The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) aerotrain is expected to resume operations by the second quarter of this year, according to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.
During a media briefing at Terminal 1 in Sepang on Friday (Jan 24), managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani stated that the aerotrain service would begin once comprehensive testing, overseen by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), is completed.
He also highlighted improvements in the new trains, which will feature three coaches per set and accommodate up to 270 passengers per trip, an increase from the previous capacity of 230.
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During a media briefing at Terminal 1 in Sepang on Friday (Jan 24), managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani stated that the aerotrain service would begin once comprehensive testing, overseen by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), is completed.
He also highlighted improvements in the new trains, which will feature three coaches per set and accommodate up to 270 passengers per trip, an increase from the previous capacity of 230.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/ynd2xtbm
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
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NewsTranscript
00:00As we know, AeroTrain project is something very important for Malaysia airport and to
00:10all of us as well as Malaysians. For us, more importantly, at the airport, AeroTrain is
00:16important in the sense that it will give good customer experience for us. Also, as a hub
00:23of connectivity in this region, it's important to have best services that we can offer at
00:29the airport. Some of you may be here, last August, when we first received the trains,
00:37together with the Minister, that was when I just started at the airport, a few weeks
00:43after I started at the airport, so we witnessed the arrival of the trains, alhamdulillah.
00:48Since then, we have gone through a vigorous testing process. As you all know, when it
00:56comes to safety, we at Malaysia airport, we put safety as top priority, something that
01:03we don't or should even compromise. So therefore, we recommended that and we insisted that it
01:10has to go through a robust regime and protocols of testing, hence what is today until operational.
01:23We are pleased to announce that after the testing is all done, it should be operational
01:28by Q2 of this year. I understand that you announced earlier that it will be operational
01:34by Q2, Q2 of this year. When exactly? Because right now, as you know, the ASEAN Championship
01:41is already ongoing and so many activities are in the pipeline and the AeroTrain is going
01:46to be a very important part of entry point to our country. So when exactly in Q2?
01:54As Gordon presented just now, we should complete all tests by April. So the best case, we are
02:01hoping that if all tests are successful, of course immediately after that, it can get
02:04difficult to operate. But Q2 is safe because just in case further tests required, that's
02:11when Q2 timeline is important for us to adhere to. So let's hope that all tests are successful
02:18so that we can operate soon after we get the certificate to operate. To touch when you
02:23mentioned about ASEAN 25, yes, over the past few months until December, we have made preparations
02:32to facilitate ASEAN 25. You may notice later on, in fact in this floor, all the lounges
02:39have been upgraded to facilitate the movement of the delegates and also we have arranged
02:46for delegates to use bungarai, bungaraya compacts for them to use. So no, I would say, impact
02:54on the ASEAN 25 meeting. But surely that, you know, we look forward for this for, more
03:01importantly for us, for the rest of ASEAN meeting, also for visit Malaysia year in 2026.
03:08Can we confirm that there will be no delays after Q2? Because the testings have been very
03:13extensive from what has been shown. We are all very confident that it will be operational
03:20by Q2 this year. Sorry, last question from me. Can I know what's the cost to this, since
03:25there were some delays since the whole upgrading works began? What's the total cost?
03:28As per original contract cost, yeah. That is? Yeah. If you could share. Well, can I? The cost? Total cost, the cost, 495? 495 million. As per original contract sum that we awarded.
03:46What is your response to Minister Lok's frustration over the delay of the aerotrain service resumption?
03:55I think we work closely with all agencies. And then, as I said earlier on, as the airport
04:03operator, we have to make sure that all the tests are done very rigorously, so that we
04:09want to, so that the reliability of the train is confirmed. Also, the safety of the passengers
04:21are ensured. So, going forward, that's why I've been stressing here, I think it's important
04:27for us to follow the protocol and regime of testing required to make sure safety and reliability
04:33of the services. With the news that MHHB is going with privatisation, is there, does this
04:40will change how aerotrain will be managed in the future? No. It will be the main thing,
04:46service at the airport will continue as fast as we can. Actually, what caused all these delays
04:53in terms of operations here? You may have seen from the presentation that a lot of technicalities
04:58that we have to follow. And as usual, sometimes we don't see how technical it was behind the
05:06scene. But I think we have to acknowledge that certain things may take time to make sure that
05:11we really follow the process and the technical aspects of it. And as Gordon was saying, even
05:21the substations, three of them, takes time for installation, testing, commissioning.
05:27I hope we all appreciate the technical side of the project. Could you tell us what was the train
05:35capacity before and what it is now? The current capacity, we have 90 per cent per car.
05:44Each train has three car sets, so 270 packs per set. So it's better capacity. I was told
05:56previously one car was before 230, now 270. So 60 extra passengers can be accommodated.
06:05Why was the January deadline given when we know that there's going to be so much rigorous testing
06:11that has to be done? I'm just wondering what you have to say on that.
06:15I think Gordon mentioned slightly just now, it was all the ambitious target.
06:22All right, any more questions from the floor?
06:25Sorry, in terms of the target again, who set the target? Was it MOT? Was it MAHB? How was the
06:34target date reached? Or was that the target date? I was hoping that we don't go back to the
06:41print history and let's look forward for the operation in Q2. Because constant reports have
06:47been January, February, so people are looking forward to it. So maybe an explanation as to
06:53how and who actually advised on that date? I think based on technical requirements,
07:02that's why it's important for us to really follow the regime of testing that's required
07:10to ensure safety and reliability. Hence, when we chart out the timeline,
07:16we can only complete the 80 tests that are required to be done until April. And therefore,
07:25as soon as those tests are completed, then we can start operation of the services.
07:31Not long from now, a few months away.