He said that since the 35 sets of new four-car trains came into operation early last year,passenger traffic had increased by 22.3%.

‘”The number of passengers have gone up due to this capacity increase initiative,” he said at the Second Annual Modern Railways conference here yesterday.

The number of passengers from 6am to 9am  increased from 433,544 in 2010 to 530,037 in 2011.

Kong said a new four-car train set was expected to be in operation by year -end on the KL Monorail while sets of six-car trains for the Komuter system were expected to be in operation in stages by September.

“Under the National Key Result Areas, the ministry has planned 11 initiatives for four main categories of public transportation – bus services, rail services, integration of systems and network for the Klang Valley – to increase public transport use to 25% by next year,” he added.

Sumber: The Star

The loan is one of three financing components needed to fund the project, said the source, who asked not to be identified. The 51-km mass railway project in the country’s Selangor state near Kuala Lumpur is central to the government’s flagship “economic transformation” program that aims to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy by 2020.

“The short-term financing will be fully guaranteed by the government,” the source told Reuters. “But the tenure of the financing is not finalised yet.”

The tenor for the loan is expected to range from 18 months to three years with Malaysia’s major domestic banks working on it, market sources told Basis Point, a Thomson Reuters publication.

Danainfra Nasional Bhd, a government-owned company set up to finance infrastructure projects, recently obtained a 400 million ringgit bridging loan as initial funding for the project, the official said.

“The long-term financing will be either a long-term bond or Sukuk (Islamic bond) which either be government guaranteed or a rated paper. The amount will only be finalised once all contracts are awarded,” said the official.

The mass railway project, launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak in July 2011, has attracted companies including China Railway Construction Corp, China’s Sinohydro Group , Hyundai and Japan’s Taisei Corp to bid for the tunneling works.

Azhar Abdul Hamid, chief executive of the railway project manager Mass Rapid Transit Corp told Reuters on Monday that the total cost, reported at 36.5 billion ringgit by local newspapers, will only be made public by the end of this year once key contracts have been awarded. ($1 = 3.0260 ringgit).

Sumber : The Star

“They arrive on time, the seats are comfortable and there is ample leg space,” said the 21-year-old marketing executive.

“The majority of women love KTMB’s idea of the Women-Only Coaches. It makes us feel comfortable and the presence of security personnel gives us a sense of safety. We save time moving from one appointment to another via the Komuter,” she said.

However, Nazreena would love it if there was connection between stations in the form of feeder buses to complement the train service.

KTMB seems to have set itself on the right track for its Komuter service with the purchase of 38 new Chinese-made Six-Car Set (SCS) trains for the Komuter service which is proof that the government fulfilled its promise of providing reasonable and efficient public transport in the Klang Valley.

Currently, there are 11 SCS trains on the tracks. The Transport Ministry and KTMB plan to expand this public transport nationwide once all the matters pertaining to the SCS are fine-tuned.

KTMB president Dr Aminuddin Adnan said trains offer a convenient alternative to driving.

“Our aim is to craft out an efficient Komuter train service and get people to use the trains. We are coming up with innovative packages for people to find reasons to use the transport. We are giving people an option to save time, cut cost and reduce carbon footprint,” he said.

Dr Aminuddin added that passengers who use the Komuter trains save a lot of time.

“We want to provide a service that removes the hassle in travelling.

Our trains come to the stations every 30 minutes but we plan to reduce that to 15 minutes next month and in July make it 10 minutes,” he said.

Business Management student Meng Fan Pei, 27, said the new coaches were bright, inspiring and allow passengers to travel in comfort.

UiTM Mass Communications student Nurul Ain Hanas, 23, said she felt safe while travelling in the MyKomuter from Rawang to KL Sentral as early as 6.50am.

Known as MyKomuter, each train set has six coaches that can accommodate 1,100 passengers in a single journey, compared with 400 passengers previously.

Dr Aminuddin added that MyKomuter was one of the efforts under the National Key Result Area for Urban Public Transport (NKRA-UPT).

“With the NKRA-UPT, the Government aimed to increase the usage of public transport in the Klang Valley during peak hours to 25% or 600,000 riders, this year. Such plans are good as it reduces the people’s burden in expenditure,” he said.

“Our objective is that we want to get our passengers to their destination quicker than driving and more affordably.

“KTMB is looking to play a bigger role in meeting the people’s transportation needs that competes with the car.

“We will have our services linked to populated areas,” he said.

Sumber: The Star

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said that although all the equipment had arrived, there was a problem with the installation.

The implementation has already been delayed for a month.

“Yes, it is behind schedule. Maybe, the contractor has to increase manpower,” he said after visiting the Padang Jawa Komuter station here yesterday.

He added that the new system would likely take off in July.

Kong said the system would be implemented in all 53 stations, adding that the Government would not incur extra costs due to the delay.

When asked if the contractor would be penalised for late delivery, he said it depended on the final report after work was completed.

Two other contractors tasked with upgrading disabled, parking and pedestrian facilities at stations, with contracts worth RM1.2mil and RM15.8mil respectively, informed Kong that their projects were on schedule and near completion.

Kong said he had also asked for canopies at stations to be extended to accommodate the new six-car Komuter trains.

“We will extend the canopies as well as seats in the waiting area and ensure there is adequate lighting,” he added.

The move will keep passengers dry during rainy weather as well as improve safety for those travelling at night, he said.

Contractor Hopetech Sdn Bhd’s general manager Hasrat Nazarudin Abdul Rahman said the RM85.88mil automated fare collection system was supposed to replace the old ticketing system last month, but to date, the project is only 72% complete.

Sumber: The Star

Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha berkata, kelewatan tersebut disebabkan oleh pemasangan sistem tersebut tidak siap sepenuhnya iaitu tahap kesiapan semasa adalah sebanyak 72 peratus.

”Sistem AFC sepatutnya siap bulan lalu tetapi disebabkan terdapat beberapa masalah, operasinya terpaksa ditunda sehingga Julai ini. Bagaimanapun kelewatan operasi sistem AFC melibatkan pemasangan mesin tiket automatik, kaunter tiket dan pagar laluan dengan nilai RM85.8 juta tidak melibatkan sebarang penambahan kos,” katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said although all the equipment has arrived, there was a problem with installation.

“Yes, it is behind schedule. The equipment has been delivered, but there is an installation problem. Maybe the contractor has to increase manpower in installation,” he said, adding that the new system would probably take off in July.

The new RM85.88mil system was supposed to replace the old ticketing system last month, but to date, the project was only 72% complete, said contractor Hopetech Sdn Bhd general manager Hasrat Nazarudin Abdul Rahman.

Kong said the system would be installed at all 53 KTM Komuter stations, adding that the Government would not incur extra cost due to the delay.

When asked if the contractor would be penalised for late delivery, he said it “depends on the final report” after work is completed.

Kong was speaking to reporters after visiting the Padang Jawa KTM Komuter station here Thursday.

Two other contractors tasked with upgrading disabled, parking and pedestrian facilities at various stations, with contracts worth RM1.2mil and RM15.8mil respectively, told the minister that their projects were on schedule and almost completed.

Kong said he has also asked for the canopies at stations to be extended to accomodate the new six-car KTM Komuter trains.

“The new trains are too long, and the current canopy only covers about half the train. We will extend the canopies, as well as seats in the waiting area and ensure there is adequate lighting,” he said.

The move would be of convenience to passengers during rainy weather as well as improve the security of those travelling at night, he said.

Sumber: The Star

Elias, chief executive officer (CEO) of KTMB’s cargo division, will take over the helm from current president Dr Aminuddin Adnan effective tomorrow, KTMB said in a statement yesterday.

It is understood that Elias was given a three-year contract to help turn around KTMB.

Elias – the former managing director of Kontena Nasional Bhd, the country’s biggest haulage firm – is understood to have the backing of the KTMB rank and file.

He is said to be popular with the rank and file because of its hands-on approach to work-related matters.

The Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM) president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said the appointment of Elias as KTMB president augurs well for the company.

“We believe in Elias and are confident he can turn around KTMB. RUM has a good working relationship with him,” Abdul Razak told Business Times.

Elias had been on the KTMB board for two years before being appointed recently to head the cargo division.

Business Times reported last month that Aminuddin was expected to leave the national rail company in August, after only a year into his extended two-year contract.

Apart from Elias, others in the running for the KTMB hot seat were Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah and Azahar Ahmad.

Mohd Azharuddin is a vice-president of special projects at the managing director’s office in Khazanah Nasional Bhd, while Azahar is the chief operating officer of the Land Public Transport Commission .

“Aminuddin had a meeting with key officials of the Ministry of Finance Inc last Friday and he was told to tender in his resignation,” one source said.

Aminuddin was not available for comment. His last day at KTMB was yesterday.

Aminuddin was appointed as KTMB president in August 2009 on a two-year contract, before being extended for another two years in August 2011.

Sumber: Business Times

SURUHANJAYA Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) sedang menjalankan kajian daya maju bagi membangunkan projek rel berkelajuan tinggi (HSR) antara Kuala Lumpur dan Singapura.

Pembangunan projek mega itu, jika mendapat kelulusan kerajaan akan melengkapkan infrastruktur rel di negara ini dan menyediakan satu lagi pilihan pengangkutan awam yang cekap dan bermutu tinggi kepada rakyat.

Ia berpotensi menjana pelbagai aktiviti ekonomi khususnya dalam bidang pelancongan dan hartanah.

Difahamkan, cadangan pembangunan projek itu membabitkan laluan baru di kawasan pantai barat Semenanjung iaitu dari kawasan pertumbuhan tinggi Greater KL, Johor Bahru dan Singapura.

Jika menjadi kenyataan, tren yang akan digunakan bagi laluan berkenaan mampu mencapai kelajuan sehingga 450 kilometer (km) sejam, sekali gus menjadi pengangkutan darat paling pantas dan cekap ke selatan.

Ketua Eksekutif SPAD, Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal, berkata suruhanjaya itu diberi mandat melaksanakan kajian daya maju berkenaan sebelum dibentangkan kepada kerajaan untuk kelulusan.
“Kajian daya maju projek ini juga berjalan serentak dengan beberapa kajian daya maju lain yang keseluruhannya membabitkan penambahbaikan infrastruktur rel di negara ini.

“Ia dilaksanakan supaya kita dapat berhubung dengan peserta lain dalam industri,” katanya pada taklimat media berhubung rancangan dan projek utama SPAD 2012 di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Hadir sama, Ketua Pegawai Operasi SPAD, Azhar Ahmad dan Ketua Pegawai Pembangunannya, Azmi Abdul Aziz.

Mohd Nur Ismal berkata, peringkat awal kajian daya maju projek mega itu dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian iaitu fasa 1a yang membabitkan kajian mengenai kesan ekonomi peringkat tinggi seperti jumlah kenaikan penumpang dan model perniagaan, manakala fasa 1b membabitkan kajian mengenai laluan sebenarnya seperti pusat terminal dan lokasi berhenti.

Katanya, kajian daya maju fasa 1A sudah diluluskan pada 17 Oktober lalu, manakala fasa 1B yang akan dimulakan tidak lama lagi dijadualkan selesai menjelang akhir tahun ini.

“Selepas kedua-dua peringkat kajian daya maju itu selesai maka kita akan mendapat anggaran kos pembangunannya.

“SPAD akan mengumpulkan maklumat terbaik untuk mendapatkan kos secepat mungkin dan akan mengeluarkan tender terbuka bagi memperoleh tawaran terbaik untuk melaksanakannya pada kos paling rendah kepada kerajaan,” katanya.

Beliau menambah, jika projek itu mendapat kelulusan kerajaan dan dapat direalisasikan, ia bakal melengkapkan infrastruktur rel yang dilaksanakan di seluruh negara.

Katanya, ia termasuk pembangunan kemudahan serta infrastruktur rel yang sedang rancak dijalankan serta serta sudah beroperasi seperti MyRapit Transit (MRT), sambungan aliran transit ringan (LRT) laluan Kelana Jaya dan Ampang, penambahan set gerabak baru KTM Komuter, penambahan kapasiti KL Monorel, Sistem Transit Pantas (RTS) Johor, Laluan Elektrik Berkembar Gemas-Johor dan perkhidmatan tren elektrik (ETS) Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh.

“SPAD juga akan memulakan kajian daya maju untuk projek MRT fasa 2 dan 3 bulan depan selain cadangan kajian daya maju untuk mempertingkatkan sistem pengangkutan rel di pantai timur,” katanya.

Berdasarkan anggaran awal SPAD, projek HSR mampu menyumbang sehingga RM6 bilion setahun kepada Pendapatan Negara Kasar pada 2020.

Antara pemacu utama projek itu ialah sektor pelancongan, pemindahan industri berdaya maju dari Singapura ke Greater KL berikutan kelebihan kos ke atas republik itu, penjimatan produktiviti dengan anggaran pengurangan kos perjalanan sehingga empat jam bagi setiap perjalanan pergi balik serta membuka potensi nilai hartanah di Kuala Lumpur.

Sumber: Berita Harian

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said expansion work would be a reality if the study indicated sufficient passenger traffic on the 530km east coast route.

“Although we have not made a decision, I am certain that it is a matter of time before we look at the east coast line. I am also certain that if we improve the rail service, more people will travel by train,” he said after visiting the site for the new Bahau train station near here.

Kong said the priority was to complete the west coast railway double-tracking and electrification project, with the Ipoh-Seremban stretch already completed while the Seremban-Gemas and Ipoh-Padang Besar stretches are due for completion by year-end and the middle of next year respectively.

He said the ministry was now fine-tuning the design for the 200km Gemas-Johor Baru stretch costing between RM7bil to RM8bil, with tenders to be called soon.

He said at present KTM provided six train services along the Singapore-Gemas-Tumpat routes.

“We are also upgrading the Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah stations to keep up with the times,” he said, adding that the Jerantut station was upgraded in 2006.

Kong said his ministry had decided to build a new station in Bahau as the existing one built 70 years ago could no longer serve commuters.

“The station is not only very small but is located along the busy main road which is a flood-prone area. In fact, there are no facilities such as a canteen, parking or even toilets,” he said.

Kong said the new station, expected to cost between RM5mil and RM6mil, will be built some 500m away from the existing station and will have various amenities as well as be disabled-friendly.

“Work on the new station should begin in June and will be completed within 15 months,” he said, adding that the contractor would also have to realign the tracks in the area.

On a separate matter, Kong said the Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department has approved a RM716,000 allocation for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Seremban-Gemas double-tracking project near Batang Melaka in Gemencheh.

Sumber : The Star

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha berkata, kajian tersebut bertujuan meneliti jumlah penumpang yang bakal menggunakan perkhidmatan berkenaan sepanjang laluan 530 kilometer di Pantai Timur itu.

”Walaupun kita belum membuat sebarang keputusan, saya yakin tidak lama lagi kita perlu melihat keperluan landasan tersebut.

”Selain itu, saya juga yakin sekiranya kita menambah baik perkhidmatan ini, lebih ramai akan menggunakan perkhidmatan kereta api,” katanya selepas melawat stesen kereta api Bahau dekat sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, kementerian sedang memperkemaskan reka bentuk landasan sepanjang 200 kilometer di Gemas-Johor Bahru yang dijangka menelan kos antara RM7 dan RM8 bilion sebelum tender dibuka.

”Buat masa ini, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) menguruskan enam perkhidmatan melibatkan laluan sepanjang Singapura-Gemas-Tumpat. Kita sedang menaik taraf stesen Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas dan Tanah Merah,” ujarnya.

Dalam pada itu, Cho Ha berkata, kementerian juga bercadang membina sebuah stesen baru di sini bagi menggantikan stesen sedia ada yang telah dibina 70 tahun lalu dan tidak sesuai untuk menjadi laluan perkhidmatan komuter.

”Stesen ini bukan sahaja kecil malah terletak di kawasan yang padat dan sering berisiko dilanda banjir. Stesen ini juga tidak mempunyai kemudahan seperti kantin, tempat letak kereta termasuk tandas.

”Kita jangkakan ia melibatkan kos antara RM5 dan RM6 juta untuk membina sebuah stesen baru di sini yang lengkap dengan pelbagai kemudahan. Projek itu mungkin akan dimulakan Jun ini dan dijangka siap dalam tempoh 15 bulan,” katanya.

Sumber : Utusan Malaysia