Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is mulling over increasing Komuter fares from 11 sen per km to 15 sen per km, sources told The Star in its report. Apparently, the increase is needed as KTMB chairman Datuk Nawawi Ahmad said that the company is losing money. An announcement is expected to be made today.
To cover operating costs, Ahmad said fares are supposed to be priced at 20 sen per km – the 9 sen difference is said to have brought about losses totalling RM100 million, annually. In another report by The Malay Mail, Nawawi said that an appeal for the hike in fares has been put forward to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), however, it has yet to be approved by the cabinet.
“For many years since 2002, there is no increase at all. Our cost per km is at 20 sen but our ticket price per passenger only covers 11 sen per km. Right now, our operating revenue cannot cover our operating cost,” he said. Ahmad also disclosed that the company no longer wants to depend on subsidies by the government to cover its operating costs.
The chairman is looking to break even with the ticket prices by next year. Ahmad told Bernama, “costs such as salary, electricity, maintenance and others go up each year while the fare has not gone up since the past several years,” the chairman reasoned further.
In addition to that, the increase in fares is required as KTMB is looking to cut down waiting times. At the moment, waiting times clock in at 15 minutes to half an hour. Ahmad hopes to decrease that to one train every seven minutes and 30 seconds.
Also expected today is an announcement on the increase in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and monorail fares operated by Prasarana. More recently, toll hikes have also been registered at 18 highways from October 15. So guys, what’s your take on these hikes?
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making a loss? I can never imagine the transport industry especially those under the government going thru a loss.
clearly a songlap issue.
KTM is more than 100 years old already. It carries a lot of dead wood around. Need to be restructured ala MAS to be profitable again. Must diversify revenue from other sources as well not just from ticket sales.
Increased fare … up to you … what can we do!
Perhaps high density, mixed-use development should be encouraged adjacent at each Komuter station to increase ridership (and revenue). Also improve pedestrian experience and ‘discourage’ them from using cars (which add on travelling cost).
Basically user just have to pay extra ~36.4% fare hike if it is approved. Congratulation fellow Malaysian, you are now “high income” citizens!
No need increase price but increase frequency so that it can attracts more passengers to use KTM. Law of economic scale applies.
Will support the hike if they can revamp the entire LRT service as good as Singapore or the Republic of Korea.
But I guess we already know the answer that even after those hikes we can only expect minimal improvements..
KTM would still be a 2 stars rated mode of public transport.