Pasir Gudang - Kempas Baru cargo rail line to include passenger services, says Loke
JOHOR BARU: The cargo-only Pasir Gudang–Kempas Baru railway line will soon be upgraded to accommodate passenger services, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said the new service is expected to be available to the public within six to 12 months.
"Previously, this track was only used for cargo, but we have discussed with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) about introducing passenger services as well.
"This is a high-population area with the potential to attract many passengers.
"As a start, we plan to use KTMB's existing rolling stock to provide the service," he told a press conference here on Friday (May 9).
Loke was speaking after the reopening ceremony of the Pasir Gudang–Kempas Baru track at the Pasir Gudang KTMB station.
He added that the ministry is identifying suitable locations along the 40km stretch to build passenger stations.
"Currently, there are no stations along this line.
"So, we are looking at setting up simple but functional stops to allow passengers to board and alight safely.
"These will not be fancy stations, but they must be safe and practical for passengers," he said.
Earlier, Loke launched the reopening of the railway line, which had been closed for six months for upgrading works.
He said that the RM55mil project was initially expected to take 24 months to complete.
"However, by making the difficult decision to temporarily halt operations for six months, we were able to accelerate the project.
"This allowed us to complete the upgrades earlier, tripling the line's cargo capacity and easing congestion in the area," he said.
More To Come
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Aerotrain back on track soon
SEPANG: The bane of air travellers at the KL International Airport (KLIA) is set to be over with its broken down aerotrain to resume operations soon. The issue has been a major grouse and national embarrassment, with the facility out of service for over two years. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the media will be invited for a test run next week before services resume for air travellers. However, he did not provide a specific date for resumption of services. 'We will ensure that the media is the first to test the aerotrain before it becomes operational,' he said after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Selangor Aero Park (SAP) here yesterday. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) missed the first deadline of getting the aerotrain ready by Jan 31, and put off the target to the second quarter of the year. Big things ahead: Loke (centre) breaking ground at the Selangor Aero Park @ KLIA Aeropolis, Sepang, flanked by Amirudin (third from left) and Malaysia Airports chairman Nungsari Ahmad Radhi (third from right) as well as other guests. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star The RM742.95mil aerotrain replacement project was only 85% completed at the start of the year. The aerotrain service was suspended indefinitely in March 2023 after two major breakdowns. On Feb 27 that year, an aerotrain halted midway on the track from the main terminal to the satellite building. A second train which was deployed also experienced technical difficulties, forcing travellers to walk to the satellite building. On March 1, 114 passengers were stranded when the aerotrain broke down again and had to walk about 500m to the satellite building, causing 10 passengers to miss their flights. On the SAP, Loke said the concept complemented the government's aspirations to turn KLIA Aeropolis into a leading air cargo hub in the region. 'We have the recipe and pre-conditions said to be unmatched by any other country in the Asean region, as KLIA has a 10km by 10km area which spans 100sq km. 'With this space, various plans can be implemented,' he said. Loke said with three parallel runways in KLIA presently, there is potential to build up to five runways. Loke also said the SAP, a project between MAHB and Mentri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI), will become a specific industry zone targeting companies in the aerospace manufacturing and supply chain sector. The SAP is a key component of the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 to generate RM55.2bil in annual aerospace revenue and create over 32,000 high-income jobs by 2030. Spanning 242.8ha within the KLIA Aeropolis, the park has a potential gross development value of RM2.3bil. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who was present, said the SAP was already 50% booked.
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
KTMB receives two of 10 new ETS train sets
BUTTERWORTH: KTM Bhd (KTMB) has received two of 10 new Electric Train Service (ETS) sets that are part of a RM400mil acquisition exercise. ETS and Intercity Services general manager Nurul Azha Mokmin said that both train sets are currently undergoing testing and commissioning, and are expected to be gradually deployed for operations starting next year. She said that the acquisition of the new train sets aims to enhance both the quality and capacity of the ETS service, which continues to see strong demand. 'ETS passenger numbers grew by about 10% annually, indicating high user satisfaction. With the upcoming completion of the Gemas (Negri Sembilan) to Johor Baru (Johor) route, KTMB plans to expand ETS services to several new destinations. 'We have procured 10 ETS train sets, which are expected to operate on the Gemas-Johor Baru route beginning next year. Subsequently, new routes from Johor Baru to Butterworth and Padang Besar (Perlis) will also be introduced,' she said to Bernama after officiating the Ruby Lounge – an exclusive waiting area for business class passengers – at the Butterworth Station here yesterday. She added that over 250,000 ETS and Intercity train tickets, including additional tickets released for the Aidiladha celebration, had been sold as of Wednesday since sales began on May 29. She said this included the sale of 119,000 tickets for the Ekspres Selatan service, which covers the Johor Baru-Gemas route, and remains in high demand. 'KTMB is also continuing its special service, the Ekspres Lambaian Aidiladha, for the KL Sentral-Tumpat and Tumpat-KL Sentral routes, as in previous years. This year, the service offers two trips, with a total of 872 tickets available,' she said. One-way fares range from RM80 to RM95, with options including premier and superior class seating, superior class sleeping coaches, as well as 'chillax' and cafe coaches for added passenger comfort.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
KLIA Aerotrain back on track? Transport minister says media to get ‘first hand look' next week
SEPANG, June 5 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke today said he will provide an update next week on the progress of the new Aerotrain service at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). He said the media will be given a tour of the upgraded train service before it goes into operation. 'We will invite you (the media) to KLIA next week to take a first-hand look,' Loke said after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Selangor Aero Park here. The KLIA Aerotrain service is slated to resume in the second quarter (Q2) of this year. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) Managing Director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani previously said several technical aspects need to be resolved before the relaunch to ensure the system runs smoothly and complies with all safety requirements. The Aerotrain, a key component of KLIA's internal transport system since 1998, was suspended in March 2023 following a breakdown. The new Aerotrain system is expected to improve the passenger experience, reduce operational disruptions, and support the anticipated increase in air passenger traffic in the coming years. — Bernama
