New LRT lines may save billions in fuel costs

KUALA LUMPUR: More than a million Klang Valley residents stand to benefit from the extension and new light rail transit lines announced in Budget 2009, a three-fold increase from current levels.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) said with the new level of public transport usage, the country could save as much as RM3bil in fuel costs.

The construction of a new 42km Kota Damansara-Cheras LRT line as well as extensions to the Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT lines were announced as part of measures to develop public transport under the Budget.

Other measures include the purchase of more trains and buses.

The initiatives will cost a total of RM35bil.

SPNB chief executive officer, Shaipudin Shah Harun, said the first train from the 35 trains that were ordered for the Kelana Jaya LRT line would be operational by September next year.

Speaking to reporters at a special post-budget briefing yesterday, Shaipudin said all the trains, which were ordered in 2006, would be ready by 2011 while the 15km extensions to the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines would also be ready at about the same time.

“The extensions are now at the detailed design stage and we need about a year for land acquisition,” he said.

Shaipudin said the detailed design stage for the new 42km Kota Damansara-Cheras line would happen by the second quarter of next year adding that this new line would have 32 stations, five of which would be underground.

-The Star Online