KTMB hopes savings from KVDT for use to improve intercity train service

KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) hopes that the cost saving from the Klang Valley Double-Tracking 2 project, which has been terminated, can be used to improve the inter-city train system.
Its chief executive officer, Rani Hisham Samsudin, said the move was important to ensure good service for the train commuters.
"We believe the government has plans to use the cost saving to upgrade and improve other public transport systems, including services under KTMB.
"This upgrading work has to be implemented as a measure to ensure all rail services are able to operate smoothly, with no more glitches, derailment, delay or cancellation of service," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, when tabling Budget 2019, announced that the KVDT project which was awarded via direct negotiations just before the last general election for RM5.2 billion had been terminated.
The project will be re-tendered via an open tender exercise and is expected to realise a substantial reduction in cost.
The project involves a 110km stretch from Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur to Klang, Salak Selatan to Seremban and Simpang Port Klang to Port Klang.
Rani Hisham also proposed the monthly pass of RM100 for unlimited travel on the Rapid KL train and bus service to be extended to KTMB trains, especially the commuter service.
"Apart from the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Monorail, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and bus services, the commuter service is also used by most city folks, especially for travel in the Klang Valley.
"We hope the same initiative can be given to commuter users to encourage city folks to utilise the public transport system and further reduce traffic congestion," he added.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng when tabling Budget 2019 yesterday said the government would allocate RM240 million to introduce a RM100 unlimited public transport pass to increase the utilisation of public transport.
There will also be a RM50 monthly pass available just for RapidKL bus services only. — Bernama