KTM Komuter

Infobox Public transit
name = KTM Komuter


imagesize = 104px
locale = Klang Valley (including Kuala Lumpur and central Selangor), northern and southern Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan
transit_type = Regional rail
began_operation = August 14, 1995
system_length = km to mi|173 [cite news| title=KTM seeks to shake off the shackles| url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_2_46/ai_n16071118/pg_1 |publisher=International Railway Journal| author=Mike Knutto| accessdate=2008-07-15| date=2006-02-01]
lines = 2
stations = 46
ridership = about 101,000 [cite news|title= Public transport becoming the preferred choice of city folk| url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/2293078/Article/index_html| author= Evangeline Majawat, Joseph Sipalan and Regina Lee | publisher= The New Straits Times| date=2008-07-14| accessdate=2008-07-15]
track_gauge = RailGauge|1
operator = Keretapi Tanah Melayu

KTM Komuter is an electrified commuter train service operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad. It was first introduced in 1995 to cater especially to commuters in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding suburban areas and is a popular mode of transport for commuters working in Kuala Lumpur, as they can travel to the city without being caught in traffic congestion. Coaches are modern and air-conditioned. For those who drive to the stations/halts, 'Park & Ride' facilities are provided at a nominal charge.

KTM Komuter is currently the most profitable passenger service offered by KTMB, contributing RM84.63 million to group revenue in 2006, higher than KTM Intercity's profit of 70.94 million in the same year.cite news | last =Nathan | first =Darshini M | title =Back on track: KTMB upgrades to be competitive | publisher ="Bizweek", "The Star" | date =October 6, 2007 | url = | accessdate = ] KTM Komuter ridership is estimated to be about 34.97 million passengers in 2006.

Network

KTM Komuter's km to mi|175|abbr=yes network has 45 stations. It consists of two lines, namely the Sentul-Port Klang and Rawang-Seremban lines, as well as a shuttle service from Rawang to Kuala Kubu Bharu which was first launched on 21 April 2007.

Transfers between the two main lines can be done at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur and Putra stations. Stair-climbing or escalator-use may be required at KL Sentral and Putra, while cross-platform transfers can be conveniently done at Kuala Lumpur. Passengers continuing their journey on the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu shuttle service have to change trains at Rawang station.

KTM Komuter has made shopping complexes and recreational centres more accessible. The Mid Valley station, which opened in 2004 next to the Mid Valley Megamall, has proven particularly popular. Other shopping centres located near KTM Komuter stations are Subang Parade, Carrefour Subang Jaya (near Subang Jaya station) and The MINES (Serdang station).

Passengers bound for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport have the option of taking the KTM Komuter to Nilai Komuter halt and board a bus from there to the KLIA or stopping at the KL Sentral station and ride the KLIA Ekspres. Switching to RapidKL Rail network can be done at Bandar Tasik Selatan station for the Ampang Line and KL Sentral for the Kelana Jaya Line. Switching to Ampang Line can also be done at Bank Negara station although its a 200 meter walk to the Bandaraya station.

KTM Komuter tickets can be purchased at counters or by using Ticket Vending Machines which are available at all stations and halts.

Rolling stock

The rolling stock consists of three models of three-car EMUs added over the course of three years beginning 1994. The EMUs were the first in KTM's history, and are currently the only electrified trains in the KTM rolling stock. All Komuter EMUs operate in multiple unit formation, running from overhead single-phase 25kV AC 50Hz catenary supply, with two driving cars and 1 - 3 trailer cars in between. The EMUs were also state-of-the-art (by KTM standards, anyway), featuring remote controlled pneumatic doors, Automatic Train Protection (ATP), train data recorder, wheel slip control , GTO/IGBT traction electronics and regenerative braking among others. Up to the point of their introduction no other KTM motive power sport these modern train control systems.

Designated by KTM as "Class 8x"s, the EMUs sport a yellow, blue and grey livery, a departure from the predominantly grey livery that KTM adopted on other locomotives and passenger coaches at the time. A handful of EMUs include full advertisements on the sides of their cars.

The original Komuter fleet consisted of the following models:

* 18 Class 81 EMUs (designations EMU 01 to EMU 18) manufactured by Jenbacher Transport in Austria-Hungary (1994/1995)
* 22 Class 83 EMUs (designations EMU 19 to EMU 40) manufactured by Hyundai (HPID) (1996/1997)
* 22 Class 82 EMUs (designations EMU 41 to EMU 62) manufactured by Union Carriage and Wagon in South Africa (1996/1997)

Four of the EMUs have since been decommissioned following serious accidents that affected their structural integrity, while another five are not listed as serviceable. On paper, the number of serviceable units stands at 53 out of the original 62, although there are reports of only 28 available trains "on a good day".

tation architecture

During the construction of the Komuter service, much of the existing lines were retained, with minor alterations (i.e. removal or abandonment of lines and replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete ones). Relevant station platforms were required to be added and heightened to allow easier access to Komuter trains travelling on both directions.

Major pre-independence stations including Kuala Lumpur station, Klang station, Port Klang station and Seremban station were retained and upgraded to support Komuter services. Smaller, wood-based stations and halts along the line that were built at around the same time as the aforementioned stations were either demolished and replaced by modern brick-and-concrete counterparts, or simply abandoned. The only exception to the rule is the old Sentul station, which has remained in service years since KTM Komuter's launch, albeit with a replacement platform.

The layouts and sizes of the new station buildings, as of the launch of the service in 1995, vary by location but are generally divided into two classes:

* Railway halts, consisting of a small single-storey structure with only ticket counters (a ticket booth, ticket machines and faregates). The stations are usually placed along straightforward dual-lane lines.

* Medium-sized and single-storey stations, housing both the ticket counters and station offices, and typically stationed along three or more lines. Such stations are typically intended to support additional responsibilities, such as managing railway signals, controlling railroad switches and handling goods services. The stations themselves are similar in design as the original wood-based stations along the line with slight hints of Western colonial designs (arches, wooden-and-glass windows and wooden doors), but are larger and modernised.

The platforms of the 1995 stations are virtually standardised, down to the design of the passenger semicircle-crossed shelters, the use of similarly-styled pedestrian crossings to link all platforms, and even the diamonds-based brickwork of the platforms.

Depending on the amount of patrons through the years, each station has undergone upgrades or expansions that either consist of increasing the number of ticket counters or openning new facilities for use by passengers or railway personnel. Taller, wider canopies had also been erected on the platforms of most stations to replace narrower, original versions in 2006 and 2007. The pace of the upgrades varies by location.

During the 2000s, new stations such as the Mid Valley station opt for more modern designs, consisting primarily of high, curved canopies above the entire platforms. Certain new stations along dual-lane lines are also included with facilities typically reserved for medium-sized stations, such as the Rasa station. The Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, however, is housed under the concrete base of the transport hub, and is considerably stark and utilitarian in design.

Expansion and future plans

New routes and stations

During the 2000s, the Komuter line saw the addition of seven more stations: [cite web|title=Construction of New Commuter Stations |url=http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.asp?id=1385 |date= |accessdate=2007-06-17 |format=html]
* The Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, opened April 16, 2001, includes support for both Rawang-Seremban Route and Sentul-Port Klang Route. While KL Sentral took over the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station's role of offering Intercity train services, the latter remains a designated stop along the KTM Komuter line.
* The Mid Valley station, opened August 23, 2004, primarily intends to serve users of the adjoining Mid Valley Megamall and surrounding commercial facilities.
* Kepong Sentral, opened July 1, 2006, is located beside the Middle Ring Road Two in the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Kepong, on the Rawang-Seremban Route.
* The Serendah, Batang Kali and Rasa stations, opened April 21, 2007, forms a part of a new stretch of electrified railway towards Ipoh from the Rawang station. A shuttle service known as the Rawang-Rasa shuttle runs between Rawang and these 3 stations.
* The Kuala Kubu Bharu station, opened January 5, 2008. The Rawang-Rasa shuttle service is thus renamed as the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu shuttle service.

Route expansion in progress

Besides new stations, additional plans were made to extend the Komuter network outwards from it original route
* The km to mi|179|abbr=yes Rawang-Ipoh electrification and double-tracking project will ultimately allow the KTM Komuter service to be extended to Tanjung Malim on the Selangor-Perak border, nearly km to mi|100 from Kuala Lumpur. The project has suffered several delays due several reasons, but has seen limited revitalisation. The first phase of the extension, which includes km to mi|22 of rebuilt railway lines and three new stations became operational when a shuttle service from the Rawang stations was launched on April 21, 2007. [cite web|title=Electrified Double Track Project Between Rawang and Ipoh |url=http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.asp?id=46 |date= |accessdate= 2007-06-17 |format=html] .The service was extended to Kuala Kubu Bharu on January 5, 2008. [ [http://www.ktmb.com.my/Article.asp?Id=2402 KTM Komuter New Route : Rawang - Kuala Kubu Bharu] ] . Service to Tanjung Malim was expected to begin in June 2008. [ [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2135207/Article/index_html 3,000 squatters to be relocated for rail link] ] However, as of August 2008, it still has not started.

* A km to mi|7.2|abbr=yes, four-station extension from the Sentul station to Batu Caves has been approved. The project - which will cost RM515 million - will include electrification, double-tracking and refitting the existing old track, signalling, communications, as well as construction of new stations at Sentul, Batu Cantonment, Batu Village, Taman Wahyu and Batu Caves. Site possession was given to contractor YTL Corporation Berhad on November 17, 2006, and the project is to be completed in 30 months' time in May 2009. The Sentul station is part of the Sentul Raya masterplan development under YTL. [cite web|title=Landasan Berkembar Elektrik Sentul-Batu Caves (Sentul-Batu Caves double tracking and electrification) |url=http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.asp?id=1995 |date= |accessdate= 2007-06-14 |format=html]

* KTMB also plans to extend km to mi|8.5|abbr=yes Komuter services to Senawang and Sungai Gadut, Negeri Sembilan. Construction is expected to complete by 2011 [http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/7/nation/20261095&sec=nation KTMB spends RM200mil on new intercity and commuter trains] ]

Other projects

*Upgrading of KTM Komuter stations: In 2005, KTMB awarded a contract for the construction of roof canopies and the upgrading of facilities for 29 stations in the KTM Komuter network. The new roof design is similar to that used for the new Midvalley and Kepong Sentral stations. Previously, station roofing was limited and covered only part of the platform and did not extend over the tracks. [cite web|title=Upgrading of Existing Station Facilities |url=http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.asp?id=1568 |date= |accessdate= 2007-06-17 |format=html] Bank Negara halt's upgrading is more major than those being carried out at the other stations as it involves creating a new mezzanine floor above the current platforms. The RM6 million upgrading job was expected to be completed by October 2007. However, it is only completed in April 2008.

*Electronic payment scheme: On 1 July 2005, all KTM Komuter stations began accepting the contactless Touch 'n Go electronic stored value card for fare payments. All stations which were opened after that date came ready with Touch 'n Go facilities, although at the four new stations on the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu Shuttle Route, namely Serendah, Batang Kali, Rasa and Kuala Kubu Bharu, the readers are located at the counter window next to the manual lane rather than at the automatic fare gates. KTM Komuter's adoption of the Touch 'n Go system is part of the Malaysian government's move to make the card the common ticket for all public transport. The contract to integrate the electronic fare collection system with KTM Komuter's existing fare collection system and all related works such as the installation of farecard readers was given to Pradonet Sdn Bhd in 2003. [cite web|title=KTMB Komuter – Common Ticketing System |url=http://www.pradonet.com.my/home.php?op=8#ktm1 |date= |accessdate= 2007-06-18 |format=html] The move to implement the common ticketing electronic payment scheme initially ran into problems, primarily over the inability of the transport providers and the Touch' n Go system operator, Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd, to agree on commissions. [Citation | last=Shen-li | first=Leong | title=Still no go | newspaper=The Star | pages=1 | date=April 22, 2005 ] The Malaysian government had to step in and pushed for the common ticketing project to be completed. [Citation | last=Rajendra | first=Edward | last2=Cheah | first2=Royce | title=No more excuses, says Chan | newspaper=The Star | pages=4 | date=April 23, 2005]

*New coaches: As a part of their expansion program, KTM announced on February 7 2008 that they will purchase new train sets for intercity and commuter routes worth RM200 million. 8 units of train set with four cars each sets will guarantee increased passenger capacity as currently three car train set are serving the route. It is unknown when will the trains arrive. [ [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/7/nation/20261095&sec=nation KTMB spends RM200mil on new intercity and commuter trains] . On April 28 2008, KTM further announce that they will purchase an additional 5 train sets scheduled to arrived in 2010. [cite news| title=KTM to have five new commuter trains in two years| url= http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20080428154739/Article/index_html| publisher=New Straits Time| accessdate=2008-04-28| author=]

Incidents and accidents

* On the evening of March 3, 2004, a Seremban-bound KTM Komuter train in the Rawang-Seremban Route collided with the rear of another Komuter train facing the same direction, which had been waiting at a signal light between the Tiroi station and Seremban station for five minutes. Forty were injured, but no deaths were reported. The accident was generally attributed to the faulty signal light (struck by lightning) that stopped the earlier train, though the driver of the rear-ending train is reported to have run a red light into the section occupied by the rear-ended train. The resulting crashed disrupted KTM Komuter services along the line for a day. This is so far the worst accident involving the KTM Komuter service. [Citation | title=Komuter crash |newspaper=The Star |pages=1 |date=March 3, 2004 ]
* On March 2, 2007, a crane fell onto a KTM Komuter train track near the Sentul-Port Klang Route's Shah Alam Komuter station, stranding about 10,000 passengers and cancelling 40 trips. Alternative transportation services were provided. [cite news | title =Crane Falls On Rail Tracks, 10,000 Passengers Stranded | publisher=Bernama | date=March 2, 2007 | url=http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=249428 | accessdate=2007-06-20]
* On May 25, 2007, a person was killed after he was hit by a KTM Komuter train while crossing the tracks illegally. Deaths in this manner have occurred along Komuter lines before.
* On February 27, 2008, overhead power cables between Subang Jaya and Petaling stations of the Sentul-Port Klang route broke, causing all train services to be modified to run along Sentul-Petaling route instead.

Important dates

*3 August 1995 - The first KTM Komuter trains began taking passengers between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. Free trips were offered until 11 August 1995.
*14 August 1995 - Commercial operations begin for the KTM Komuter between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. It was then extended to Salak South on 29 September 1995.
*28 August 1995 - Operations between Sentul and Shah Alam began. Service was extended to Klang on 29 September 1995.
*20 November 1995 - The Rawang-Kuala Lumpur service extended to Kajang.
*18 December 1995 - Entire KTM Komuter network opened with final stretch to Seremban opened.
*16 April 2001 - KL Sentral KTM Komuter station opened.
*3 March 2004 - Worst KTM Komuter accident occurred when a Seremban-bound commuter train hits the rear of another train near Seremban.
*23 August 2004 - Mid Valley KTM Komuter station opened.
*1 July 2005 - KTM Komuter network began accepting Touch 'n Go electronic farecards.
*1 July 2006 - Kepong Sentral KTM Komuter station opened.
*21 April 2007 - Shuttle service between Rawang and Rasa began.
*5 January 2008 - Opening of Kuala Kubu Bharu station, and extension of the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu shuttle service (formerly known as Rawang-Rasa shuttle service) to this station.

ee also

*Keretapi Tanah Melayu
*Rail transport in Malaysia
*Public transport in Kuala Lumpur

References

External links

* The [http://www.ktmb.com.my/article.asp?id=51 KTM Komuter] at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu website