Thursday, July 7, 2011

KTM EMU to arrive before Sept 2011


From Alan Ting
ZHUZHOU (Southeast China), July 6 (Bernama) — The first consignment of 38 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) units of six-car trains ordered by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) for commuter services will arrive in Malaysia before September, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
He said the EMU, build by China state owned CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. Ltd (CSR ZELC) were well ahead of the schedule with the first consignment expected to be put into service before the end of this year.
“The delivery will be in stages with full delivery of the total 38 EMUs by June next year,” he told Malaysian reporters here after “the roll out ceremony” for the first of the 38 EMU sets of the six-car trains ordered by KTMB at SCR ZELC plant here.
Also present were the Governor of Hunan Province Xu Shousheng, chairman of CSR ZELC Zhao Xiaogang and KTMB President Dr Aminuddin Adnan.
KTMB has signed an agreement with ZELC, a well known China EMU builder on May 19 last year to purchase custom-build EMU sets of the six-car trains for commuter service in Klang Valley under the government’s National Key Results Areas (NKRA) for public transport. Kong said the custom build EMU specifically to run on Malaysia meter gauge (measuring one metre or 3 ft, 33/8 inches wide) which can travel up to 140 km/h.
He said the purchase of 38 EMUs cost RM1.89 billion and was awarded to ZELC based on the lowest price offered in their bid for the government procurement tender.
“The contract does not include Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)which we are still looking into awarding soon,” he said.
The trains of six sets has a futuristic design, using latest train technology from China with two KTM engineers based here for the past three months to ensure all systems follow the specifications set by KTM.
Each train set is capable of carrying about 900 passengers and this means KTM can double its passenger transport rate as well shorten the waiting period from currently 30 minutes to 10 and to only seven and half minute at peak hours.
Meanwhile, Dr Aminuddin said the 38 new EMUs will be used to serve theroutes between Rawang-Sungai Gadut, Batu Caves-Port Klang, Sentul-Port Klang and Batu Caves-Rawang.
He said with the entry of new EMUs from China, the usage of “EMU hybrid’ will be reduced.
KTMB had introduced the use of EMU Hybrid trains since last year to overcome the problem of cancellation, delays and shortage of trains.
The KTM Komuter EMU Hybrid sets use diesel locomotive power with the help of power-generating car that provides electricity for their air-conditioners, public address system and automatic doors.
Minister of Transport officiated the 1st set of KTM EMU 6 car train in Zhuzhou, China




at 9:53 AM
Labels:
Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )