properly (!?).

Midvalley Megamall is linked in via KTM Komuter, the Putra station is quite a bit further away. The Komuter services are, in my opinion, the silent star of KL's transport -- the interval between trains, previously very long, is being decreased constantly (15 min starting Nov 1 on all lines) and ridership is also going up nicely. The extensions to Batu Caves and Tanjung Malim plus new station projects like Megamall and the upcoming Kepong Sentral will also help.

And the last 100 meters for the monorail are caught up in a very Bangkok-style political/business squabble: basically, the two family-run corporations running KL Sentral and Monorail Malaysia don't get along at all, and the city government's efforts to knock heads together and make them play nicely aren't working very well. The monorail is still trying to get an extension to the Megamall via KL Sentral built, but they can't even complete their own Jalan Jalan Xintiendi shopping mall project slowly rotting next to Tun Sambanthan station...

[Wisarut]

Well, Even thohg manyBangkokians have asked BTS to make 6-car formation during rush hours, BTS seems to decline to do so ... since theri drivers have NOT been trained to handle 6-car formation before ..... :(

Hmmm political football as usual .... for the connection with KL Sentral and Midvalley Megamall of KL Monorail :rolleyes: :) ...

Hope that the Putrajaya Development Corp. would speed up theri utrajaya Project by applying the same "Speedo" process which IJA had applied durign the constructionof the Death Railway .... :p

[mrtfreak]

Here's my 2 cents worth.

PUTRA LRT:
Trains run or ART Mark II (Avdanced Rapid Transit Mark II) technolog and build. These run in sets of 1 or 2 cars. I have yet to see a 4-car set. The system is similar to that of the Vancouver skytrain which uses both ART Mark I and ART Mark II vehicles. The ART Mark I vehicles run in sets of 4, 2 sets of 2 married cars that is. My uncle, the rail engineer, thinks that the ART Mark II should be able to run in sets of 4 as the government has built the system for that capability.

Even so, PUTRA is running out of carrying capacity soon. I saw an article at the Skyscraper City forum the other time. Roughly translated to English, it says PUTRA will running of out carrying capacity within 2 years time so they are looking to increase the capacity with either new trains or coaches. Currently, PUTRA is able to move 180,000 passengers per direction per hour and is doing 170,000 ppdph. Let's wait and see whether we will get 4 pr 3 car trains. :D

KTM Komuter:
Trains are being upgraded and yes, the waiting time is slowly coming down. A big improvement from 30 minutes previously. However, they need to work on co-ordinating between travel information and actual train arrival. Currently, the passenger information displays at the stations (blue LCD boxes) state the time the train should arrive according to the time table They should change this to the actual time of train arrival. It can be quite confusing when a Seremban bound train is due at 1330 and a Pel Klang train arrives at 1331 instead of the Seremban one.

KL Monorail:
The political thing is this: The land between the central station and monorail station is owned by a different company from that which own the main KL Sentral station. A shopping mall is intended to be built on the carpark between the two stations. The owner of the land didn't allow the monorail to proceed any further as he wanted the passengers to walk through his mall (presumably giving him more traffic). That's what my uncle told me while he was working on the KLIA ekspres project.

STAR:
I'd have to say that this was sort of a misjudgement in planning. Trains were planned to be 6 carriages long and, I assume, to have higher passenger traffic than that of PUTRA (which currently has 2 cars/train). However, these lines (Sri Petaling and Ampang) are carrying less passengers than expected while PUTRA is fast reaching maximum carrying capacity. I heard it was meant for about 500,000 ppdph, but is doing less than 170,000 ppdph.

KLIA Ekspres & Transit:
Okay, I will try as much to be unbiased as I can about this. ;)
I think its a good line to have since KLIA is rather far away. They do need to expand the number of airlines that do allow CIty check-ins though. Currently, I think its limited to Malaysian Airlines, Brunei Airlines and Cathay Pacific. If others like SIA do hop on the bandwagon, it would appeal to more customers.

Wisarut, the reason why the KLIA Transit escalator is only up to the arrvial hall level is due to certain reasons. Most people would be expected to come from KL and hence, take the direct express service rather than the commuter service (KLIA Transit). The commuter service is meant mostly for those who work at KLIA to go back and for those who intend to go to Putrajaya. Secondly, the original design of the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB) did not include the KLIA Transit station indoors. The station would have originally been out of the air conditioning and in the sun. They then decided to extend the terminal building and hence, the station went indoors. Maybe they could not connect it to the departure hall?

In conclusion, the KL Mass Transit system is getting somewhere. A big leap from when it first started definitely. More KL residents are willing to take the trains nowdays and the system needs to be expanded. Its a success story to me (I think Bangkok can have one too!). Now they've worked on a common ticketing system for stored value cards (Touch 'N Go), they should look to better integration. :) I like the KL system.

[Wisarut]

The followign are the opinions about KL mass transit system from Khun NewUno who has been to KL


KLIA Transit = Not BAD after all ... good for casual travellers even though still too exspensive for thsoe who ridde KL Transit as a daily routine.

KL Monorail => Pretty funny esp when you ride near the driver :D A rollower coaster monorial INDEED .... even though it is very bompy ride ;) :D

PUTRA = Still OKAY ... but the undergroudn stations are at VERY SORRY styate of construction .... still have traces of leaking water (or sewage) inside both tunnels and stations ... Our MRTA Subway is much better constructed ... ONLY good thing abotu PUTRA is the driverless system, allowign the viewing in front

STAR => very Noisy system ... waking up while fallign a sleep durign the waiting period. BTS is better for this aspect ....

Hopwever, Khun NewUno wishes that the Inrterchange at Majid Jamek would allow FREE interchange between both systems. ;) :D

[Ijud]

Hehe... Really true that KL has a very long way to go... but KL is different from Bangkok and Singapore...

- Look at Bangkok's and Singapore's population... it's far more than KL's... well Singapore is a City State for god sake... and Bangkok is huge...
- People like to drive in KL... different from Singapore which has ERP to hinder people from driving... once again Bangkok is huge and cramped... there's a lot of people driving and still there's a lot of people that needs public transport...

* Don't expect the project to take of soon...

[yapcl90]

there are only about 1400,0000 people living in Kuala Lumpur
so that ,Kuala Lumpur can't make a compare to Bangkok and Singapore,because Kuala Lumpur is still a small city!!

[Ijud]

That is very true indeed !!!

[dick]

Preparing a map Kuala Lumpur with al Commuter, metro lines inc. monorail some questions. On sources in Holland I see Titiwangsa. On other maps Tun Razak. What is correct?
Sometimes Tittiwangsa, sometimes Titiwangsa? Depots at Ampang and Lembanh Subang. Workshops at Sental Timur. Are there more depots?
Depot Ampang, coming from Dagan station, left or right side?

[dick]

Additional: is it Gombak Terminal or Terminal Putra?
Also in Traveller guids we find the names of Monorail stations different from the maps f.i. Raja Chullan, P. Ramlee have in the guides other names (other streets).

[dick]

Thank for this info.
I like to give my maps "some more".
I know two depots as mentioned above. But I have no trackmaps of KL. Are there somewhere some (small) yards? Or more sidings to a depot?

[dick]

I cannot find the location from the Kuala Lumpur depots lightrail and railways.
Monorail only at the northersn top of the line?
Help!

[jpatokal]

There's a monorail depot at the southern end too, on a short spur line just south of Tun Sambanthan.

[mrtfreak]

Kelana Jaya line
- 1 Depot
- Lembah Subang, after Kelana Jaya station

Sri Petaling & Ampang lines
- 1 main depot
- 1 small storage area
- Main depot at Ampang (between Ampang & Cahaya/Cempaka stations)
- Storage area directly after Sri Petaling station

Monorail line
- 1 depot
- Between KL Sentral and Tun Sanbanthan

Sentul - Pel Klang & Seremban - Rawang Lines
- 1 depot?
- Sentul?

* Kelana Jaya & Sri Petaling lines will be extended by 2009

[mrtfreak]

Additional: is it Gombak Terminal or Terminal Putra?
Also in Traveller guids we find the names of Monorail stations different from the maps f.i. Raja Chullan, P. Ramlee have in the guides other names (other streets).
Those were in the original pre-Asian financial crisis plan. Stations are now:
Titiwangsa (interchange with RAPIDKL Sri Petaling & Ampang lines)
Chow Kit
Medan Tunku
Bukit Nanas (interchange with RAPIDKL Kelana Jaya line)
Raja Chulan
Bukit Bintang
Imbi
Hang Tuah (interchange with RAPIDKL Sri Petaling & Ampang lines)
Maharajalela
Sultan Sulaiman (will be constructed at later date)
Tun Sanbanthan
KL Sentral (interchange with RAPIDKL Kelana Jaya line, KTM Komuter Sentul - Pel Klang & Seremban - Rawang lines, KLIA Transit, KLIA Ekspres & KTM Antarabandar)

[dick]

Thanks for all this information. Now I can put corrections in- and complete the KL-Map.
It's strange to discover that from the former Dutch East Indies there are so many maps here and from the neighbour country so little. Of course the reason can be that the old "Nederlands Indie" is more popular for the dutch tourist than Malaysia , due to the history.
But the KL system is interesting to me. Thanks again.

[dick]

Kelana Jaya line
- 1 Depot
- Lembah Subang, after Kelana Jaya station

Sri Petaling & Ampang lines
- 1 main depot
- 1 small storage area
- Main depot at Ampang (between Ampang & Cahaya/Cempaka stations)
- Storage area directly after Sri Petaling station

Monorail line
- 1 depot
- Between KL Sentral and Tun Sanbanthan

Sentul - Pel Klang & Seremban - Rawang Lines
- 1 depot?
- Sentul?

* Kelana Jaya & Sri Petaling lines will be extended by 2009

I discovered in other source that my north depot (from an old map) doesn't exist. But on that location, are there storage yards.
Further: is ther a connection at Miharja station between Ampang- and Sri Petaling branch?

At Terminal Putra, storage yard?

[mrtfreak]

I discovered in other source that my north depot (from an old map) doesn't exist. But on that location, are there storage yards.
Further: is ther a connection at Miharja station between Ampang- and Sri Petaling branch?

At Terminal Putra, storage yard?
The North depot for the monorail line would have been at tun razak and the South depot at Taman Desa. After the Asian financial crisis in 1998, the plans for the monorail line were changed and only phase 1 was constructed and phase 2 abandoned. Phase 2 would've run from Tun Sanbanthan to Kampung pasir through Syed Putra, Abdullah Hukum, Pantai Dalam, Taman Desa and OUG. There are no storage yards or stabling facilities at Titiwangsa.

After Terminal Putra there is a short section of track used for storage of trains like after Sri Petaling station.

Sri Petaling and Ampang lines merge at Chan Sow Lin station and share the same track from there to Sentul Timur. Cross platform transfer is availabe at Chan Sow Lin if I am not wrong.

[dick]

Dear mrtfreak
Thanks for this additional information. The map is ready.

[mrtfreak]

No problem. Is it possible to see the map you came up with? I just realised I didn't give you information on the ERL depot. Its located before the Salak Tinggi station in the direction towards KLIA. Meaning that if you came from KL Sentral you would see the depot first, then Salak Tinggi station and vice versa if you were coming from KLIA. It is pending extension from KLIA MTB to KLIA LCCT.

*MTB = Main Terminal Building; LCCT = Low Cost Carrier Terminal

Hope the information was handy in your map.

[ncr]

Dear mrtfreak
Thanks for this additional information. The map is ready.Dick, whatever happened to this map? Care to publish it on 2B? :)

[dick]

The map as illustration for a Reiner Zimmermann article is just published in the April Issue of Stadtverkehr.
Soon I will send it in for 2Bangkok.com together with some new Railway maps of the form. Dutch East Indies (Java (with Batavia tram), Celebes and Surabaya.

[MB]

I am a student and currently writing my diploma thesis about Passenger Information Systems in Malaysia’s railway industry. Unfortunately the time for the thesis is limited, so I am unable to visit Malaysia and its different railway lines to have a look how the actual situation is.

During my research I have come across a lot of useful information on this forum.

For my thesis I am focusing on the passenger information systems in all Malaysian Railways (KTMB, KTM Komuter, rapidKL railways, KL Monorail and the Express Rail Link).

Passenger information systems are either used in rail cars (mobile systems) or at railway stations (stationary systems). The information system is either visible (normally on displays) or passengers are informed by audio messages. Some functions of the systems are for example to provide timetables, next connections, delays, advertisements, or any other relevant information for passengers.

I was hoping if anyone would be able to assist me with my research by answering some of my questions:

- Does anybody already have personal experiences with passenger information systems in Malaysia’s railways, do you consider them as important or dispensable?

- Which trains use which kind of passenger information systems? (displays or audio messages; in which languages is the information; which companies provide the systems; a.s.o.)

- Which railway stations use which kind of passenger information systems?

I am very thankful for any kind of support and I will definitely acknowledge the received inputs in my thesis.

Thank you very much.

MB

[mrtfreak]

Which stations have displays and what type
Rapid KL Kelana Jaya Line
- 24 stations (23 operational, 1 to be opened in future)
- All utilise moving LED display positioned in the centre of the station
- Displays train arrival time, frequency of service at the given time, train destination, time, other misc announcements relating to Rapid KL network
- Information available in Bahasa Malaysia and English
- Audio announcements made over PA system
- Contain both recorded and live announcements
- Announcements made in Bahasa Malaysia and English

Rapid KL Ampang & Sri Petaling Line
- 25 stations (25 operational)
- All stations have one LED display at only one platform (towards the direction where the lines diverge)
- On the common sector, the LED display is on the southbound platform
- On the branch sector, the LED display is on the northbound platform
- Displays train destination only
- Information available in Bahasa Malaysia

KL Monorail
- 11 stations (11 operational)
- All stations have 2 LCD screens per platform (called Channel M)
- Screens play advertisements (to date have not seen any information relating to train service)

KTM Komuter
- 45 stations (45 operational)
- All stations have one LED display per platform
- Displays train destination and next scheduled arrival (not actual arrival time)

[GWR]

Sunday June 8, 2008
Time to walk the talk and get public transportation moving
By LEONG SHEN-LI

THE math is quite simple. With as little as RM7, you can travel almost anywhere on Klang Valley’s RapidKL’s buses and light rail transit for the whole day. With a monthly pass for RM135 – just a little more than a full tank of petrol for a Proton Wira – your month’s transport needs should be taken care of. The cost should be lower in other parts of the country.

But of course, the current state of our public transport obviously cannot take care of anyone’s needs satisfactorily.

Unreliable buses and trains, sardine-packed LRTs, delayed buses because of traffic jams, safety concerns and a host of other negative issues make public transport hardly desirable as an alternative to private cars.

Here are some crucial improvements needed before public transport can become a true option for people.

1. More trains and buses

It is as basic as this! Not only will service become more reliable, more trains and buses will make public transport less packed and more attractive.

No one, especially women, will trade the comfort of a car for a situation where one is pressed all over by other humans in a train, even if it costs more.

Promises were made for more LRT vehicles and buses under the RapidKL and Rapid Penang regimes. How much longer do we have to wait?

2. Get the new lines going

The new Damansara-Cheras LRT line, as well as the Subang Jaya and Puchong extensions, were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2006. Till today, we have not heard about when work will start.

We do not even know where they will run. It is crucial to also think beyond these new lines.

Singapore already knows where its new Mass Rapid Transit lines will run in 2020.

3. Cash for maintenance

The KTM Komuter, after running for 13 years, is now suffering from years of “postponing” maintenance due to funding issues. The LRT system is about 10 years old now, which is about the right time for an overhaul.

RapidKL is also facing issues with keeping its buses on the road because of breakdowns. Other private companies can hardly afford regular maintenance, what more, overhauling. The Government must come to their aid.

Get the allocations disbursed quickly, get the tenders out without delay and pick the correct people to do the work. Remember, keeping enough buses on the road is not just about buying new buses. It is about keeping the existing ones in working condition.

4. Low fares through subsidies

Low fares are crucial, especially when we are putting the case for public transport in the context of rising living costs. Most people who rely on public transport cannot afford any other means of travel.

If there is a group of people who should benefit from subsidies, this should be the one. Subsidies can come from taxing private car users – either through road tax or road pricing. The World Bank says that private car users are generally “undercharged” for using urban roads and for their impact on the environment.

5. One or two companies enough

Competition in public transport is not about having many companies running the same route, it is about competing for the right to run on a particular route.

An operator is selected on the basis of being most able to satisfy the requirements of commuters and other parties (reliable service, safe buses, lowest subsidy) and once selected, it should enjoy a monopoly of the route.

The Government will have to regulate to ensure service is up to the mark. The benchmark should be the best-run route in the system.

6. One regulatory authority

It is a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, as each cook has his own ideas and conflicting interests. Now, 13 government departments and agencies have a say in public transport.

There should just be one to plan the system, dish out the permits (to control the number of operators), organise the routes (to curb duplication) and ensure that the trains and buses run according to time.

It should also be the one dishing out subsidies. The single authority should have only one objective and no other – to ensure that the public gets good public transport.

7. Bus lanes and other facilities

Buses should have their own “track” so that they can be faster than private cars. That is the only way public transport can be more attractive than cars.

Modern bus lanes such as those in Curitiba, Brazil, and Jakarta – where they are virtually separate special roads just for buses – have made bus transport a success. And don’t worry if road users complain. The one lane taken away from them is making the movement of thousands of people more efficient. Bus lanes are also cheaper than train systems and can be just as efficient.

8. Ensure safety of passengers

It should be a basic right of commuters to be able to travel safely. An unsafe system will only turn people away.

9. Good customer information

There is no point in having hundreds of beautiful buses on the road without commuters knowing where they are going. Many rather drive than take buses because they are in control of their journey. The more people know how the system works, the more they will use the system.

10. Please walk the talk

All the above initiatives and problems have been recognised, considered and studied. Announcements are regularly made of moves to improve the system. Yet this comment still has to be written in such a tone. There may ultimately just be one paramount suggestion – don’t just talk, please get things moving!
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/8/nation/21492305&sec=nation

[GWR]

2008/06/22
A messy plan


It looks good in the draft plan, what with the seemingly complete urban rail network and multi-coloured maps. But a city planner tells ELIZABETH JOHN that the transport blueprint for Kuala Lumpur has as many holes as a kitchen colander.

A QUARTER century in the planning business and Goh Bok Yen says he's never come across an urban transport blueprint like the one in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan.

The entire focus of the plan is on the urban rail network, with 11 new and extension lines, and 119 new stations drawn into its multi-coloured maps for the city.

In the plan's chapter on connectivity and accessibility, precious little is said about buses.

There's not a word on taxis, says Goh in disbelief.
And only silence on the need for new roads or even wider ones as the capital grows to house 600,000 more people in a dozen years from now.

Though the public transport share has only risen by five per cent between 1997 and 2005, the plan assumes that by 2020, there will be such a shift to public transport that demand for cars will reduce.

The plan also assumes that with so many new urban rail lines planned, the number of buses needed could also be cut from 2,200 in 2010 to just 1,700, 10 years later.

New rail lines and fewer cars might sound heavenly but here's the problem:

No one is certain how far the new rail lines in the draft plan comply with the actual plans of Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Berhad which manages public transport in the city, says Goh.

The KL draft plan will allow the densest housing and commercial development around these proposed new rail stations.

But if the two plans don't match or plans for new lines are shelved, there's a real fear hordes of city folk could be left stranded.

Even as it stands, Goh, the planner of Mag Technical and Development Consultants, says he's not so sure the draft's new lines and stations are in the most suitable locations.

In the first place, many lines and stations have been drawn into already crowded places where there may be no space for them.

One example is Mont Kiara where a new rail line will have to squeeze between an international school and a high-rise condominium on a road, that is in reality, just 66 feet wide.

Another is on Jalan Kelang Lama, where the line will have to run through a busy 50-foot-wide road that hosts a street side market in the morning and is double parked to death at night.

"A rail line is not just a track and station. It also means having enough space to allow feeder buses and cars to enter and leave the place, so we must have a road that's big enough.

"And we haven't even started talking about a car park!"

Then there's the Transit Planning Zone at Jalan Parlimen that covers the National Monument-Lake Club-Lake Garden area. This will allow for higher density development and mixed use activities.

"Is that what we really need?" asked Goh, explaining that the choice of station sites and lines should be justified by estimated ridership figures, which the draft plan doesn't show.

Urban rail lines must be demand-driven, not the other way around.

Putting the cart before the horse -- increasing population first -- could leave the city with no space for the lines and trains that would come later.

"Rail lines are built at a huge cost, said Goh, at about RM500 million per kilometre.

"So they must be viable in operation, economic and engineering terms. If not, you're just wasting public funds."

But if all goes well and those rail lines are built, said Goh, the draft plan is still silent about how people will get to their final destination from the spanking new stations.

And that's another problem -- the draft plan doesn't identify the roles of other modes of transport within a comprehensive system.

The draft plan doesn't tackle feeder bus services that should be ferrying residents to nearby shops or to bus and LRT stations.

There's been no planning for amenities and facilities for taxis, a lifeline for many in this choked city.

It hasn't mapped out the best forms of transport for each area either, said Goh.

"A rail line is great but it's not door-to-door. And should a 40-foot bus be going down a 40-foot road?"

For those 11 lines to be successful, the city will need the support of other transport modes or it will be repeating the mistakes it made with its first light rail transit lines.

And there's no reason why the draft plan can't show this kind of planning when the maps are detailed enough to show individual house lots.

Goh also has reservations about the park-and-ride system in the draft plan, especially the 250-lot car park in Taman Maluri.

Firstly, it's too few parking lots. Secondly, Taman Maluri is famous for its terrible traffic.

"What's the use of park-and-ride, if people can't even get there? I'd really like to know the rationale for this," said Goh.

"The idea is to keep people from bringing their cars into the city centre. Since 2.2 million people cross the Middle Ring Road II to get into KL, planners should be setting up park-n-ride where those drivers can access it."

The plan has so ruffled the shy, mild mannered transport planner that he's taken up invites to explain the plan's proposals to worried residents in the past week.

But he's not just been talking about the problem proposals, Goh's also talked about the many silent issues.

The draft plan says nothing of the fate of the several already committed road projects listed under the KL Structure Plan.

There is also no acknowledgement of new roads that were proposed and roads identified as missing linkages under that earlier plan.

It has not made any special provision for school buses and the many heavy vehicles that will have to enter the city to service the burgeoning retail sector and construction sites among others, said Goh.

"They just haven't spent enough time thinking about the concept behind a comprehensive system."

If the draft plan is approved, the city council may be gazetting something they cannot construct or realise, said Goh.

"We will end up with very high density areas with no railway links or adequate traffic dispersal capacity and worsen the already dismal situation we have today.

"The city will look beautiful, like a world-class city, but it won't be one."
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Focus/2273357/Article/index_html

[GWR]

See also previous post

2008/08/02
Connecting commuters in the Valley

Packed like sardines in buses and trains and struggling to make connections would be a thing of the past. A host of changes and some relief is on the way for public transport users, writes ELIZABETH JOHN.

HIDING behind mud-caked hoardings, in between two major highways that bring thousands into the city everyday, is the beginning of new hope for frustrated commuters.

Five times the size of the battered old Pudu Raya Terminal but with none of its drawbacks, the first of three integrated transport terminals is slowly rising from the ground in Bandar Tasik Selatan.

In this new terminal, passengers will wait for their buses in the comfort of air-conditioned, glass-walled rooms which look more like swanky airport lounges, not like the diesel fume-filled below-ground waiting areas in Pudu Raya.

At Tasik Selatan, those arriving after a long journey from Singapore, Johor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca will alight the buses and step onto escalators that will carry them into the third floor or concourse of the sprawling terminal building.

At this floor, considered the heartbeat of the terminal, commuters can wait to be picked up by eager relatives or friends.

But if they are headed for the city, they can seamlessly connect via three rail networks -- the Ampang LRT Line, Express Rail Link (ERL), which also takes them to KLIA), and KTM Komuter -- and city buses via a covered walkway from the third floor.

They can also catch a city or long-haul taxi without leaving the terminal building, explains project manager Mohd Fadzil Abdul Hadi.

The buildings and its walkways have also been designed with the disabled in mind.

There are 1,000 covered car park bays, 500 for long-term or overnight parking and dedicated bays for motorcycles, compared to Pudu Raya's 200 covered bays.

And just like in airports, bus and train schedules will be displayed on electronic boards as will traffic information and any announcement on maintenance or delays.

There'll be no lines of buses parked for miles down the road waiting to fill up with passengers, as is the case now in Pudu Raya, says Fadzil, who works with KLIA Consult.

There will be a holding area at the new terminal for such unscheduled buses. The buses wait in an open-air lay-by within the hub's grounds and are only allowed to come up to a departure platform in the terminal when they are ready to leave.

The departure platforms are designed for independent movement. There'll be no ready-to-move buses getting stuck behind those that aren't.

In all, the terminal will be able to handle108 arrivals and 63 departures every hour.

The multi-million dollar hub, being built by Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, will be connected to the Besraya Highway and the Middle Ring Road II, says Abdul Halim Abdullah, principal assistant secretary in the Land division of the Transport Ministry.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad will run the hub, which is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010, he adds.

The Tasik Selatan hub isn't the only glad tidings for public transport users in the Klang Valley.

Prasarana and Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (RapidKL) said improvements were underway.

This ranged from an automatic fare collection system and more sheltered walkways to better connectivity and plans for new and extension rail lines.

And it comes at a time when more KL folk are leaving their petrol guzzlers at home and riding the bus and train.

Since the fuel price hike, RapidKL chief executive Suffian Baharuddin has seen bus ridership increase by 7.5 per cent and LRT's by 3.9 per cent.

The Ampang Line can still cater for additional demand, says Suffian, but not the popular Kelana Jaya Line.

"Passenger ridership on the Kelana Jaya line is very strong with large numbers travelling during peak hours. The volume of passengers at stations is overwhelming during peak periods."

Prasarana, which owns the LRT and bus assets of RapidKL, has ordered 35 more four-coach train-sets with larger capacity for this crowded line.

It says the new trains will be delivered from early 2009 in batches.

The new trains will more than double the Kelana Jaya Line capacity from the current 160,000 to 350,000 passengers per day.

For road transport, RapidKL has increased its coverage of bus services from 638 housing estates to close to 1,000 since its inception in 2004. It has also deployed 1,055 new buses since 2006.

It plans to increase the frequency of bus service along its existing routes, says Suffian.

To overcome theshortage of bus drivers, RapidKL has launched an aggressive recruitment drive for both men and women drivers, offering over RM1,500 a month in basic salary, productivity incentives and opportunities for promotions.

But RapidKL provides just over half the overall stage bus services in Klang Valley and Suffian hopes other bus companies will pitch in to improve services, especially in less populated areas.

The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board says whenever it awards profitable routes to bus companies, it also tries to apportion some of the less profitable ones to them as part of their social obligation to the community

CVLB chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran says more of these social routes and to new housing areas could be better serviced and there would be better provision of facilities like bus stops if local authorities consult the board before it approves development plans.

But Markiman says he's never been consulted on a single development plan.

RapidKL, however, has been talking to local authorities about issues like bus lanes and bus stops.

Markiman also hopes to increase the number of taxis in town. There are about 23,000 taxis in active service now but thousands more are needed, he says.

The board recently received Cabinet approval to reopen applications for taxi permits that were frozen in September 2004.

Commuters will also be able to look forward to a better automatic fare collection.

Currently less than 10 per cent of commuters on RapidKL LRTs and buses, and the KL Monorail use the Touch 'n Go cards, the only system which can be used in both buses and rails.

An upgrade is on the cards that will allow commuters to use the same ticket for different modes of transport within the RapidKL network, says Prasarana.

Much has already been published about extensions to the existing Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT lines and the new Kota Damansara-Cheras line.

Prasarana confirms that these are in the planning stage. Several new urban rail lines are also being planned, including for KL Monorail.

Asked if these new lines were reflected in the Kuala Lumpur Draft City Plan 2020, Prasarana says it would discuss the lines proposed in the plans with Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

And any new lines would have to be justified by detailed population and ridership studies, it adds

But for as much grumbles and sour faces as public transport in the Klang Valley attracts, RapidKL buses, LRTs and the monorail carry over 800,000 passengers per day.

Add in KTM, ERL and other buses, more than one million people per day use public transport in the Klang Valley, says Prasarana.

If just 20 per cent of these people decide to use private cars, there would be 200,000 additional cars a day on the road.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Focus/2309874/Article/index_html

[jpatokal]

It's a good idea, but it's still going to be pretty half-assed in practice. "Integration" between the existing three trains at BST is a bit of a joke: it's a 100-m walk from the KLIA Transit to the Ampang Line, and even if the new bus terminal is designed to be accessible to the disabled, the existing stations are not.

Also, while BST is well-placed to handle traffic from the south and the east, it's not going to be practical for people heading north, which has the most cities (Penang, Ipoh, etc). Will KL need to ape Bangkok and build separate "Northern" and "Southern" bus terminals?

[mrtfreak]

If you didn't know, Pudu Raya will be disbanded into, as the article mentions, 3 integrated terminals. One we already know is at Bandar Tasik Selatan. Two others will be at Putra (near Putra komuter and PWTC Ampang line station I think) and a third in Gombak (possibly near Terminal Putra).

BTS - Southern destinations
Putra - Northern destinations
Gombak - Eastern destinations

The terminals for the northern and southern bus destinations are also linked by both the Komuter Seremban-Rawang line and the Ampang line which enables passengers to take only one train between the bus terminals.

Perhaps they could look into providing a bus service between BTS and Gombak via the MRR2 in future. Terminal Putra sits just off the MRR2.

[jpatokal]

If you didn't know, Pudu Raya will be disbanded into, as the article mentions, 3 integrated terminals. One we already know is at Bandar Tasik Selatan. Two others will be at Putra (near Putra komuter and PWTC Ampang line station I think) and a third in Gombak (possibly near Terminal Putra).
Interesting. Got more info? I don't see the article above mentioning this at all.

[mrtfreak]

2008/08/02
Connecting commuters in the Valley

Packed like sardines in buses and trains and struggling to make connections would be a thing of the past. A host of changes and some relief is on the way for public transport users, writes ELIZABETH JOHN.

HIDING behind mud-caked hoardings, in between two major highways that bring thousands into the city everyday, is the beginning of new hope for frustrated commuters.

Five times the size of the battered old Pudu Raya Terminal but with none of its drawbacks, the first of three integrated transport terminals is slowly rising from the ground in Bandar Tasik Selatan.

OPINION: Cut the highways, look into buses, LRT
NST Online » 2008/07/12By : Chok Suat Ling


The Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan did not sufficiently address urgent concerns about public transport, experts tell CHOK SUAT LING.

DENNIS Heng's office is situated in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur city centre. To get there, the management consultant has to weave through gridlocked traffic daily but he has persisted in doing so for three years.

His blood pressure is none the better for it but Heng says, half-jokingly, that his health would deteriorate further if he took public transport.

The problem is connectivity, among other things. From his apartment in Bandar Puchong Jaya, there is no bus or light rail transit (LRT) line which will take him directly to his office in Wisma Angkasa Raya, opposite the Petronas Twin Towers.

To take the LRT, he would have to walk for 15 minutes to board a feeder bus which would take him to the Bukit Jalil station. He would have to change trains at Masjid Jamek.

When he reaches KLCC, it would be another 10 minutes' walk to his office. "If it pours, I would be drenched," says Heng.

Taking the bus would be even worse, he claims: "If traffic is congested, it would take me close to two hours to reach the office. On the North-South expressway, I would already be in Malacca in that time."

What would make him switch to public transport? The recent hike in fuel prices certainly has not. Heng concedes that he would leave his car at home only if there is better connectivity:

"I am not asking for the LRT or bus to drop me off right at my office doorstep, but close by would be good and of course, sheltered walkways would help. Besides, buses should not only be more frequent but also arrive on schedule."

Indeed, the public transport system in the country continues to be in a muddle. Experts say the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan recently did not comprehensively address pertinent issues.

According to a United Nations Development Programme spokesman, it is not clear what projects or programmes will be developed within congested urban areas to reduce intra-city sprawl and congestion, or, more importantly, what policies will be implemented to support these changes.

"To achieve the target ratio of private vehicles to public transport of 70:30 by 2010, steps to improve inter-modal connectivity must go hand-in-glove with infrastructure expansion," she says, underscoring a need to restructure the current public transport network as well as phase out routes which are duplicated.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's public transport expert Prof Dr Abdul Rahim Mat Noor says very little about public transport was addressed in the Mid-Term Review. "There have been a lot of announcements with no follow-up."

Connectivity, he points out, remains a major problem: "This is not just about connectivity between terminals but also between the stations and buildings. In Singapore, Europe and North America, there are all-weather roofed pathways. In Singapore, some walkways are shaded by angsana trees. It is cool and breezy and you would not even feel you are walking in a tropical country."

He notes that another problem is conflicting interests among public transport users, operators, regulators and politicians.

"Users want low fares and high quality service; operators want higher fares for high quality service; the regulators want both parties to be satisfied. Politicians want what the grassroots want, which is low fares."

As a result of disparate interests, the users and operators end up the victims. Bus companies are suffering because while costs are escalating, their fares are not going up according to the inflation rate.

"The government must subsidise public transport operators. If not, users will end up with low quality service and low-demand routes will not be served as they are not profitable," says the academic.

Another matter of concern is the lack of permanency in public transport policies and regulations: "One press conference and everything changes. The withdrawal of subsidies from RapidKL is a good example."

Abdul Rahim urges the authorities to give the issues urgent attention for many people are affected, not just in the Klang Valley but in all major cities and towns in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak:

"In rural areas, old buses emitting choking fumes are still running. In Kajang and Shah Alam, the minibuses are neglected and being run poorly. What the government is doing instead is to focus on building highways and expressways. This will encourage people to use cars."

What experts say is most crucial is the need to hasten the establishment of a single National Public Transport Commission to act as an umbrella body. Currently, no less than 13 agencies from different ministries are involved in a wide range of operations and this has led to overlaps, crossed signals and inefficiency.

Public transport expert Sulik Suleiman Salleh underscores the importance of having a body that thinks collectively and runs independently:

"The various ministries, agencies and departments are all playing different roles and this slows down progress in improving public transport nationwide," Sulik Suleiman, formerly with Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia, notes.

UKM's Abdul Rahim welcomes the proposed establishment of the commission, saying it could serve as a centre for the public to air their grouses: "What is more integral, however, is the need to set up a research, monitoring and data collection centre."

The government does not have data on many aspects of public transport like the cost of maintaining and servicing buses, the price of spare parts and labour, and the number of passengers on a specific route. Without this information, it is difficult to plan for the future."

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat has taken note of the problems and says inter-connectivity within the Klang Valley will be enhanced.

City Hall, RapidKL and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) are building aerobridges, covered walkways, escalators, lifts and access roads to major LRT, monorail, ERL (Express Rail Link) and KTM Komuter stations, especially in areas such as Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL Sentral, Bangsar, Petaling Jaya and Bank Negara, he points out.

A new LRT station will be opened at Seri Rampai and there are also plans to extend the LRT-Star (Sri Petaling) to USJ/Puchong, with eight new stations over a 15km stretch.

Another project involves the extension of the LRT-Putra to USJ/Puchong, with eight new stations stretching over 16km.

Detailed studies on both extension projects are expected to be completed this year. Both will be wholly-financed by SPNB under a privatisation and concession agreement.

Meanwhile, the RM633.8 million integrated transport terminal at Bandar Tasik Selatan, which will replace the old and congested Pudu Raya Terminal, will be fully integrated with the LRT-Star, Express Rail Link and KTM Komuter stations, within a radius of 200 metres.

The terminal, covering 95,000 square metres, will have 150 taxi bays, 60 bus platforms, 1,000 parking bays and will be connected by a six-lane highway to the Middle Ring Road 2 and Besraya highways. It is expected to be completed by December 2010.

A future integrated transport terminal for east-bound traffic at Gombak has been identified and will be implemented at a later stage.

Ong is also pushing for the formation of a public transport commission: "The system is fragmented now. There is confusion over who has jurisdiction over public transport projects.

"A central agency would make the system more efficient and connected."

[jpatokal]

A new LRT station will be opened at Seri Rampai and there are also plans to extend the LRT-Star (Sri Petaling) to USJ/Puchong, with eight new stations over a 15km stretch.

Nothing new about it, the station has been sitting there growing mold and occasionally getting flash flooded since 1998.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Rampai_LRT_station

Detailed studies on both extension projects are expected to be completed this year.
I'm not holding my breath :mad:

[mrtfreak]

Sri Rampai is not being opened as there is insufficient capacity on the system to handle another station. After the introduction of the new trains, only then can the station open without the system "crashing" due to the extreme loads. Its a case of demand being higher than supply.

They have mentioned extensions and new lines since 2006. Who knows if it is/was just words floated around to appease the public? But nevertheless, they are planning for new integrated transport terminals to disband the Puduraya bus terminal.

[GWR]

Also article below this on the Petaling Jaya Community Bus scheme


http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/8/18/business/b_12train.jpg
[Photo:The Star - An artist's impression of the new four-car train which will be used on the Kelana Jaya LRT line.]

Monday August 18, 2008
Coping with more commuters
By YIP YOKE TENG

Many KL folks now leave their cars behind after feeling the pinch of a 40% hike in petrol prices, but upon taking public transport, they cannot help but think that our service providers are not ready for better business. StarMetro finds out more about the situation.

RESORTING to public transport has become the only choice, albeit a sometimes inconvenient one, for many KL-ites following a 40% increase in petrol prices recently.

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (RapidKL), the main service provider for public transportat in the Klang Valley, recorded a 7.5% increase in ridership for its bus services and a 3.9% increase for the LRT services.

That, in other words, means the buses are now taking about 392,000 passengers daily, 27,000 more than they previously did while the LRT lines have seen an increase of 12,000 daily.

Can our current system cope with the drastic increase? The scenes seen during peak hours suggest otherwise — commuters squeeze themselves like canned sardines to get into Komuter trains, passengers spill out of bus stops onto roads where traffic is heavy while dozens are “stranded” after disembarking from the LRT as the feeder buses lie idle.

“It is getting from bad to worse,” accounts clerk Martin Fernandez, 26, who travels to work by Komuter, said.

“There’s an obvious increase in the number of passengers. I need to wait longer for my turn to get into the train and I do not want to be as rough as some just to secure a space,” he said.

LRT user Tina Low, 24, said she was frustrated waiting for the feeder bus and often had to resort to taking the taxi to get home.

“At the end of the day, I wonder how much I can save and I may as well just drive,” the bank executive said.

StarMetro checked with several service providers on the measures they are taking to cope with the increased volume of commuters.

RapidKL was the first to respond, KTM has pledged to reply and Monorail had to turn down the interview until a transition of management was completed.

Measures taken by RapidKL:

·New Four-Car Trains

It is learned that SPNB, the asset owner, and RapidKL will bring in a total of 22 sets of new four-car trains between 2009 and 2011;

“We expect to have the complete set of 22 trains by the end of 2011. By the end of 2009, the Kelana Jaya Line service will have a combination of four car and two-car trains in operation during peak hours,” RapidKL chief executive officer Suffian Baharuddin said.

With that, he said, the Kelana Jaya Line could hold a maximum capacity of more than 300,000 passengers per day compared with the current capacity of 160,000 per day.

·Park-and-ride facilities to encourage use on the Ampang LRT Line

RapidKL has made available park-and-ride facilities at stations along its Ampang LRT Line where the current capacity is about 70% (see table). LRT users can also consider going to the stations by car-pool.

The Maluri, Cempaka, Pandan Jaya and Pandan Indah stations have more than 200 parking bays each, while the Pudu, PWTC, Sungai Besi, Sentul and Sentul Timur stations have about 100 each.

The Cahaya station was recently equipped with a footbridge linking both platforms. Formerly, passengers would have to use an overhead bridge about 30m away to cross to the other side.

“Therefore, we encourage the public living near LRT stations to use the LRT services.

RapidKL can also increase the number of trains to cater to any significant growth in passenger demand for the Ampang Line,” Suffian added.

·Crowd management

RapidKL also claimed that they had not encountered major glitches in managing the higher traffic volume, with adequate staff at the LRT stations to manage the crowd.

“When the crowd at the platform is large, the staff will stop the crowd at the concourse level until the passengers clear the platform.

This is part of our safety measures to prevent any incidents,” Suffian said.

He said in cases of disruption in the LRT service, passengers were updated with frequent announcements over the PA system so that they could make alternative arrangements. Buses would also be deployed to the affected stations.

·Wider bus coverage

Suffian said RapidKL was constantly reviewing its bus network in order to feed the demand, including the local shuttle service that serves as the feeder bus.

He said RapidKL now covered 166 routes compared with 140 in 2005 when it first came on board. It covered 980 housing estates compared with 638 before and 650 buses are scheduled for deployment during peak hours compared with 470 in 2005.

“There are 18 other stage bus operators in the Klang Valley. RapidKL only provides an estimated 55% out of the overall stage bus services here.

“RapidKL serves 23 social routes where demand for the bus service is still low and, in many instances, we are the only bus operator in the area. It is hoped that all bus operators could also serve a mixture of high and low demand routes to improve the overall stage bus services,” he said.

·Recruitment of drivers

RapidKL has started an “aggressive” recruitment programme for new bus drivers with attractive remunerations where they can earn more than RM1,500 a month.

Suffian also noted that bus services were largely affected by traffic conditions.

“Bus delays faced by commuters in Klang Valley are generally due to traffic congestion and other factors beyond RapidKL’s control, including road diversion and closures, haphazard parking, adverse weather conditions as well as traffic accidents,” he said.

·More sheltered bus stops

RapidKL is working with the local authorities to help in providing more sheltered bus stops for their comfort and convenience; and

·Bus lanes

RapidKL hails Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s initiative to extend and enforce bus lanes in the city, urging other local authorities to emulate the move
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/8/18/central/1776673&sec=central
Another article on this subject:
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/18/business/1818507&sec=business

The following is not KL, but it is part of the greater KL area so to speak:

Monday August 18, 2008
Community buses for PJ folks
By JADE CHAN

LOW-INCOME wage earners and senior citizens living in Petaling Jaya can now opt to travel around the city using the PJ Community Bus.

“In view of the rising cost of fuel, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is providing this bus service, which will operate around the PJ Selatan and PJ Utara areas, for free.

“This initiative is to help the urban poor and we’re the first local council in Selangor to provide such a service,” PJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said when launching the two buses called Mesra Komuniti (Community Friendly) One and Two.

The bus service starts at 9am and ends at 5pm. Three trips are made daily from Mondays to Fridays to each area.

The PJ Selatan bus route covers destinations like the MBPJ Headquarters, the Jalan Sultan government offices, the PJ Police Headquarters, the PJ Community Library, the Jalan Othman Market, the Medan Maju Jaya Health Centre and the Taman Jaya LRT Station.
More information: Roslan (right) and Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee (second from right) distributing leaflets to inform the public about the new PJ Community Bus service.

The PJ Utara bus route will go to the MBPJ Headquarters, Jalan Sultan, Jaya 33, Tesco/Ikano, Dataran Sunway police station and the National Registration Department Kota Damansara branch office.

Each bus can accommodate 23 passengers and is equipped with air-conditioning and a television set.

“It cost us RM200,000 to buy one bus; the other was refurbished for RM50,000,” Roslan said.

“It will cost us RM120 to run and maintain one bus each day, which works out to about RM3,000 a month.

“We will place the bus stop signs either at existing bus stops or nearby buildings that are identified as bus stops.”

Roslan said the bus stops were identified during consultations with the community leaders in the targeted areas, who will spread the word about the service.

“We will distribute leaflets about the service to the target areas, and get their feedback.

“If there is a high demand, we will consider extending the bus service to weekends or increase the frequency.

“We also have a community van for the disabled that is available on an on-call basis.

“It can fit two disabled persons in wheelchairs at a time, who are lifted into the van via a hydraulic jack that cost RM10,000.”

...........
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/8/18/central/1821510&sec=central