Abstracted from Malay Mail cover story dated 5 May 08
No trains? We found them
BADROLHISHAM BIDIN and DARSHINI KANDASAMY
THE Rawang-Ipoh doubletracking project, costing taxpayers more than RM4 billion, took 13 years to build and was finally commissioned last November — but there are no trains to run the route.
The trains are expected to arrive next year, and can only service the entire route in 2010.
Ironically, while Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) stutters, the Transport Ministry had already awarded the RM12.5 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project to MMC Corp and Gamuda last June.
The shortage of trains has also led to the steady deterioration of the KTM Komuter service in the Klang Valley, with thousands running the risk of being late daily due to the irregular service.
Malay Mail learnt that KTMB could have lost millions of ringgit in revenue as the passenger volume had dropped by eight per cent in the last one year due to the irregular service.
This does not factor in the cost of maintenance and electricity bills to power the double-tracking project. The stations along the route are brightly lit, despite the stations being under-utilised.
Since it was commissioned in November, only three test trips were made to Ipoh, one of which ferried the former transport minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.
Malay Mail began investigations to ascertain the whereabouts of the trains after learning that only 21 of the original fl eet of 62 were servicing the Klang Valley last month.
Our probe led us to a train “graveyard” at the KTM depot in Sentul where several trains were being cannibalised for parts while others were undergoing repairs or refurbishment. Some had been decommissioned after being involved in major accidents.
During our visit to the shunting yard last Wednesday, a KTM personnel said since several old trains had been decommissioned, KTMB had no choice but to “play around with what we have” to cope with the some 100,000 passengers that depend on them daily.
“We are also using the same trains to cater to commuters outside the Klang Valley loop, especially those staying between Rawang and Kuala Kubu Baru.” On many occasions, he said, KTMB had to face the wrath of commuters in Serendah, Batang Kali, Rasa and Kuala Kubu Baru who were late for work because there were not enough trains to keep the schedule.
Currently, the KTM Komuter service in the Klang Valley is being run with only 30 trains. Even so, the Rawang- Kuala Kubu Baru trips are severely affected as KTMB struggles to cope with Klang Valley’s requirements.
The heavy usage of the limited number of trains is taking its toll as more and more trains are sent for repairs or even decommissioned.
It took 13 years to complete the Rawang - Ipoh electrified double track project? Which means the project was delayed for 10 years from the original schedule of 3 years? What were the causes of the delay and who paid for the costs incurred due to the delay? The tax-payers?
Shouldn’t be someone be held responsible over the delay in completion of EDT project and delay in procurement of trains, especially when the track was completed end of year 2007 but the entire route can be in service only in year 2010?
Due to the delay, who is paying the underutilised but heavily lit-up stations and the electricity bill energizing the tracks?
Ironically, we have heavily congested roads in cities like KL, PJ and Penang but completed, unutilised new electrified double tracks…
