Motion Digest Network: Leading Urban Transformation

SBK Line Phase 1 to start operations on 16 Dec 2016

MRT Stations : SBK Line Phase 1

Sungai Buloh – Kampung Selamat – Kwasa Damansara – Kwasa Sentral – Kota Damansara – Surian – Mutiara Damansara – Bandar Utama – Tmn Tun Dr Ismail – Phileo Damansara – Pusat Bandar Damansara – Semantan.

SBK Line from KL Sentral to Kajang starts operation by July 2017

The MRT train fare from Sungai Buloh to Semantan will be capped at RM3.90 for cash fares, and lower for those enjoying various concessions. During peak hours, commuter will not have to wait for more than 3.3 minutes for the next train. During off peak hours, frequencies will be reduced to anything from six to eight minutes. MRT Ride time from Sungai Buloh to Semantan is said to take around 30 minutes.

MRT: Preparing to Roll

According to Rapid Rail CEO Datuk Ir Zohari Sulaiman, Rapid Rail has been conducting intensive session in the past 24 months to get a critical group of people ready to operate the MRT.

28 units of four-car driverless trains supplied by Siemens will be used in the SBK Line Phase 1.  These trains are designed to be operated under highly automated conditions. On most days, the system does not require human intervention as everything is computerised. However, during emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances, a driver would have to enter the cabin, and take over the controls to ensure safe operations.

“We also spent a lot of time doing system testing and commissioning as safety is given top priority in train operations. Everything has to be tested until it meets the extremely high level of reliability that it set for metro operators,” Zohari said.

For example, instead of testing the various components or systems on a standalone basis, Rapid Rail, together with MRT Corp and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), has been adopting the commissioning approach to ensure the soundness of the entire MRT network.

“This means, that after the respective systems are integrated, the entire network is tested as a whole to ensure that all the individual equipment and systems work as they intended when they actually work together,” explained Zohari.

“….commuters can take heart of the fact that all of them had already undergone static testing in the workshop, as well as rigorous on track testing to ensure each train runs for 21 km without any single fault, which is a requirement of the Land Public Transport Commission,” said Zohari.

“As Malaysia’s largest urban rail and stage coach operator, we have provided valuable input to regulators, planners, local authorities, as well as MRT Corp on how best to integrate all the modes of land public transport to ensure the best possible outcome for commuters. We do it by engaging all stakeholders during the planning process, as well as rehearsing all possible scenarios that may crop up during operations,” said Zohari.

“We are as ready as humanly possible, and the public needs to give Rapid Rail some breathing space to get things perfect in the first few weeks of opening. In time, all the rough edges will be smoothened out, and we are confident the public will grow to love this world-class system,” he added.

Klang Valley Integrated Mass Transit Map