MRT3 Circle Line Gets Final Approval, Land Acquisition To Begin
The scheme's approval, signed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, follows a public feedback exercise conducted from September to December 2024, which saw over 45,000 written submissions, with 93.3% expressing support for the project.
The MRT3 Circle Line, a 51km loop encircling the Klang Valley, will enhance connectivity with 10 key interchange stations linking to existing rail lines. Once completed, the line is expected to significantly improve travel efficiency and reduce road congestion across Greater Kuala Lumpur.
As part of its commitment to community impact mitigation, MRT Corp has reduced the number of land lots to be acquired from 1,012 to 690. Land acquisition will now begin and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Related
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Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
KLIA Aerotrain glitch fixed in 15 minutes, not a breakdown, says Loke
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — The recent disruptions of the Aerotrain service at Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were not due to mechanical failure but a minor technical issue that was resolved promptly, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said that in any system, such operational disruptions are common and must be tackled through continuous system and software maintenance. 'It wasn't a breakdown but a technical glitch, a software bug. In any system, there will be occasional disruptions, bugs, and other issues that must be addressed and fixed. 'The disruption was resolved within 15 minutes,' he told reporters after opening the Asean-China International Rail Transit Forum 2025 here today. Loke expressed regret over the disruptions in the past month but clarified that the Aerotrain service continues to record high passenger volumes, with 1.5 million passengers a month and hundreds of trips daily. He also urged Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to pay serious attention to the contractors and vendors involved in maintaining the service. On Monday, the media reported calls from several quarters urging the Transport Ministry to establish a special committee to investigate the cause of service disruptions, which allegedly occurred at least five times since the service resumed on July 1. On the third-generation Electric Train Service (ETS3) project to Johor Bahru, Loke said it is progressing as planned, contrary to claims by some parties. 'It is definitely inaccurate to say there was a delay. I have already mentioned a few months ago that the ETS3 project will be implemented in phases. It is not a delay,' he stressed. He clarified that the ETS3 is already operational up to Segamat (first phase), while the second phase to Kluang is set to begin service before August 31, followed by the third phase to Johor Bahru Sentral by the end of the year. He said the ministry is awaiting confirmation on the launch date for the second phase, as the first train will be driven by a VIP, adding that an official announcement will be made later this month. 'The ministry is committed to starting the service before August 31,' he added. Meanwhile, Loke said Malaysia is looking forward to realising greater rail connectivity with China, particularly in facilitating cross-border rail freight. He emphasised that such connectivity cannot be achieved by Malaysia alone and requires strong collaboration with other Asean member states, especially Thailand and Laos, to ensure seamless regional integration. 'We cannot do it alone. We must work together with our Asean partners to enhance connectivity between Asean and China,' he said, adding that improved cooperation would strengthen logistics networks and economic ties across the region. Earlier in his opening remarks at the forum, Loke said the event symbolises the strengthening of Asean-China cooperation and reflects a shared vision for a smarter, greener and more connected future. He said the global rail sector is undergoing a renaissance, driven by climate urgency, digital disruption and economic transformation, stressing that for Malaysia, investing in rail is no longer just about infrastructure but has become a national economic and environmental imperative. — Bernama
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
KLIA Aerotrain glitch not mechanical failure
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent disruptions of the Aerotrain service at Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were not due to mechanical failure but a minor technical issue that was resolved promptly, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said that in any system, such operational disruptions are common and must be tackled through continuous system and software maintenance. 'It wasn't a breakdown but a technical glitch, a software bug. In any system, there will be occasional disruptions, bugs, and other issues that must be addressed and fixed. 'The disruption was resolved within 15 minutes,' he told reporters after opening the ASEAN-China International Rail Transit Forum 2025 here today. Loke expressed regret over the disruptions in the past month but clarified that the Aerotrain service continues to record high passenger volumes, with 1.5 million passengers a month and hundreds of trips daily. He also urged Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to pay serious attention to the contractors and vendors involved in maintaining the service. On Monday, the media reported calls from several quarters urging the Transport Ministry to establish a special committee to investigate the cause of service disruptions, which allegedly occurred at least five times since the service resumed on July 1. On the third-generation Electric Train Service (ETS3) project to Johor Bharu, Loke said it is progressing as planned, contrary to claims by some parties. 'It is definitely inaccurate to say there was a delay. I have already mentioned a few months ago that the ETS3 project will be implemented in phases. It is not a delay,' he stressed. He clarified that the ETS3 is already operational up to Segamat (first phase), while the second phase to Kluang is set to begin service before Aug 31, followed by the third phase to Johor Bahru Sentral by the end of the year. He said the ministry is awaiting confirmation on the launch date for the second phase, as the first train will be driven by a VIP, adding that an official announcement will be made later this month. 'The ministry is committed to starting the service before Aug 31,' he added. Meanwhile, Loke said Malaysia is looking forward to realising greater rail connectivity with China, particularly in facilitating cross-border rail freight. He emphasised that such connectivity cannot be achieved by Malaysia alone and requires strong collaboration with other ASEAN member states, especially Thailand and Laos, to ensure seamless regional integration. 'We cannot do it alone. We must work together with our ASEAN partners to enhance connectivity between ASEAN and China,' he said, adding that improved cooperation would strengthen logistics networks and economic ties across the region. Earlier in his opening remarks at the forum, Loke said the event symbolises the strengthening of ASEAN-China cooperation and reflects a shared vision for a smarter, greener and more connected future. He said the global rail sector is undergoing a renaissance, driven by climate urgency, digital disruption and economic transformation, stressing that for Malaysia, investing in rail is no longer just about infrastructure but has become a national economic and environmental imperative. - Bernama
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
No delay to Segamat-JB stretch of electrified double track rail project, says Loke
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no delay to the work on the Segamat to Johor Baru stretch of the KTMB's electrification and double tracking project (EDTP), says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Speaking to the media after opening the Asean-China International Rail Transit Forum 2025 here Wednesday (Aug 6) morning, he said things remain on track for the entire EDTP - stretching 192km from Gemas to JB Sentral - to be ready by "the end of the year". "It is inaccurate to say that there is a delay. In fact, I have said a few months ago that the project will be completed in phases. The first phase was the opening of the Gemas to Segamat in March (2025)," he said. "The second phase will be from Segamat to Kluang, which we intend to open before Aug 31," he said. The third phase will be from Kluang to JB Sentral. On the actual commencement date of ETS services from Segamat to Kluang, Loke said the government is awaiting confirmation from a "very important person" who will be given the honour to drive the first ETS to Kluang. He, however, remained coy on the identity of the VIP. On the perception that the EDTP project is delayed, he said the first (new) train just finished testing, and that is the reason why he was not able to make any announcement any earlier, other than waiting for confirmation from the "VIP train driver". On the status of KL International Airport's aerotrain, which was beset with yet another service stoppage earlier this week, Loke said the interruption was indeed disappointing. "We acknowledge the weakness, and are regretful. We have told MAHB to see to it with the contractor," he said, while asking the public to consider that the aerotrain had actually moved 1.5 million passengers a month since it was relaunched on July 1 after a replacement programme. "It is a 15-minute interruption caused by a software bug, and is not a mechanical fault," he said, adding that like any system, maintenance has to be performed. The railway forum here was organised by UTAR with four Chinese institutions: the Beijing Jiaotong University, Urban Rapid Rail Transit, Centre for Railway Infrastructure and Engineering, as well as the Centre for Sustainable Mobility Technologies. The event was primarily sponsored by Tianma Bearing and China Railway Signal & Communication Co Ltd. In his opening speech, Loke praised UTAR's role - under the leadership of Prof Datuk Ewe Hong Tat - in contributing to the creation of a qualified workforce for the development of rail in Malaysia. UTAR's role in the development of the local rail industry comes from the Centre for Railway Infrastructure and Engineering under the leadership of Dr Chua Kein Huat.
