KTM Komuter

Updated on Jan 21, 2024

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Type Commuter rail Website www.ktmb.com.my/ktmb		Stations 79

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.

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:

Railway halts, consisting of a small single-storey structure with only ticket counters (a ticket booth, ticket machines and faregates). The stations are usually placed along straightforward dual-lane lines.

Medium-sized and single-storey stations, housing both the ticket counters and station offices, and typically stationed along three or more lines. Such stations are typically intended to support additional responsibilities, such as managing railway signals, controlling points and handling goods services. The stations themselves are similar in design to the original wood-based stations along the line with slight hints of Western colonial designs (arches, wooden-and-glass windows and wooden doors), but are larger and modernised.

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:

18 Class 81 EMUs (designations EMU 01 to EMU 18) manufactured by Jenbacher Transport in Austria-Hungary (1994/1995). Most of them are retired from Komuter service to be used for intercity services in the future.

22 Class 83 EMUs (designations EMU 19 to EMU 40) manufactured by Hyundai Percision (now Hyundai Rotem) (1996/1997). 14 sets remain in service, most of them currently service the KTM Komuter Northern Sector.

22 Class 82 EMUs (designations EMU 41 to EMU 62, the last batch) manufactured by Union Carriage & Wagon in South Africa (1996/1997). All of the trainset are retired from service due to lack of spare parts and closure of the company.

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:

38 Class 92 EMUs manufactured by China's Zhu Zhou Electric Locomotives Co Ltd

New routes and stations

During the 2000s, the Komuter line saw the addition of seven more stations:

The Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, opened 16 April 2001, includes platforms for both the Rawang-Seremban route and the Sentul-Port Klang route. While KL Sentral took over the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station's role of interchange with Intercity train services, the latter remains a separate stop for KTM Komuter services.

The Mid Valley station, opened 23 August 2004, primarily serves users of the adjoining Mid Valley Megamall and adjacent commercial facilities.

Kepong Sentral, opened 1 July 2006, stands beside the Middle Ring Road Two in the KL suburb of Kepong, on the Rawang-Seremban route.

The Serendah, Batang Kali and Rasa stations, opened 21 April 2007, form part of a new stretch of electrified railway towards Ipoh from Rawang station. A shuttle service known as the Rawang-Rasa shuttle runs between Rawang and these three stations.

The Kuala Kubu Bharu station, opened 5 January 2008. The Rawang-Rasa shuttle service was thus renamed as the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu shuttle service.

The shuttle route was extended to Tanjung Malim station on 1 June 2009, with the shuttle service renamed the Rawang-Tanjung Malim KTM Komuter Shuttle Service.

The Sentul-Port Klang Route has been extended to Batu Caves since 29 July 2010, together with four intermediate new stations - Batu Kentonmen, Kampung Batu and Taman Wahyu.

The Seremban Line was extended from Seremban to Sungai Gadut in 2012 with an intermediate stations at Senawang, and to Rembau in 2013 with a limited service operating.

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:

KTMB also plans to extend 85 km (53 mi) Komuter services to Pulau Sebang, Melaka and Gemas. Construction is expected to complete by 2013. This will interchange with the future Komuter South (Komuter-Sud) line to Johor Bahru.

The work for the shuttle service connecting Subang Jaya to Subang Skypark is currently underway. This extension is slated to have three stations: Glenmarie, Sri Subang, and Subang Skypark.

Incidents and accidents

On the evening of 3 March 2004, a Seremban-bound KTM Komuter train in the Seremban Line collided with the rear of another Komuter train facing the same direction, which had been waiting at a signal between Tiroi station and Seremban station for five minutes. Forty were injured, but no deaths were reported. The accident was ascribed to the faulty signal light (struck by lightning) that stopped the earlier train, though the driver of the rear-ending train is reported to have run a red light into the section occupied by the rear-ended train. The resulting crash disrupted KTM Komuter services along the line for a day. This is so far the worst accident involving the KTM Komuter service.

On 2 March 2007, a crane fell onto a KTM Komuter train track near the Sentul-Port Klang Route's Shah Alam Komuter station, stranding about 10,000 passengers and cancelling 40 trips. Alternative transport services were provided.

On 25 May 2007, a person was killed after he was hit by a KTM Komuter train while crossing the tracks illegally. Deaths in this manner have occurred along Komuter lines before.

On 27 February 2008, overhead power cables between Subang Jaya and Petaling stations of the Sentul-Port Klang route broke, causing all train services to be modified to run on the Sentul-Petaling route instead.

On 22 October 2009, a multipurpose vehicle plunged into the railway track as it was heading from Kuala Lumpur towards Subang Jaya. Train services were disrupted, and the vehicle was towed away 3 hours after the accident.

On 4 February 2013, A woman in her 50s was run over by a commuter train at the Taman Wahyu KTM Komuter Station. The victim was said to have been dragged 50m along the track in the incident.

On 15 February 2013 at 23:00, an out-of-service KTM Class 92 SCS 20 derailed near Shah Alam station while returning to Sentul depot for maintenance. No one was injured. The train was heavily damaged and was subsequently written off.

On 1 November 2013, a 3 coach KTM Class 83 derailed near Rawang station while moving through a track switch. No one was hurt in the incident. The two rear coaches were separated and towed away using a locomotive while the remaining front coach removed by use of cranes.

Timeline

3 August 1995 - The first KTM Komuter trains began taking passengers between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. Free trips were offered until 11 August 1995.

14 August 1995 - Commercial operations begin for the KTM Komuter between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. It was then extended to Salak South on 29 September 1995.

28 August 1995 - Operations between Sentul and Shah Alam began. Service was extended to Klang on 29 September 1995.

20 November 1995 - The Rawang-Kuala Lumpur service extended to Kajang.

18 December 1995 - The Kajang-Seremban section opens, completing the "original" KTM Komuter network which remained unchanged until 2007.

16 April 2001 - KL Sentral KTM Komuter station opened.

3 March 2004 - Worst KTM Komuter accident occurred when a Seremban-bound commuter train hits the rear of another train near Seremban.

23 August 2004 - Mid Valley KTM Komuter station opened.

1 July 2005 - KTM Komuter network began accepting Touch 'n Go electronic farecards.

1 July 2006 - Kepong Sentral KTM Komuter station opened.

21 April 2007 - Shuttle service between Rawang and Rasa began.

5 January 2008 - Opening of Kuala Kubu Bharu station, and extension of the Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu shuttle service (formerly known as Rawang-Rasa shuttle service) to this station.

1 June 2009 - Extension of Rawang-Kuala Kubu Bharu route to Tanjung Malim. The route is now called Rawang-Tanjung Malim shuttle service.

28 April 2010 - Women-only coaches introduced. The coach is the middle coach in the train setb.

29 July 2010 - Sentul-Port Klang route extended to Batu Caves with introduction of 4 new stations.

14 May 2011 - Seremban-Rawang route extended to Senawang and Sungai Gadut.