Website www.ktmb.com.my/ktmb | Stations 79 | |
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Locale Central Sector(Batu Caves-Kuala Lumpur-Port Klang;(Tanjung Malim-Rawang-Kuala Lumpur-Seremban-Pulau Sebang/Tampin)Northern Sector(Bukit Mertajam-Padang Regas;Butterworth-Padang Besar) Ridership 54.227 million (2015)( 15.5%) Colour on map 1 2 10 (Central Sector) 1 2 (Northern Sector) |
KTM Komuter is a commuter rail service brand in Malaysia operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). It was introduced in 1995 to provide local rail services in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley suburban areas. The service was then introduced in Greater Penang on September 2015 after the completion of the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrification and Double-Tracking Project,. Later on 10 October 2015, the southern sector service was introduced between Seremban and Gemas in Negeri Sembilan after the completion of the Seremban-Gemas Electrification and Double-Tracking Project, although a route revamp in July 2016 saw the southern sector services merged with that of the central sector, with the southern terminus being pulled back from Gemas to Pulau Sebang/Tampin.
Contents
- Central Sector
- Northern Sector
- Southern Sector
- Stations
- Rolling stock
- New routes and stations
- Route expansion in progress
- Incidents and accidents
- Timeline
- References
The trains used are air-conditioned electric multiple units. 'Park & Ride' facilities are provided at stations at a nominal charge.
KTM Komuter contributed RM116 million to group revenue in 2015, carrying a total of 54.227 million passengers. In the first half of 2016 saw the service carry 21.432 million passengers, bringing revenue amounting to RM77.345 million.
Central Sector
KTM Komuter's 175 km (109 mi) metre-gauge network in the Central Sector mainly cover in Klang Valley has 53 stations. It consists of two cross-city routes, namely the Port Klang Line (Batu Caves to Port Klang) and Seremban Line (Tanjung Malim to Pulau Sebang/Tampin).
Transfers between the two main lines can be made at any of the four stations on the central core: KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara and Putra. Same-platform or cross-platform interchange is available at Kuala Lumpur.
KTM Komuter also services shopping complexes and recreational centres. The Mid Valley station opened in 2004 next to the Mid Valley Megamall. Other shopping centres near KTM Komuter stations are Subang Parade, ÆON BiG Subang Jaya (nearby Subang Jaya station) and The MINES (Serdang station).
Passengers for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) may take the KTM Komuter to Nilai Komuter halt and change to an airport bus, or they may change at KL Sentral station to the dedicated KLIA Ekspres. Interchange with the Rapid (KL city metro) network is available at Bandar Tasik Selatan station for the Sri Petaling Line and at KL Sentral for the Kelana Jaya Line. Passengers may also transfer to the Ampang Line in the city centre at Bank Negara station by means of a 200-metre covered walk to the Bandaraya LRT station.
KTM Komuter tickets are sold at counters and via vending machines, available at all stations and halts.
The service is subject to overcrowding during rush hours. To help alleviate this, the operator introduced a new queuing system to help passengers line up when the trains are coming. The lines are painted on the floor with three colour codes representing each of the train set. The system was first implemented at KL Sentral station on 17 October 2008. The operator is also considering introducing express services between Sungai Buloh and Kajang stations and between Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam station during rush hours by the end of 2008.
From 15 December 2015, the routes of Seremban Line and Port Klang Line were switched as part of a six-month trial. Trains from Seremban began heading towards Batu Caves, while trains from Port Klang headed towards Rawang, and vice versa. Transfers could be done at the four shared stations.
KTM Komuter service to stations north of Rawang was run as a shuttle service when it was extended beyond Rawang to Rasa in April 2007, to Kuala Kubu Bharu in January 2008, and finally to Tanjung Malim on 1 June 2009. The Rawang-Tanjung Malim shuttle service was absorbed into the main Port Klang Line on 11 July 2016.
On 11 July 2016, the KTM Komuter Southern Sector which was a shuttle service between Seremban and Pulau Sebang/Tampin, was absorbed into the Seremban Line, adding four more stations to the line, namely Senawang, Sungai Gadut, Rembau and Pulau Sebang/Tampin.
Northern Sector
On 11 September 2015, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad introduced the Northern Sector KTM Komuter Shuttle (Tren Shuttle KTM Komuter Sektor Utara in Bahasa Malaysia) service between Gurun in Kedah, Butterworth in Penang and Kamunting in Perak. This followed the completion of the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrification and Double-Tracking Project in December 2014.
On 1 January 2016, a second line was introduced between Butterworth and Padang Besar in Perlis, while on 17 January 2016, the Gurun-Butterworth-Kamunting route was replaced with two separate routes: Butterworth-Gurun and Butterworth-Kamunting. The three-line service operated until 1 July 2016 when the Butterworth-Gurun route was dropped, and subsequently on 1 September 2016, the Butterworth-Kamunting route was modified to run from Bukit Mertajam to Padang Rengas and vice-versa, with Bukit Mertajam as the interchange station with the Butterworth-Padang Besar line.
Southern Sector
KTMB introduced a new service for the southern route, KTM Komuter Southern Sector (Malay: KTM Komuter Sektor Selatan), on 10 October 2015 following the completion of the Seremban-Gemas Electrified Double Tracking Project on 30 October 2013. This service is the second KTM Komuter service outside the Klang Valley after the northern counterpart. The Gemas and Batang Melaka stops were removed starting 20 June 2016 with the train running between Seremban and Pulau Sebang/Tampin. Subsequently, the shuttle service was terminated on 11 July 2016 when it was absorbed into the Seremban Line.
Stations
The Komuter service was largely built from existing lines, with minor alterations (i.e. removal or abandonment of lines and replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete ones). Relevant station platforms were added and heightened to allow easier access to Komuter trains travelling in 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 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:
The platforms of the 1995 stations are virtually standardised, down to the design of the passenger semicircle-crossed shelters, the use of similarly-styled foot crossings to link all platforms, and the diamonds-based brickwork of the platforms.
Depending on the amount of patrons through the years, each station has undergone upgrades or expansions that consist of either increasing the number of ticket counters or opening new facilities for use by passengers or railway staff. Taller, wider canopies were 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 appeared in 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 stark and utilitarian in design.
Rolling stock
The original Komuter rolling stock consists of three versions of three-car EMUs added over the course of three years, beginning in 1994. The EMUs were the first in KTM's history. All Komuter EMUs operate in multiple-unit formation, running from overhead single-phase 25kV AC 50 Hz catenary supply, with two driving cars and 1 - 4 trailer cars in between. The EMUs were state-of-the-art, with remote-controlled pneumatic doors, Automatic Train Protection (ATP), train data recorder, wheel-slip control, GTO/IGBT traction electronics and regenerative braking. Up to the point of their introduction no other KTM motive power used these modern train control systems.
Designated by KTM as "Class 8x"s, the EMUs wear 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:
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 in 2010 stands at 53 out of the original 62, although there are reports of far fewer trains. However, the actual number of trains is set to rise back to the original, as trains are being reconditioned. This, however, may change as most of the class 8x EMUs have been retired from komuter service,having been replaced by Class 92 EMUs
By July 2012, additional 6-car rolling stock has entered service with KTM Koumter:
New routes and stations
During the 2000s, the Komuter line saw the addition of seven more stations:
On 11 September 2015, Keretapi Tanah Melayu introduced the Northern Sector KTM Komuter Shuttle Service, the first commuter train service outside the Klang Valley. The shuttle train service stops at 11 stations between Gurun and Kamunting, including Butterworth.
Route expansion in progress
Besides new stations, additional plans were made to extend the Komuter network outwards from it original route: