Six new trains for ERL
> Passenger capacity increased 50%, waiting time cut by 10 minutes
SEPANG: Six new Express Rail Link (ERL) trains are expected to start operating for the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services in March next year.
With the new trains, ERL would be increasing its capacity by 50%, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai when officiating at the unveiling of the first set of trains at the ERL depot in Salak Tinggi here yesterday, Bernama reported.
He said ERL had performed very well last year, growing by 20% to an average daily ridership of 30,000 despite rising operational and maintenance costs.
“With the increase of 50% capacity, I am confident that ERL will have its 100 millionth passenger very soon,” Liow said.
ERL executive chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said the purchase of the new trains from China-based Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd would add to its existing fleet of 12 trains, bringing the total number to 18.
Two new trains would be servicing the KLIA Expres and another four would serve the KLIA Transit, he said.
Mohd Nadzmi said the new trains would increase KLIA Transit daily ridership from 30,000 to 60,000 and KLIA Ekspres from 12,000 to 30,000.
He said the waiting time for KLIA Transit would also be reduced from 20 minutes to 15 minutes during peak hours and from 30 minutes to 20 minutes during off-peak hours.
“Each train set consists of four cars and will operate at a cruising speed of 160km per hour,” he said.