LRT Kelana Jaya trains undergo full tests today

KUALA LUMPUR – All trains on the LRT Kelana Jaya line are being tested today, and early indications show that the service could be back to full weekday operations soon, caretaker transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said.

“I can report that all indications are that signalling and communications within the system are healthy and we are well on the way to full weekday operations with 38-40 trains on the Kelana Jaya Line very soon,” he said in an update on Facebook.

He said 38 trains are being tested today with a five-minute interval between each train.

“The main aim of these tests is to ensure the stability and safety of the system prior to proceeding to full operations.

“The teams ran 24 sets of trains throughout the entire Putra Heights-Gombak line to really test it last night.”

“I hope to make another good announcement tomorrow,” he added

Rapid Rail had also tested the LRT’s automatic train control (ATC) system from 11pm last night to 5am this morning, under the monitoring of the Land Public Transport Agency.

The LRT Kelana Jaya line has suffered several disruptions this year, but the worst was four days ago when the line was shut down after all stations between Kelana Jaya and Ampang Jaya were closed. 

This was then followed the next day by the hasty announcement of a seven-day closure of 16 stations between those two points, leaving Klang Valley commuters fuming.

Original equipment manufacturer Thales Group has been called in to test the LRT system, as rail operator Prasarana Malaysia Bhd admitted to being unable to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

What is known is that there are problems with the ATC, which connects the driverless LRT to the control centre. Issues with the ATC are a safety risk should signals between the train and central command be lost.

Prasarana’s first chief executive officer Datuk Ridza Abdoh Salleh has suggested the possibility of sabotage, given long-standing unhappy working conditions at the government-linked company.

Wee also did not discount the possibility and said Prasarana is engaging independent investigators from WSP Global Inc to probe the matter. – The Vibes, November 12, 2022