The Four Cars LRT on the Putra Line

Yes, it is certainly good news for those going from both directions on the Putra Line. Today,an additional two coaches has been added to the LRT. This will not be a real great decision but nonetheless, it will ease the severe congestion for commuters during office hours. Anyway, they will only be in service at rush hour.

The new coaches can carry 800 passengers, twice the number of the existing two-car trains.

The four-car trains will be used during peak hours, in the morning and evening, and the two-car trains during the off-peak periods.

The two-car train carries about 400 people and the four-car train,some 800 people. During peak or rush hours, the 4-car train should be able to carry a maximum of 950 people.

The new train has wheelchair-friendly features and door alarm lights to help the hearing-impaired.

“We have ordered 35 sets of the four-car train and three sets went into operation today. Some have not arrived yet while some are still being tested,” said a spokesman for Prasarana,the owner and operator of the Putra Line. Prasarana is also the operator of the other public transportation network that includes the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT lines, KL monorail and bus service in the Klang Valley.

The four-car train sets are the latest version of the Bombardier advanced rapid transit driverless train designed in Canada, 65 per cent of which is assembled in Mexico and 35 per cent in Malaysia.

The remaining sets would be delivered in stages by the local partner, Bombardier-Hartasuma, until 2012.

All in all, Prasarana expects total delivery as early as April 2011.

"We’ll have 70 sets, that is, 35 sets of the current two-set trains which will be refurbished and 35 sets of four-car trains,” added the spokesman.

I think this is a good gesture of PM Najib. We are seeing some tangibility and visibility to his still uncertain 1Malaysia concept.