ERL to get new train sets, boosting capacity by 50%

erl-new-trains

Good news for those who commute to the airports via Express Rail Link (ERL). Six new train sets will start operating on the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services in March 2017, Bernama reports. Each train set consists of four cars and will operate at a cruising speed of 160 km/h.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Ting Lai officiated the unveiling of the first new train set at the ERL depot in Salak Tinggi yesterday, and he said ERL’s capacity will increase by 50% with the six new trains.

He said that ERL had performed very well last year, growing by 20% to an average daily ridership of 30,000 despite rising operational and maintenance costs. “With the increase of 50% capacity, I am confident that ERL will welcome its 100 millionth passenger very soon,” Liow added.

ERL executive chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said the purchase of the new trains from China’s Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd (CRRC) would add to its existing fleet of 12 trains, bringing the total number to 18.

Two sets of the new trains will be for the KLIA Express and the other four for the KLIA Transit, he revealed. This will boost daily ridership from 12k to 30k for the non-stop KLIA Express and from 30k to 60k for the KLIA Transit. For the latter, waiting time will be reduced from 20 to 15 minutes during peak hours, and from 30 to 20 minutes during off-peak hours.

The new train sets also have longer maintenance intervals; and with overhaul cycles extended by 30%, it would translate to more capacity, less downtime, and savings in operating expenditure.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Anonymous on Oct 21, 2016 at 12:28 pm

    Increasing fare & capacity at the same time will not encourage the public to use the ERL.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • More trains, less cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Unproposional, to high with small wheels,looks as Persona or maybe is this new design trend here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Hispeed trains uses small wheels, this is not steam locomotive.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • Yong Tau Fu on Oct 24, 2016 at 8:32 am

      Compare train and a car.. How stupid malaysian can be.. I hope you stop having offsprings..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Oct 21, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    actually its quite efficient and speedy , bt i wish it was abit cheaper , almost like a taxi limo fair nowadays

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • tickets shubbe rm 45 per trip during off peak hours

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • 4G63T DSM on Oct 21, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    I wonder if people actually bother with it.

    if you have more than 1 rider, it is cheaper to take a Grab/Uber and it is door to door service.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Stingy man on Oct 21, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    Malaysian should been given lower fares…stick to old price RM35 for one way journey KLIA Express. Let foreigner or tourist pay more.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Ex VGM staff on Oct 22, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      Yup. That is only usd10 to the Americans. They should pay usd25. Or rm100 one way

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ahmadjr on Oct 21, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    Take uber, the price is about the same, can smoke too

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Hmm... Much Hmm... on Oct 21, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    This is what happens when they build because the want to, instead of build because they need to. The number of pipu requiring the ERL service is limited. The same goes with the HSR, I can already guarantee the same story will arise, because of low passenger counts.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • But more speed,low passenger will increase more HP! It can drift like jdm

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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