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August 29, 2007 20:10 PM
Cargo Train To Bangkok Derails At Bukit Cabang
PADANG BESAR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- A cargo train carrying 35 empty containers from Butterworth to Bangkok derailed at Bukit Cabang near here Wednesday.
Padang Besar OCPD Acting Supt Che Man Md Deros said the locomotive driver and his assistant, aged 35 and 40 years respectively, escaped injury in the 6.50am incident.
Police have cordoned off the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Butterworth branch senior operations executive Rasul Yahya said the company was investigating the incident and that 60 workers had been mobilised to repair the tracks where the incident happened.
He added that about 24 hours would be needed for the work and that in the meantime, buses would be used to transfer passengers between Padang Besar and Arau for their onward journeys.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=281964&cat=nt
Train runs over students
By SARBAN SINGH
TAMPIN: Two Form Two students were killed when they were run over by a freight train near Kampung Tanjung, Ulu Gadong, in Kota near here.
Five of their schoolmates, all aged between 15 and 17, escaped when they managed to jump off the tracks in the nick of time.
The seven were resting on the railway tracks when the incident occurred at about 11.45pm on Thursday.
Mother’s pain: Fazrul’s mother Rohani Jalil crying at the Tampin Hospital. — Bernama
The two killed were Fazrul Asri Zulkifli from Juasseh in Bahau and Mohd Hafiz Adnan from Masjid Tanah in Malacca.
The students of SM Agama Hj Mohamed Yatim near here only realised there was a freight train approaching them when the driver sounded the whistle.
The train was heading from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Rembau district crime chief Asst Supt Nagappan Kuthuraman said preliminary investigations revealed that the boys could have dozed off while resting on the tracks.
ASP Nagappan said the train driver stopped to report the incident at the Tampin railway station.
He said police would record statements from the five students to find out what they were doing on the tracks.
It is learnt the students had slipped out of their hostel and gone to Kota town for supper.
Villagers at the scene of the incident said the boys would loiter along the tracks almost every night despite being advised not to do so.
Resident Mohamat Hassan, 66, whose house is located several metres from the railway line, said that between 10 and 20 boys could be seen sitting on the tracks every night.
“We have been living here for the past 40 years and this is the first time that such an incident had taken place,” he said.
School authorities refused to comment.
The boys’ remains were sent to the Tampin Hospital for post-mortem and were later released to their next of kin.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/27/nation/19299810&sec=nation
2007/11/02
KTMB resumes train services to Thailand
BUTTERWORTH: KTM Bhd yesterday resumed its Thai International Express train service between Butterworth and Bangkok after the strike by Thai railway workers ended.
Services for the Express Langkawi train service between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai also returned to normal.
KTMB corporate communications manager Shahriza Embi said it had received the green light from the Thais to resume the train services.
On Wednesday, thousands of passengers were left stranded at stations in Thailand when workers started the strike. KTMB suspended the Thai International Express train service, and those who bought tickets to Bangkok were given refunds.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2074843/Article/index_html
2007/11/10
Goods train derails, commuter and intercity services disrupted
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat:
Commuter and intercity train services were disrupted following the derailment of a goods train between Kuala Lumpur railway station and Dayabumi this morning.
The goods train carrying 30 empty containers was heading to Prai from Pasir Gudang when one of the containers jumped off the track, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd said in a statement.
The derailment caused 20 to 30 minutes delay to KTM Komuter services plying the Sentul-Port Klang and Seremban-Senawang routes, while train services from Port Klang to Kuala Lumpur and from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur were stopped at KL Sentral station to avoid congestion.
The intercity services will be delayed until track repair work is completed, it added. — BERNAMA
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/NewsBreak/20071110125848/Article/index_html
Commuters stranded
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 5,000 passengers of six commuter trains plying the Rawang-Seremban route were stranded following a mudslide near Kepong. A Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) spokesman said the mudslide occurred at KM374.2, near the Kepong Sentral station, at 6am. Most of the commuters were on their way to work. They continued their journey from the Kepong station. The mudslide is believed to have been caused by a burst pipe on a slope along the track. Service resumed at 9.40am.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/20071208075745/Article/index_html
Passenger train jumps tracks, nobody hurt
By IAN McINTYRE
PASIR MAS: A passenger train from Tumpat that was bound for Gemas in Negri Sembilan jumped tracks and disrupted two other passenger trains carrying about 900 passengers early Sunday.
No one was hurt when the train skidded off the wet tracks in the 6am incident on the Manek Urai-Kuala Krai line.
The derailment held up the Ekspres Wau train from Kuala Lumpur to Tumpat and the Ekspres Timuran train from Johor Baru to Tumpat.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd east coast region manager Ibrahim Sulaiman said the incident may not be related to floods as the area was not inundated at the time, but a probe had been launched.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/9/nation/20071209190844&sec=nation
500 train passengers stranded
By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah
http://www.nst.com.my/Monday/National/2105673/insidepix1
[Photo: NST - The Ekspress Timuran train came to a halt when a coach on another service jumped the tracks.]
KUALA KRAI: More than 500 passengers onboard the Ekspres Timuran and Wau trains were stranded for several hours when a coach on another service jumped the tracks yesterday.
The incident happened at 6am at Km49 in Slow Mengkuang here, when the three-coach train service was heading from Tumpat to Gemas.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad regional manager Ibrahim Sulaiman said the middle coach jumped the tracks causing a halt in the services on that line.
There were about 20 passengers on board the train and none was hurt.
They were put on board another train and continued their journey to Gemas.
Meanwhile, the derailment caused the Ekspres Timuran and Wau train service, which were coming from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore respectively, to be halted.
He said the passengers were transferred to another train and continued their journey to Pasir Mas and Tumpat.
He added that an investigation on the cause of the derailment was being carried out.
Ibrahim ruled out heavy rain and floods as the cause of the incident.
He said KTMB had begun repair work on the track. He added that services would resume by midnight.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2105673/Article/index_html
See also previous post:
Second derailment in 24 hours in Kelantan
By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah
http://www.nst.com.my/Tuesday/National/2106627/insidepix1
[Photo: NST - Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd workers checking the coaches after a train derailed near Sungai Peria yesterday.]
KOTA BARU: Train services to the state have been halted after a train ploughed into a herd of buffaloes and derailed yesterday.
This is the second derailment within 24 hours.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd regional manager Ibrahim Sulaiman said in the incident at Sungai Peria, the train travelling from Gua Musang to Tumpat jumped the rails after hitting the buffaloes but all 43 passengers were unhurt.
"The locomotive and two of its three coaches jumped track after the accident."
He said the passengers were sent to Manek Urai.
"The incident affects thousands of passengers heading to Kelantan from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and the services will be disrupted until further notice.
"The intra-state service will continue."
On Sunday, 500 passengers onboard the Ekspress Timuran and Wau trains were stranded for several hours after a local coach jumped the track at Km49 in Slow Mengkuang here.
..........
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/2106627/Article/index_html
For later report on 4 out of 5 services being restored, scroll down to 2nd report:
Train services disrupted by floods
PETALING JAYA: Five KTM Intercity services for the East Coast sector have been disrupted until further notice due to the continuous heavy downpour since Friday.
They are: > Ekspres Wau 2 Tumpat - Kuala Lumpur (service terminated);
> Express Lambaian Timur Tumpat - Singapore (service commence from Tumpat to Jerantut only);
> Express Lambaian Timur Singapore - Tumpat (service commence between Triang station only);
>Local Train 91 Tumpat - Gemas (service commence between Tumpat and Kuala Lipis only).
>Local Train 92 Gemas - Tumpat.
Passengers can look for the status of the train services from time to time via www.ktmb.com.my or contact KTM Call Centre at 603-2267 1200 or the nearest KTM Intercity station.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/15/nation/20071215165539&sec=nation
Four Of Five East Coast Train Services Resume
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Four of five inter-city train services on the east coast line resumed Sunday after they were disrupted due to floods since Friday, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) said in a statement.
It said only the Ekspres Wau 2 Tumpat-Kuala Lumpur service remains disrupted, and was expected to resume Monday.
The restored services are the Ekspres Lambaian Timur Tumpat-Singapore, the Ekspres Lambaian Timur Singapore-Tumpat, the Tumpat-Gemas Local Train and the Gemas-Tumpat Local Train, the statement said.
KTMB said the services were resumed after floodwaters in several areas along the east coast line had receded.
"However, KTMB anticipates delays in the arrival and departure times of the trains as they have to reduce speed in the affected areas," the statement said.
Passengers can call KTMB at 03-2267 1200 for more information, it added.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
May 03, 2008 18:58 PM
Express Train Derails In Seremban, Driver Killed
SEREMBAN, May 3 (Bernama) -- An Ekspres Rakyat train derailed at Kampung Baru Rahang here today, killing the driver and injuring five passengers.
Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Director Salleh Sarbine identified the dead as Yahya Osman, 40.
"The incident happened at about 3.30pm when the train was travelling from Butterworth to Singapore. It carried 210 passengers and had 12 coaches," he told reporters at the scene.
Following the derailment, the locomotive and four coaches plunged into two-metre ditches on both sides of the track.
Rescuers took about an hour to remove the driver from inside the locomotive which submerged in mud.
Salleh said 30 rescue personnel from the Seremban, Seremban 2 and Senawang fire and rescue stations and Civil Defence members took part in the operation, assisted by members of the public.
At the scene, Bernama saw most of the passengers in a state of shock.
A 53-year-old passenger of the ill-fated train, Abdul Majid Elias, said he was in his seat when suddenly he heard a loud bang in front and felt the coach shaking violently.
"Then, the air-conditioner and lights went out before the train came to a complete stop," he said.
He boarded the train at the KL Sentral station to return home in Kluang after attending a class at a university in Kuala Lumpur. Majid is a distance learning student.
Another passenger, Lim Sim Eu, 49, who was with her 15-year-old son, Daniel Quah, said she was asleep when the incident occurred.
"I was awaken by the sounds of people screaming and saw the passengers' luggage strewn all over and the coach was tilted," she said.
Lim boarded the train in Taiping after visiting her husband who works there. Lim and her son live in Melaka.
An Australian who works in Singapore, Graeme Nicholas, 54, said he was half-asleep when he heard a loud bang before the train stopped suddenly.
Graeme and his wife, Gillian, 49, was in Kuala Lumpur for a holiday and took the train to see the beauty of Malaysia. They were seated in the final coach. "We're lucky and this is the most frightening experience in my life," he said.
The five people injured were taken to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Sunday May 4, 2008
Driver killed in train crash
By SARBAN SINGH
SEREMBAN: The driver of a Singapore-bound Ekspres Rakyat train was killed when the locomotive derailed near here yesterday.
Twelve of the train’s 210 passengers were injured in the 3.35pm incident, which occurred near Rahang New Village next to the Seremban-Tampin trunk road.
The locomotive and the first coach of the train, which had 12 coaches, jumped the rails and landed upside down in the mud next to the tracks.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/4/nation/n_05traincrash.jpg
[Photo: The Star - Accident site: Rescue personnel helping some of the passengers out of the derailed Ekspres Rakyat train on the Seremban-Tampin trunk road near Seremban Saturday.]
Two other coaches went off the tracks and rolled down a steep slope into Sungai Rahang, which flows parallel to the railway line. Three more coaches were also derailed.
The Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) train had just left Seremban station when the incident happened.
State Fire and Rescue Department chief Salleh Sarbini said the driver, Yahaya Osman, 40, died on the spot.
“We had to dig him out as he was buried in the mud,” he said.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/4/nation/n_05injured.jpg
[Injured passenger: Civil Defence personnel wheeling a female train passenger into the Tunku Ja’afar Hospital.]
He said all passengers were evacuated within 30 minutes and those injured were sent to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (TJH) for treatment.
Passengers who were not injured were ferried on buses to the Tampin station 40km away where they boarded another train for Singapore.
Personnel from the Civil Defence Department, KTMB and motorists also helped out in the rescue work.
State police chief Datuk Osman Salleh said six of the 12 injured were Singaporeans.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/4/nation/n_05passengers.jpg
[Passenger evacuation: Some of the passengers leaving the crash site with their belongings. Passengers were later ferried on buses to the Tampin station where they boarded another train for Singapore.]
“One female passenger was admitted to the TJH for back and neck injuries,” he said, adding that the others were given outpatient treatment.
KTMB managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah, who was also at the scene, said it was too early to establish the cause of the derailment.
“We will certainly conduct a thorough investigation,” he said, adding that the driver had been with KTM for more than 20 years.
Salleh said it would take more than 24 hours to clear the tracks for train services to resume.
“In the meantime, we will ferry the south-bound passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Gemas and vice versa,” he said.
The area where the accident happened was low-lying and had suffered flash floods during the recent wet spell.
Earthworks are also being carried out nearby for the expansion of the Seremban-Tampin stretch as well as the building of a flyover.
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
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Ong orders immediate probe
BADROLHISHAM BIDIN, K. BARADAN and U-EN NG
TRANSPORT Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has ordered an inquiry into the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad fiasco exposed by a Malay Mail probe.
Opposition MPs vowed to move an emergency motion in the Dewan Rakyat this week to debate the fast-deteriorating state of rail travel in the country, especially the KTM Komuter service in the Klang Valley and the underutilised Rawang-Ipoh double tracking line.
Our front-page report yesterday revealed:
• No electric trains running the 192km-long Rawang- Ipoh double tracks, despite it being commissioned last November at an estimated RM4.8 billion.The final amount is believed to have ballooned. Trains for this route will only arrive next year and will only be commissioned for use in 2010 after test runs.
• A train graveyard at Sentul KTM depot. Our photograph showed several trains were either being cannibalised for spare parts or being repaired.
Questions arose if any of those trains were railworthy and could be used to support the ailing KTM Komuter.
• An acute train shortage that continues to play havoc, affecting more than 100,000 commuters daily in the Klang Valley alone due to the irregular service.
Ong told Malay Mail that the inquiry, headed by Ministry secretary-general Datuk Zakaria Bahari, would look into all issues highlighted by Malay Mail. The team will begin work immediately.
“We will conduct a comprehensive audit on several aspects, including the safety and level of maintenance nationwide and the condition of the rolling stock,” he said.
Ong, who had returned from an official visit to Istanbul last night, said he repeatedly reminded his officers about the importance of punctuality.
“I know the problems I have inherited and am trying to explore alternatives to ensure punctuality in train services,” he said.
Opposition MPs questioned the Transport Ministry’s decision to award the RM12.5 billion Ipoh- Padang Besar double-tracking project to MMC Corp and Gamuda last June.
Barisan Nasional MPs declined to comment.
The Komuter service is badly affected as only 30 trains of the original 62, when the service started in 1995, are available. KTMB managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah had said he needed at least 33 trains for efficient service.
Last month, it was at an all-time low with 21 trains
http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Tuesday/Frontpage/20080506121922/Article/index_html
See also related posts in the KTM Intercity thread:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20758&postcount=66
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20754&postcount=65
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=19755&postcount=62
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
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