Comment: At one point, only 25% of the locomotives were operational, that's very low level of service. Chinese suppliers have also made their presence in heavy industries (locomotive construction)

Tuesday December 2, 2008 THESTAR

Resignations have not affected KTMB, says Ong

KUALA LUMPUR: The resignations in September of KTM Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and two directors have not affected the operations of the railway company, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

“Otherwise, we would not have been able to do this,” he said yesterday referring to the overhauling of locomotives and electric multiple units (EMUs) at the Sentul workshop and depot.

However, Ong declined to comment further as he said the appointments are under the Finance Ministry.

“Something is in progress. Be more patient,” he told reporters after visiting the workshop and depot.

The two independent non-executive directors who tendered their resignations are Datuk Wong Mook Leong and Dr Kader Sultan Md Ismail. There are eight board members in KTMB.

It was reported in September that Lim and some of the independent non-executive directors had resigned in protest after the Government revoked an earlier decision to appoint former Pos Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Idrose Mohamed as the new managing director.

Former general manager of KTMB’s freight services division Abdul Radzak Abdul Malek was appointed instead, taking over from Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah on Sept 2.

On the overhauling of the locomotives, Ong said that only five locomotives out of 20 were operational in May.

However, a task force formed by KTMB in September to resolve the issue resulted in 18 units being overhauled and operational now.

Among the steps taken, he said, were bringing in the Chinese supplier from Dalian to carry out the work at no cost as the units were still under warranty.

Ong said the remaining two units would be ready for use by the end of the month.

On the EMUs, he said that 12 out of 20 units had been overhauled, work was on schedule and would be completed by March.

More train trips during holiday season for Singapore MRT

Nov 18, 2008 Straits Times

More train trips

Waiting times will be reduced by up to 2 minutes: SMRT TRAIN operator SMRT will add almost 400 extra train trips each week from this weekend to cope with the increased demand for travel during the festive season.

The additional 378 trips will shorten waiting times by up to two minutes, it said yesterday.

Commuters can expect more trains to pull up at stations on weekday evenings, Saturday mornings and evenings and Sunday afternoons and evenings.

The extra trips, the fifth lot offered this year, will run from Saturday till Dec 30.

SMRT's vice-president of rail operations Vincent Tan said more commuters take the train in the last two months of the year when doing their Christmas shopping.

'This year, we are continuing the tradition of providing additional train trips for their convenience,' he said.

About a third of the extra trips each week will be on Saturday. On weekends, commuters on the North-South and East-West lines in both directions will have shorter waits.

For example, an extra 35 train trips will be added each way to North-South Line trains plying between Marina Bay and Yishun from 5pm to 11.45pm on Saturdays.

From next Monday, SMRT will roll out an additional 15 trips in each direction for the North-South Line, and another 10 in each direction for the East-West Line on weekday evenings.

The train operator has added about 900 trips a week so far this year, with the majority rolled out in May.

New LRT lines may save billions in fuel costs

Friday September 5, 2008 THESTAR

By ROYCE CHEAH

KUALA LUMPUR: More than a million Klang Valley residents stand to benefit from the extension and new light rail transit lines announced in Budget 2009, a three-fold increase from current levels.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) said with the new level of public transport usage, the country could save as much as RM3bil in fuel costs.

The construction of a new 42km Kota Damansara-Cheras LRT line as well as extensions to the Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT lines were announced as part of measures to develop public transport under the Budget.

Other measures include the purchase of more trains and buses.

The initiatives will cost a total of RM35bil.

SPNB chief executive officer, Shaipudin Shah Harun, said the first train from the 35 trains that were ordered for the Kelana Jaya LRT line would be operational by September next year.

Speaking to reporters at a special post-budget briefing yesterday, Shaipudin said all the trains, which were ordered in 2006, would be ready by 2011 while the 15km extensions to the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines would also be ready at about the same time.

“The extensions are now at the detailed design stage and we need about a year for land acquisition,” he said.

Shaipudin said the detailed design stage for the new 42km Kota Damansara-Cheras line would happen by the second quarter of next year adding that this new line would have 32 stations, five of which would be underground.

Rail sevices should ensure efficiency, says Ong

View: Read this article, look at how quick the response came from officials of RapidKL and the Transport Ministry.

Friday August 22, 2008 THESTAR

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has limited say over the LRT operator’s capacity to meet passenger demand and comfort level, said Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

He clarified that two LRT systems – the Ampang line and Kelana Jaya line - were operated by RapdidKL while the asset owner was Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) – both Government-linked companies under the Finance Ministry.

Rail problems: Abdullah listens to passenger Maya Shal Sawaniz, 30, as she laments the shortfalls of the KTM Komuter services at the Serdang Commuter Station yesterday.

“It is up to the railway service providers to plan and ensure efficiency of services, including adequate capacity and passenger comfort,” he said in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s call for improved train services.

Abdullah made a surprise check on the LRT and KTM commuter trains and was not happy with the services.

On the KTM commuter services, which is under the Transport Ministry, Ong said the Government had allocated RM200mil to procure 10 sets of electric multiple units (EMU) expected to arrive in 2010.

Also, five electric train sets would be procured to facilitate the KL Sentral-Ipoh fast train services, he said, adding that these were expected to arrive in 2010.

RapidKL and KTM said the shortage of coaches had caused much of the problems for commuters but measures were being taken to resolve this.

RapidKL general manager (communications) Ebi Azly Abdullah said SPNB would deliver 22 sets of new four-car trains between 2009 and 2011

“This will double the Kelana Jaya line's current passenger capacity of 160,000 passengers daily to more than 300,000 daily,” he said.

A KTM spokesman said the critical shortage was due to a major overhaul exercise being conducted in stages on 50 train sets since last year but passenger capacity would increase by 10% once the overhaul was done.

Both RapidKL and KTM Berhad also said they had put in place various measures to ensure the crowds were orderly at the stations and inside the trains, and to ensure safety.

China launches high-speed train

Just in time for the Olympics. I wonder if the entire system, especially the train is 100% made in China? Reminds me of the high speed trains in Japan. $3 billion for 75 miles.

The new rail service is part of wider plans to upgrade China's trains

BBC: A week before the Olympic Games, China has launched its first super high-speed intercity rail route.

The 120-km (75-mile) line will shuttle athletes and spectators between Beijing and neighbouring Tianjin, where Olympic football matches will be held.

Trains will reach speeds of 350 km/h, cutting journey times between the cities from 70 to 30 minutes.

The railway is part of the new infrastructure that China has put in place for the Games.

Rail enthusiasts began queuing on Thursday for tickets for the train's inaugural run, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

A tour inside the new super high-speed intercity train

Twin ceremonies were held in Beijing and Tianjin on Friday, with the first trains set to depart shortly afterwards.

The high-tech trains, which feature swivel seats and smart interiors, can accommodate about 600 people.

Construction began on the new line in July 2005. It has cost a total of 21.5bn yuan ($3.1bn, £1.55bn), Railway Minister Wang Zhiguo said.

A first class ticket will cost 69 yuan ($10), while a second-class ticket is 58 yuan.

Rail frustration at delay

Wednesday July 30, 2008 THESTAR

By PRIYA MENON and YIP YOKE TENG

THOUSANDS of LRT users reached their destinations late yesterday when services on the Kelana Jaya LRT Line were disrupted from 6am to 3.30pm.

Fortunately, the inconvenience was reduced when Rapid KL deployed 22 buses to provide an alternative mode of transport to the commuters at the affected stations. The buses mainly went to KLCC.

According to LRT operator RapidKL, the line encountered track system problems between the Gombak and Setiawangsa stations. The technical glitches caused the fail-safe safety feature to be activated, which then disabled the automated driving feature.

During the disruption period, the trains were manually driven between the Gombak and Setiawangsa stations by RapidKL employees.

Waiting in line: The passengers at Kl Sentral rushing into the LRT after waiting longer than usual at the station.

The trains were also driven at a slower speed to ensure public safety. As a result, the speed of LRT trains throughout the Kelana Jaya Line was reduced.

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (RapidKL) communications general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said in a fully-automated system, the tolerance level of the fail-safe feature was tight and any disruption would cause the system to stop.

“The trains at the affected stretches would be driven manually with adherence to a stringent set of operating procedures.” he said.

At the same time, RapidKL took several measures to reduce the level of inconvenience faced by the commuters, including the deployment of 22 buses with extended routes at the affected stations.

All aboard: People rushing in and out of the LRT in hopes of getting to their destination in time.

However, commuters still expressed their frustrations.

“I didn’t know about the delay in the service or I would have used another form of transport to get to college,” said Belinda Lim, 19.

Lim, who is a student at Tunku Abdul Rahman College was late for class as a result of waiting for the next train that would take her to the Wangsa Maju station.

“I’m so nervous now because I’m late, I wish they told us at the counter about the delay,” she said.

French tourist Lesauvage Oliver was also unhappy that the personnel at the counter failed to inform them of the delay.

Checking up: RapidKl staff on board the trains to ensure the safety of the passengers.

“We only heard of the delay after we bought the tickets. If we had known earlier, we would have opted for another mode of transportation to Batu Caves,” Oliver said.

Oliver also mentioned that the information provided over the intercom was insufficient and passengers were clueless about the interruptions.

Another passenger, who declined to be named, said she had opted for a taxi after she heard the announcement at 6.45am.

“I was at the Wangsa Maju LRT station and I quickly ran down for a cab but the taxi drivers refused to take me because of the traffic jam,” she said.

There were frequent public announcements over the PA system at the stations and in the trains to update commuters on the delays.

The Ampang Line of the LRT network was not affected by the disruption and service was operating as normal.

House approves Amtrak funding

• Story Highlights
• Bill aims to set aside $14.9 billion for Amtrak over next 5 years
  
• Measure passes by a veto-proof 311-104; Senate has OK'd similar measure
  
• Amendment would give Washington's transit system $1.5 billion over 10 years
  
• White House says bill doesn't hold Amtrak accountable, threatens veto
  

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill passed the House on Wednesday as lawmakers rallied around an alternative for travelers saddled with soaring gas prices.

A record 25.8 million passengers took Amtrak in the most recent fiscal year.

The bipartisan bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 311-104, would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money would go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service.

Besides the $14.9 billion provided for Amtrak and intercity rail, an amendment to the bill would authorize $1.5 billion for Washington's Metro transit system over the next 10 years.

The White House has threatened a veto, saying the bill doesn't hold Amtrak accountable for its spending. But similar legislation has passed the Senate, also with enough support to override a veto.

"Nothing could be more fitting to bring before the Congress today, on a day when gasoline has reached $4.05 a gallon across the United States on average," said Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, a longtime Amtrak critic who teamed up with Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, on the legislation.

Amtrak's previous authorization expired in 2002. The railroad's supporters say that a new authorization will allow Amtrak to make long-range plans and take advantage of what they say is a growing appetite for passenger rail.

Unlike the Senate version, the House bill includes a requirement for the Department of Transportation to seek proposals from private companies to create a high-speed service that would take travelers from Washington to New York in two hours or less. The idea has long been championed by Mica, who says the United States must catch up with European and Asian countries on high-speed rail travel.

Critics say the proposal would undermine Amtrak by peeling off its most valuable asset: the Northeast Corridor.

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• Gas prices poll: Majority alter driving, spending habits
• Getting rail travel back on track

Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania said provisions that open the door to private investment should help ease the concerns of fellow Republicans who have balked at supporting Amtrak.

But those provisions could complicate things when the House tries to work out a compromise bill with the Senate.

Amtrak said it was pleased that both the House and the Senate had acted.

"This reflects strong support for intercity passenger rail service, and we look forward to working with Congress as they move forward to reconcile a final authorization bill," spokesman Cliff Black said.

The Bush administration and other Amtrak critics want to see the company move toward self-sufficiency, but Amtrak supporters say passenger railroads around the globe require government subsidies and point to the large sums of federal money spent on highways.

A bid by Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky, to send the bill back to committee to add an alternative fuel study was rejected.

"In the areas where American budgets are being hardest hit by gas prices, consuming 16 percent of gross incomes, they have very little access to Amtrak," Davis said. "How does this bill help those Americans deal with our energy crisis?"

Amtrak's boosters say the high cost of driving has made people eager for more and better rail service.

A record 25.8 million passengers took Amtrak in the last fiscal year. The railroad expects ridership to approach 28 million this year, Black said.

May was the biggest month in Amtrak's 37-year history, with total ridership up 12 percent over last year and ticket revenue up 16 percent over last year. Black said Amtrak's marketing research indicates that about half the increase can be attributed to gas prices.

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