Effective yesterday, May 1, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) has stopped passengers from carrying bicycles – including foldable ones – on board its Komuter trains plying the Butterworth-Padang Besar route. The ban on bicycles does not affect the Butterworth-Padang Rengas-Butterworth sector, The Star reports.
The rail operator said via a statement that the route had seen a huge increase in passenger load since it was introduced in 2015, prompting the move. “This ban is in the interest of passenger safety and comfort, following public feedback. We thank all the associations and cycling support groups for using our services, and would like to apologise for the latest inconvenience,” the KTM statement said.
“We initially allowed bicycles since the northern sector Komuter service began in September 2015. When we started the service, we only had about 500 passengers daily, but we now have around 11,000 passengers daily,” it added.
The move comes less than a year after KTM launched its Ride n Ride programme to encourage cyclists to bring their bicycles on board. The report added that in the period from June last year to March this year, 10,173 passengers brought their bicycles with them on the northern Komuter.
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Bad idea. They shud just add more MUs or extra rolling stocks. Once all the bike riders go away then business down, what they gonna do? ECRL still in development, so what they gonna do meantime?
all used working condition EMU have been deployed for that route so maximizing the capacity is a crucial role for them as purchasing new emu would really set them back
According to LTL, they r buy new EMUs, but meanwhile for cheaps they can add more rolling stock to current sets. Shud not stop this niche of the business that is growing.
Do they care about making money, yes the load is only certain days of the week and not daily! Should be 2 days a week, remaining 5 days you share about 10 people a coach. KTMB have to rethink again, its complex management but dont shrug it off with the billions ringgit investment of the rakyat.
actually is a fair move. one bicycle takes up standing space for 3 people. however, should the passenger wish to bring their bicycles…they should pay an extra fee, as per similar methods in other nations.
Then supporting eco green enviroment is going to be harder.
want be green…stay at home….dont even go out…if u need to sit on a train its too far
There’s a fee for bicycke to be on board ktm at all the time. though, they are paying too.
my experienced, I have folded by bike neatly and keep it securely while seating inside the coach -mostly at the end of the row where less pax would be.
Why not just add a coach for bike, motorcycle or even dogs with extra fee.
after all the support from the cyclists, KTM just ditched them once their rider loads pick up. How grateful is that!
imagine folks wanting to go green bought new bikes so they can take the KTM but after less than 1 year cannot ride bike anymore.
Just charge extra for the bikes, and on an unrelated matter, please build a new station outside of Butterworth, I really don’t appreciate wasting my time go in-stay-go out of Butterworth everytime travelling up north.
I damm confused. One minute say can bring the next cannot. KTM think users can remember which route allows bicycle & which route disallow? This flip flop only serve to deter cyclist & choose other mode of transport.