26 November 2014
Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL), the operator of KLIA Ekspres and Transit high-speed train services, is expecting 50% additional capacity following the purchase of six new trains from China-based Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd (CRC), which will be delivered in stages from May 2016 until November 2016.
Executive chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said with the new trains will add to its current fleet of 12 trains, bringing it to 18 trains in total.
“I’m unable to reveal on the costs involved, but it is a natural cost of doing business especially with the increasing demand since Klia2 is operational,” he said in a news conference after inked a deal with CRC, at Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Eight of the current 12 sets of train operates KL Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Klia2, called KLIA Ekspres, while the remaining four are servicing KLIA Transit route.
The agreement was signed by Mohd Nadzmi and CRC chairman Wang Run and was witnessed by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Nadzmi said CRC was selected to supply the trains via a bidding process, based on its track record, experience and proven ability to deliver orders on time.
"The trains will be Most importantly, the trains will be compatible with ERL's current rail system," he said.
The total ridership on the ERL was 6.4 million last year and the number is expected to grow to nine million this year.
From the six new trains, two will be designated for KLIA Ekspres and the remaining for KLIA Transit.
Each train set comes with four cars and operate at a cruising speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
ERL’s previous trains including system works were supplied by Siemens.
Original Source: www.themalaysianreserve.com
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