KL-Padang Besar ETS – SPAD says all 10 trainsets used in the service to be thoroughly assessed

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More news on the KL-Padang Besar Electric Train Service (ETS), which began operating last week. The Star reports that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has announced it will be thoroughly assessing the reliability, safety and comfort of all the 10 Chinese-made trainsets, with no compromise on the matter.

While recognising many users were impatient to ride the ETS after the double track from Padang Besar (Perlis) to Gemas (Negri Sembilan) was ready, SPAD chief development officer Dr Prodyut Dutt said the commission would not compromise when it came to safety.

The commission said it is adopting this rigid measure as the first Chinese unit (codenamed ETS201) failed the compulsory “fault-free running” test eight days in a row when it was first tested in June, severely delaying its planned deployment schedule. In accordance with international protocols, a trainset has to clock 10,000 km without failing any criteria related to safety and even comfort.

The commission’s rail division head Yuslizar Daud said that ETS201 failed many times when it was undergoing trials from June 11 to 18, but didn’t specify what the actual faults were. Finally, on July 1, ETS201 managed to run 6,600 km without fault and was subsequently displayed to the media last Thursday during Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai’s visit to the CRRC Rolling Stock Centre Malaysia.

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The second train, known as ETS202, is currently being tested near Ipoh. As for the remaining eight trainsets, these are still being assembled, the report states. Designed for intercity passenger services, the CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive trainsets can touch 145 km/h on a track designed for a 160 km/h speed.

The report adds that major components tested in the compulsory trial include the propulsion system, brakes, suspension, train control and management system, auxiliary power supply, automatic train protection system, air-conditioning and operation of doors.

In the running tests, a component either passes or fails, with nothing in between – if a failure is recorded, the odometer is reset and the test starts over until the train covers 10,000 km flawlessly.

Last Thursday, KTM Berhad introduced an Ipoh-Padang Besar service using older electric trains, and on Saturday, July 11, it rolled out a once-daily direct ETS service from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar. The trip takes five-and-a-half hours and costs RM80 one-way for an adult – the service makes stops at Tanjung Malim, Tapah, Kampar, Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Parit Buntar, Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth, Sungai Petani, Alor Setar and Arau.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Black Dog on Jul 13, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    this is the only time which SPAD need to be praise. There is definitely no element of corruption between 2 govt agencies (unless both of them are enemies) putting safety first must be enforced no matter to who

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  • isuzuki on Jul 13, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    That is not a SPAD guy in the pic, is it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • lilytan on Jul 13, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    They probably bought it at lowyat. No wonder it failed.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 20
  • KTM should have got the coaches from Japan instead of China or Indonesia..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 7
  • isaki on Jul 13, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    Hurmmm..jgn kne tipu mcm kt lawyat da le

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 17
  • china-made. what do you expect?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
    • China new usa? on Jul 13, 2015 at 7:01 pm

      What can I see, they have improve a lot in terms of quality, safety and technology for the last 20 years ago. Its normal to have any fault on the train, so SPAD need to assess the train’s quality thoroughly.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Albert on Jul 13, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    For a family of 5,it would mean rm400 to get to Padang Besar from KL,and then taxi fare some more from the train station to your kampong?
    Dont be taken for a ride.
    Double tracking is a rm 20 Billion MEGA PROJECT to enrich the arab and related parties.
    My friend took a ride to Ipoh from KL, hardly 20 percent load factor.Then some more taxi fare to kampong.
    Dont be fooled by the balik kampong full load.Other days,even the dengue mosquitoes have enough time to lay eggs in side the empty train.
    Only stupid bolehland supports will give their thumbs up.Shambolic bastards milking you tax dollar dry,and many still prefer to khayal thinking it is a good deal.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 44
    • MoFaz (Member) on Jul 13, 2015 at 11:01 pm

      express bus = about RM60, normal train = RM43, ETS = RM80 but only half the duration of normal train and safer than bus.
      choose whichever you want, or depending on your budget. travel by bus, by train or by ets you still need taxi fare from station to your kampung… why you calculate that into ETS only? and you talking about load? sometimes bus company also sharing service on certain route due to lack or passengers.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 0
 

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