Rapid Rail

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd
Kelana Jaya Line Innovia Metro 300 train
Overview
Owner Prasarana Malaysia
Locale Klang Valley, Malaysia
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines  3   4   5   8   9 
Number of stations 116
Daily ridership 537,757 (2017)[1]
(Increase 15.4%)
Annual ridership 196.281 million (2015)
Website myrapid.com.my
Operation
Began operation 16 December 1996 (1996-12-16)
Technical
System length 151.1 km (93.9 mi) (total)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
& ALWEG straddle-beam

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (styled as rapidrail) was established to place all three rail operators for Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd (STAR-LRT), Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik Sdn Bhd (PUTRA-LRT) and KL Starrail Sdn Bhd – under one administrating umbrella in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2]

The Rapid Rail currently operate five rail lines comprising the Ampang, Sri Petaling, Kelana Jaya, KL Monorail and MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Lines.[3]

These rapid transit systems was known as "Rapid KL". The five rail lines operate on standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)) rail, while the KL Monorail operates on an ALWEG straddle beam. Train services operate from 6.00 a.m and typically end before midnight daily,[4] with frequencies varying from approximately three minutes during peak hours to fourteen minutes during non-peak hours.[5]

The Ampang and Kelana Jaya lines were constructed and initially operated by different owners: Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn. Bhd. for the Ampang Line starting in 1995, and Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik for the Kelana Jaya Line starting in 1998. In 2004, operational aspects of the two LRT lines were transferred to Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd under the second phase of the restructuring process of Kuala Lumpur's public transportation network. The KL Monorail was initially owned and operated by KL Starrail Sdn Bhd, from 2003 until 2007, until the company declared bankruptcy. As a result, Prasarana purchased the monorail and gave operating rights to their subsidiary Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd.

History

Malaysia's efforts to revolutionise commuting began in 1984 when the then Minister of Federal Territory Shahrir Abdul Samad released details of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) implementation study for Kuala Lumpur. Many were sceptical over its implementation, especially when financing was a major question. The study, undertaken by a Belgian consortium in association with Spie Batignolles of France in cooperation with Master Carriage Malaysia Sdn Bhd, was for an urban or suburban LRT system - powered by overhead electric lines or catenaries. The system - covering 18 stations between Petaling Jaya and Sentul - was targeted for implementation in 1984 and completion in 1988. Unfortunately, the project did not take off.[6]

But the idea for electric commuting did not die there. It probably gave birth to two systems of electric rail commuting - the metropolitan commuter LRT train service by Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd (STAR) and the double-tracking commuter train system called KTM Komuter. The KTM Komuter, which began commercial operations in August 1995, is probably the closest system to the one proposed by the Belgian consortium as it uses overhead catenaries.

Fares and ticketing

Rapid Rail implements an automatic fare collection system with stored value tickets and single journey tickets issued in the form of magnetic stripe cards at every station. Tickets can be purchased either from ticket vending machines or at station counters found at all LRT stations.[7] Turnstiles are located at the entrances to train platforms. Rail fares range from RM 0.70 to RM 2.80 (RM 2.50 for the Kelana Jaya Line) depending on the distance travelled by commuters along the network.[8] Table with fares from 0.70 to 5.10.[9]

Touch 'n Go stored value cards are also accepted at fare gates on the Rapid Rail network as well as the Rapid Bus network, the KL Monorail route and the KTM Komuter system to improve integration.[10] Touch 'n Go cards are available at all LRT stations for a RM 10 deposit.[11] The Touch 'n Go system is also used in the production of Rapid's monthly passes, called Rapidpass. These passes can be purchased by frequent users of the Rapid rail and bus networks, which entitles them to unlimited rides for thirty days on all Rapid buses and LRT stations. LRT Rapidpass are valid only on the LRT network and they cost RM 100 each while Integrated Rapidpass, which are valid on both the LRT and bus networks, cost RM 150 each.[12] Rapidpass Pelajar is a variant of the conventional Rapidpass that can be purchased by students for a 50% discount on fares.

Concessionary fares are available to people with disabilities such as physical handicaps, learning disorders, blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy, provided that they are registered with the Department of Social Welfare. The concessionary fares range from RM 0.30 to RM 1.40.

On 14 June 2011, Prasana announced that a new ticketing system will be introduced in July with full integration made by 30 November 2011. The new ticketing system will finally combine all rail systems in Klang Valley under one roof with the exception of KTM Komuter. The new system will feature a chip coin system for single journeys and a new contact-less smart card system for monthly passes in addition to traditional Touch 'n Go card. The new system was develop at a cost of RM 115.2 million.[13]

Infrastructure

The Ampang Line consists of two sub-lines, one a north-south line and one heading eastward.[14] The Chan Sow Lin-Sri Petaling route serves the southern part of Kuala Lumpur. The Chan Sow Lin-Ampang route primarily serves the suburb of Ampang in Selangor and the town of Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, both of which are located in the northeastern region of the Klang Valley. Both lines converge at Chan Sow Lin; the merged line leads north, terminating at Sentul Timur LRT station.

The Kelana Jaya Line consists of a single line that connects Petaling Jaya in the west to Gombak in the northeast, passing through the city centre and various low density residential areas further north in Kuala Lumpur. The line has a total of 870 individual bridges, the longest of which has a 68m span.[15]

The Ampang Line and the Kelana Jaya Line intersect at Masjid Jamek and Putra Heights.

Stations

Since the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines were intended to be operated by different owners during the planning and construction phase, both lines have unique and distinct station designs. Except for five underground stops between Pasar Seni and Ampang Park on the Kelana Jaya Line, the entirety of the LRT is elevated or at-grade. The Ampang Line consists of elevated and at-grade stations, while the Kelana Jaya Line comprises underground and elevated stations, in addition to one at-grade station. All trains are air-conditioned.

The Kelana Jaya Line runs in a northeast-southwesterly direction, consisting primarily of elevated stops and a handful of underground and at-grade stations. Of a total of 37 stations, 31 are elevated, and 5 stops are underground. The only at-grade station, Sri Rampai. The service depot is located in Subang.

The stations, like those of the Ampang Line, are styled in several types of architectural designs. Elevated stations, in most parts, were constructed in four major styles with distinctive roof designs for specific portions of the line. The KL Sentral station, added later, features a design more consistent with the Stesen Sentral station building. Underground stations, however, tend to feature unique concourse layout and vestibules, and feature floor-to-ceiling platform screen doors to prevent platform-to-track intrusions. 22 stations (including two terminal stations and the five subway stations) use a single island platform, while 15 others use two side platforms. Stations with island platforms allow easy interchange between north-bound and south-bound trains without requiring one to walk down/up to the concourse level.

On the Ampang Line, the system includes a total of 36 stations: eleven along the Chan Sow Lin-Sentul Timur line, seven along the Ampang LRT station-Chan Sow Lin line and eighteen along the Sri Petaling-Chan Sow Lin line. The service depot and primary train depots for the system are situated before the Ampang terminal station and the end of the Ampang-bound line, and beside the Putra Heights terminal at the end of Putra Heights-bound line. A secondary train depot is located after the Sri Petaling station.

The line between the Plaza Rakyat station to the Sentul Timur station is strictly elevated, with the line between the Bandaraya station to the Titiwangsa station running along the Gombak River. The Chan Sow Lin-Ampang line is primarily surface leveled, while the Chan Sow Lin-Plaza Rakyat line and the Sri Petaling-Chan Sow Lin line use a combination of surface leveled and elevated tracks. There are no subway lines in the system.

Rolling stock

The rolling stock of the Kelana Jaya Line, in use since the opening of the line in 1998, consists of a fleet of 35 Mark II Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) trains[16] with related equipment and services supplied by the Bombardier Group. The ART trains consist of two-electric multiple units, which serve as either a driving car or trailer car depending on its direction of travel. The trains use linear motors and draw power from a third rail located at the side of the steel rails. The plating in between the running rails is used for accelerating and decelerating the train. The reaction plate is semi-magnetised, which pulls the train along as well as helps it to slow down.

The ART is essentially driverless, automated to travel along lines and stop at designated stations for a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, manual override control panels are provided at each end of the trains for use in an event of an emergency.

Since October 2006, the operator has ordered 35 new 4-car trainsets to be delivered starting from 2008. Due to some delays from the manufacturer, the delivery was delayed to November 2008. After extensive series of testing, the first batch of trains began operation on Dec 30, 2009.[17]

The rolling stock of the Ampang Line currently consists of a fleet of 50 new trains, better known as AMY, that are deployed to increase the capacity of the line and provide a better service. Each of the new trains is six cars long and provided by CSR Zhuzhou of China, similar to on the design for İzmir Metro and Buenos Aires Underground 200 Series. These trains are disabled-friendly and include safety features like closed-circuit TV, emergency breakable window, emergency ventilation fan, fire and smoke detection system and supervised automatic train operation system (SATO), and other elements such as interactive destination display inside the train, non-slipping seats, LCD infotainment, walk-through gangways, and a more spacious wheelchair space for the physically challenged. The first trains were put into service on the Sri Petaling-Kinrara BK5 stretch in October 2015, and then until Putra Heights and Sentul Timur in July 2016, and finally the Ampang branch line in December 2016.

The former rolling stock of the Ampang Lines consists of a fleet of 90 standard gauge light rail vehicles manufactured in Australia by Walkers Limited.[18] The trains consist of electric multiple units, which draw power from the underside of a third rail installed along a side of the line. All cars in each train are fitted with both current collector and motors. The trains are manned, with driver cabs occupying the tips of the trains.

The trains come in two trainset configurations. The first and most common variation is the six-car trainset, which consists of three sets of two EMUs (2+2+2) and uses the maximum platform length of the lines' stations. Each two EMU sets at the front and rear consist of one driving and one non-driving motor car, while the two EMUs between are non-driving motors. There are no gangway connections between the two-car sets. The second variation is a four-car trainset, a more obscure configuration that consists of only two EMU sets (2+2) of one driving car and one non-driving motor at each end, thus with two-thirds the capacity of the more common six-car set. The 2+2 trainsets were once used in full in the service until the massive deployment of 2+2+2 trainsets.

Each car has 3 bogies, 2 powered end bogies and one trailing bogie under the central articulation. The end cars, numbered 1101 to 1260 have driver cabs. The middle car number 2201 to 2230 have concealed driver control panels to enable the car to be moved around the depot independently.

Fleet

Line Code Line Name Formation In service
On order		 EMU/Fleet Manufacturers
 3 
Ampang Line 6 carriage EMU 50 trainsets (300 car) CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive LRV "AMY" China CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive
 4 
Sri Petaling Line
 5 
Kelana Jaya Line 2 carriage EMU

4 carriage EMU

 35 trainsets (70 car)

49 trainsets (196 car)
27 trainsets (108 car)

 Bombardier Innovia Metro Canada Bombardier

*Consortium
Canada Bombardier / Malaysia Hartasuma

 8 
KL Monorail 2 carriage EMU

4 carriage EMU

 12 trainsets (24 car)

6 trainsets (24 car)

 MTrans Monorail

Scomi SUTRA

 Malaysia Scomi Rail
 9 
Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line 4 carriage EMU 58 trainsets (232 car) Siemens Inspiro "The Guiding Light" *Consortium
Germany Siemens / China CRRC Nanjing Puzhen / Malaysia SMH Rail
 11 
Bandar Utama–Klang Line 6 carriage EMU 42 trainsets (252 car) CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive LRV *Consortium
China CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive / China Siemens Ltd China / Malaysia Tegap Dinamik

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "PRASARANA SETS RM17 BILLION IN ECONOMIC RETURNS FOR 2017 TARGET" [Prasarana Sets RM17 Billion in Economic Returns for 2017 Target]. RapidKL,Malaysia. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
    2. ↑ "Profile - SYARIKAT PRASARANA NEGARA BERHAD". Syarikat Prasarana Negara. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
    3. ↑ "LRT". MyRapid (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad). Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
    4. ↑ "Operating Hours". MyRapid (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad). Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
    5. ↑ "Train Frequency". MyRapid (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad). Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
    6. ↑ Fauziah, Ismail (18 December 1996). "Answer to transport woes: [Shipping Times Edition]". Business Times, The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
    7. ↑ "Rail Transportation in Kuala Lumpur". Japan Railway & Transport Review. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
    8. ↑ "Kuala Lumpur". UrbanRail.net. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
    9. ↑ "Integrated Fare Table for Ampang & Kelana Jaya LRT, and Monorail Lines". MyRapid (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad). Archived from the original (jpg) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
    10. ↑ "What's Touch 'n Go - Where to Use". Touch 'n Go. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
    11. ↑ "Kuala Lumpur - Getting there & around". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
    12. ↑ "New Touch 'n Go system at LRT stations and buses next month". The Star. 16 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010.
    13. ↑ Abas, Marhalim (15 June 2011). "One ticket for LRT and Monorail in November". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
    14. ↑ "Integrated Urban Transportation System - Riding the Rails". kiat.net. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
    15. ↑ "Kuala Lumpur LRT 2 Kelana Jaya Line: PUTRA". Halcrow. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
    16. ↑ "Kuala Lumpur Driverless Metro System, Malaysia". RailwayTechnology.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2008.
    17. ↑ "Three new trains for Kelana Jaya line". The Star. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
    18. ↑ "EDI Wins Light Rail Order Extension", Railway Digest, June 1995, p. 9.
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