KUALA LUMPUR – Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has provided free feeder bus rides as an interim measure to alleviate congestion in several major Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations along the Kelana Jaya line, starting today (June 17).
The transportation firm said in a statement that through its RapidKL arm, it will serve two new express bus routes during peak hours.
The first route, SH01, will ferry passengers from the KLCC station to the Wangsa Maju station while the second route, SH02, the bus will ferry passengers from Pasar Seni to the Universiti station.
Services for the feeder bus will operate from 4.30pm to 7.30pm from Monday to Friday, with a frequency of 15 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Previously, The Vibes reported the frustration faced by rail line commuters who face unusual congestion at major LRT and MRT stations in the city.
Among the issues raised was the long waiting time for trains, between five to six minutes, which caused massive congestion at stations such as Pasar Seni along the Kelana Jaya LRT line.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong responded yesterday saying that the frequency of trains for the Kelana Jaya LRT line will improve by August once more train coaches are fit for service.
Wee also acknowledged that the interval between trains was even up to eight minutes long but expressed hope that this will be reduced to five minutes in August and down to three minutes by November.
Previously, the Ayer Hitam MP explained that the Kelana Jaya LRT line, which has been in operation since 1998, will be undergoing mid-life refurbishment involving some RM800 million.
He elaborated that the work will involve level four maintenance, repair and overhaul of the 28 sets of 818 series trains, which is a crucial process to extend the vehicles’ lifespan.
Similarly, the government would also receive 19 new types of trains in Q4 next year for the Kelana Jaya route.
The Kelana Jaya LRT line serves around 350,000 passengers daily. – The Vibes, June 17, 2022
