LRT3’s current capacity of 223,560 passengers per day is adequate for projected demand until 2040, says Deputy Minister Hasbi Habibollah.
KUALA LUMPUR: The current capacity of the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) Shah Alam Line, which began operations today, is sufficient to accommodate projected daily ridership through 2040, despite the project’s scope being reduced in 2018, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said.
He said LRT3’s current capacity stands at 223,560 passengers per day, while the projected daily ridership for its first year of operation is 67,000 passengers.
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According to him, the line operates 22 three-car train sets, each capable of carrying 6,210 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD), equivalent to approximately 223,560 passengers daily.
“Therefore, LRT3’s current capacity is sufficient to meet commuters’ needs.
“Ridership projections have also been made for the coming years, with an estimated 126,000 passengers per day in 2030, 219,000 in 2040, and 324,000 in 2050. This means the existing capacity of 223,560 passengers per day is sufficient to meet projected demand through 2040,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in his reply to a question from Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh) regarding the delay in the completion and commencement of operations of the LRT3 project, and its impact on the project’s overall cost.
Explaining the matter, Hasbi said the 37.8-kilometre line connecting Bandar Utama and Johan Setia was delayed due to several system integration issues identified during critical testing. However, the delay did not result in any increase in project costs.
He said integration tests were conducted repeatedly in an iterative process until all issues were successfully resolved to ensure passenger safety and comfort and the smooth operation of the rail service.
“I would also like to clarify that there has been no increase in project costs, as this is a fixed-price turnkey contract. In fact, the contractor is subject to liquidated damages for late completion amounting to RM2.729 million per day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hasbi said the government is also planning to implement the second phase of the LRT3 project after 2030, which will add five stations and seven train sets.
He added that the existing infrastructure has been designed to accommodate future capacity expansion.
“Although the trains currently in service comprise three carriages, the platforms have been built with sufficient space to accommodate four-car trains if required,” he said.
