PETALING JAYA: Ten LRT stations between KLCC and Gombak will open at 9am on weekends beginning Aug 9 as Prasarana begins Phase 2 of its signalling system upgrade for the Kelana Jaya line.
The three-hour delayed opening every Saturday and Sunday will be until Sept 14.
Meanwhile, Phase 3 of the upgrade, scheduled from Oct 11 to Nov 22, will affect 17 stations between Lembah Subang and Ampang Park, including KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek and KLCC. This also applies only on weekends and selected public holidays.
Prasarana group chief operating officer (strategy and development) Dr Prodyut Dutt said the upgrade was to replace the Kelana Jaya line’s original Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, which has been in use since 1998.
“We are upgrading the signalling software from version 2 to 8, and replacing obsolete hardware that’s no longer supported by the manufacturer.
“This will significantly enhance safety, enable better train regulation and ensure reliable operations for the next 20 years,” he said.
To ensure service continuity and minimise inconvenience, Prasarana is introducing a combination of shuttle trains, replacement buses and intermediate vans to support commuters affected by the delayed opening.
“A limited shuttle train will operate between Pasar Seni and Kampung Baru at 10- to 20-minute intervals,” said Prasarana chief operating officer Nor Azmi Mohd Yusof.
During Phase 2, he said commuters travelling beyond Kampung Baru would be able to use two dedicated shuttle bus services.
Bus Route 2 will stop at all affected stations between Dang Wangi and Gombak, including KLCC, Ampang Park, Damai, Dato Keramat, Jelatek, Setiawangsa, Sri Rampai, Wangsa Maju, Taman Melati and Gombak.
“Meanwhile, Bus Route 3 will operate as a limited-stop service, halting only at Dang Wangi, KLCC, Ampang Park, Setiawangsa, Sri Rampai and Wangsa Maju. It’s designed to offer a faster alternative for long-distance commuters,” he added.
A fleet of five intermediate vans will also operate between Kampung Baru and KLCC to accommodate passengers needing last-mile transport to the city centre.
“These vans will run continuously from 6am to 9am and no prior booking is required,” said Nor Azmi.
Prasarana estimates that 7,000 passengers will be affected during Phase 2, which involves 10 stations.
For Phase 3, the number of those affected is expected to rise to about 20,000 passengers.
The overall cost of the mid-life upgrade is RM150 million, covering the original Kelana Jaya line from Kelana Jaya to Gombak.
To prepare commuters for the phased closures, Prasarana has published flyers available at all stations and uploaded detailed information to its official online channels.
The National Transport Commission has approved the revised operating hours, which are intended to extend engineering access and speed up the work.
Commuters are encouraged to plan ahead, use the Pulse app to check for live updates and consider alternative arrangements when travelling during the affected weekends.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
