Friday, April 20, 2018

Klang Valley public transport ridership

As many have pointed out there has been many disputes before on the ridership figure for Klang Valley public transportation.

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) or Ministry of Transport has deliberately published annual ridership for Klang Valley instead of average daily ridership. We seen a change in 2017 when they tweaked the report presentation.

Inequitable figures from SPAD

A contradicting figures from a same source but different year. A clear cut distorting figures from 17% (2010) to mere 11% (2010).

While we are not "briefed" on why the revision but we have reasons demonstrate that public transport user have doubled just to justify the huge spend on MRT.




The false representation must be addressed as looming RM140 billion expenditure for MRT is worrying trend.

Average daily ridership for 2017 ¹

Public transport ridership of Klang Valley

Kelana Jaya Line carries more than 272,000 passengers (39.3%) out of the total 694,000 recorded daily.¹

We do not have the complete statistics for rest of the lines, but the estimated share of Sungai Buloh ‒ Kajang Line is 13.7% (based on 101,024 before the full line opened to public).

The most likely of 15% share for MRT Line 1 will only see 104,109 passengers per day for the RM21 billion infrastructure project.

Ridership from January to August ²

As announced in October 2017, it has recorded a ridership in total 638,608 from January to August during the year. This total number however did not include MRT Line 1 ridership, which recorded an average daily ridership of 101,024 as it was only launched during the year.

The top three rail lines are Kelana Jaya Line carries 271,250 passengers, Ampang Line with 184,931 passengers and KTM Komuter with 103,074 passengers.

If we are to add the MRT Line 1, total ridership should come around 739,632 but for overall year in SPAD report shown is 694,057 (included MRT).

Shortfall of MRT Line 1 target ³

MRT Line 1 targeted 442k ridership on its opening year, which the current capacity doesn't permits. The forecast of MRT Line 1 ridership will increase to approx. 480k per day in 2022 once MRT Line 2 is operational.

Kelana Jaya Line current daily capacity is about 240k per day which resulted over-capacity during peak hour. Its capacity is about the same as MRT Line 1 (with their current train-sets).

Will MRT Line 1 with the 58 train-sets able to service the expected ridership? The max hourly capacity per direction of 20k is about the same as Kelana Jaya Line now.

Major concerns are huge budget overrun and actual ridership hits only 75% of forecast first year ridership.

Comparison with Singapore

Singapore public transport ridership

While Singapore continues to be forefront in Southeast Asia with whooping 7 million ridership daily, Malaysia has to learn from them on optimising the infrastructure and realistic future plans.

References:
SPAD Annual Review 2017 ¹
Average daily ridership Jan-Aug ²
LTA tableau

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang (SBK) Line interchange stations

Under the newly launched SBK Line, there are a total of 3 interchange stations:

  SBK16   KJ14  Pasar Seni
  SBK17   SP8  Merdeka
  SBK22   AG3  Maluri

and 3 connecting stations

  SBK15   KJ15  Muzium Negara
  SBK18A   MR5  Bukit Bintang
  SBK35   KB06  Kajang

Travellers can enjoy seamless transfer between the MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang (SBK) Line and the LRT Line without them needing to go through fare gates or buy new tickets.

However for connecting stations, the exit (tap out) from MRT station is needed before entering (tap in) the LRT or Monorail station.





Saturday, December 17, 2016

Retailers for Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line (SBK)

There are various facilities provided at concourse level of MRT stations along the Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line (SBK).

15 companies have successfully bid for retail space at 19 elevated stations along the line. They were selected out of 49 companies.

Few retailer brands have make foray into new business environment including Family Mart, Watsons, Circle K, Noras Delight and Chatime.

MRT Corp is expecting an annual revenue of RM2.5 million (USD595,912) from the rental of retail spaces.

The table below is only for Phase 1 of SBK Line as at 15 December 2016.

StationBrandCategory
Sungai BulohCircle KConvenience Store
Noras DelightFood & Beverage
Kampung SelamatmyNews.comConvenience Store
ChatimeFood & Beverage
Kwasa SentralWatson'sPharmacy
7-ElevenConvenience Store
Kota DamansaraNoras DelightFood & Beverage
myNews.comConvenience Store
Surian7-ElevenConvenience Store
Mutiara DamansaramyNews.comConvenience Store
Bandar UtamamyNews.comConvenience Store
Taman Tun Dr IsmailFamily MartConvenience Store
Pusat Bandar DamansaraWatson'sPharmacy
7-ElevenConvenience Store
Semantan7-ElevenConvenience Store
RotiboyFood & Beverage

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line rolling stock under utilised

The upcoming MRT Line 1 of Kuala Lumpur City, Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line will be using Siemens Inspiro as its rolling stock with only 20 4-car trainsets configuration.


Capacity of the train is 300 passengers per car (approx. 1,200 passengers). In comparison of Singapore's North South Line  NSL  and East West Line  EWL  trains (Siemens C651), they carries around 1,920 passengers (320 passengers per car).


Thus, it clearly shows that SBK Line will only carry 93% of the SMRT train capacity.

Comparison table

6-car CSR Zhuzhou LRV trainsets ¹ – 1,308 passengers
4-car Bombardier Innovia Metro ART 200 ² – 944 passengers (236 pax per car)

MRT Corp Sdn Bhd will have to answer why are we only using 4-car trainsets and not 6-car as other major MRTs system are using and the reduced capacity is only marginally higher than a cheaper LRT system.

Remarks
¹ Sri Petaling Line
² Kelana Jaya Line

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Maluri MRT station connection to Sunway Velocity

Sunway Velocity has opened doors to public on December 8 but the MRT connection link from  SBK22  Maluri station is not accessible yet and will only begin by July 2017.


The main theme of the station is the New Generation style.

The MRT station consists of 4 exits (Exit A to AEON Maluri, Exit B & C to Jalan Cheras and Exit D to Jalan Jejaka.


Concourse level of Maluri MRT station

Travellers who wished to interchange from MRT  SBK22  to LRT  AG3   will have to take Exit C or follow signage to access paid-to-paid link bridge.

Station design