While Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTMB) is gearing up for the opening of its upcoming KTM Komuter Utara service – which could commence as soon as September – the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has said that it still has to review a number of aspects of the new northern line before allowing the service to operate, according to Bernama.
SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar told the national news agency that besides the all-important safety aspect, the authority is also looking at KTMB’s ability to provide enough coaches to service demand in the northern region of West Malaysia before giving the green light.
“So far, KTMB has submitted the technical and operational documents required for approval from SPAD, and we have also sought additional information pertaining to service operations such as the provision of sufficient number of train coaches as we do not want the service to have any adverse impact on existing commuter services in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is important because apart from the safety aspect, SPAD needs to ensure the large number of commuters in Kuala Lumpur will continue to enjoy good and reliable service when the Northern Komuter line begins its operations,” he said.
A new service coming your way?New route maps found on some KTM Komuter 83 Class EMUs running on existing Komuter lines…
Posted by RailTravel Station on Saturday, 22 August 2015
The news comes on the back of a reported confirmation from KTMB chairman Datuk Nawawi that the service did actually exist, after a photo of the alleged route map – shared on the Facebook page of railway travel blog RailTravel Station – made the rounds on social media on Sunday.
If the image – said to have been found on a number of commuter trains in the Klang Valley – is correct, the new line will connect Gurun in Kedah with Butterworth in Penang and Kamunting in Perak, and will feature 11 stations, including Sungai Petani, Bukit Mertajam and Bagan Serai.
Nawawi told The Sun that the service required approval from SPAD before being allowed to commence, but added that he expected operations to begin in September once the go ahead has been given.
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