228 Tokyo
Metro subway trains for KL
PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur railway service
will get a much-needed boost in the form of 228 used Tokyo Metro of
Japan car sets — free of charge.
The gift is the culmination of efforts by Transport Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who had just concluded discussions with
Tokyo Metro to secure the 38x6 used car sets, which are in good
operational condition, and have a lifespan of no less than 20
years.
It was learnt that the cars , which still have an average of 20
good years left for local use, would be delivered by 2012.
The sets had been used by Tokyo Metro in their subway lines
(tubes), and some modifications may be carried out to allow the
cars to be used in Malaysia.
Tokyo Metro operates a network of nine subway lines in the heart
of Tokyo, with its network forming a tight mesh throughout the
three central wards of Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato; and the
surrounding Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Ueno areas.
Upon delivery, the sets are expected to ease the pressure off
the local rail system persistently bogged down by a range of issues
that had affected the service's reliability.
In an interview with The Malay Mail recently, KTMB
president Dr Aminuddin Adnan had admitted that reliability was an
issue, forcing KTMB to take several measures to improve the
capacity and reliability of train services.
It had set itself a deadline of two years to give commuters the
best service possible at its optimum capacity level in line with
the National Key Result Area (NKRA) target for urban public
transport to improve the network.
Dr Aminuddin had said KTMB was working on completely overhauling
its trains as well as the wiring systems and other services to
improve current services.
KTMB are also working on refurbishing 15 old electric multiple
unit (EMU) trains, which it aims to put back into service in stages
by March next year. Once completed, the number of trains available
will be increased from 28 trains to 43 by next year.
The EMUs have been plagued with problems caused by the closure
of the two companies that supplied the trains.This had made it
difficult to find spare-parts for the trains.
Dr Aminuddin had also said that KTMB had ordered 38 six
car-trains at a cost of RM2 billion, which are expected to arrive
in mid-2012.
With the increase in number of trains available, KTMB hopes to
accomplish a passenger waiting time of between 10 and 20
minutes.
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/38264-228-tokyo-metro-subway-trains-kl
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Do note that the headline is a little bit misleading. It is
actually 228 coaches. Divide it by 6 and you will get 38 6-car
EMUs.
But now, with the 38 6-car China EMUs said earlier, one would
wonder if they are replacing the China orders with the free
Japanese trains, or are they still purchasing the China EMUs,
tripling the fleet of EMUs.
