The first two of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)’s third-gen Electric Train Service (ETS3) trainsets have arrived in Malaysia and have been assembled, the New Straits Times reports, citing Bernama.
The new ETS3 trains will serve the southern sector of the West Coast Line, which is expected to be fully electrified and double-tracked all the way to JB Sentral by year-end.
“If all the tests proceed smoothly, the trains are expected to begin operations by August. Apart from the first two sets, the remaining eight are being assembled in stages at the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) plant in Batu Gajah.
“All 10 sets are expected to be completed and fully operational by early next year,” transport minister Anthony Loke said, adding that currently, over 85% of CRRC’s Batu Gajah plant workforce are Malaysian.
“This high workforce composition not only contributes to the development of the national rail industry, but also puts Malaysia on a solid track to becoming a regional rail engineering hub in the future,” he said.
ETS currently uses Class 91 (first gen, Hyundai Rotem-Mitsubishi Electric) and Class 93 (second gen, CRRC Zhuzhou) trainsets – according to Railway Gazette International, the third-gen trains will be given the designation Class 94.
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I hope they can improve on speed from current 140 km/ hr. When it was introduced, the trains were moving at 160km/ hr.
Never ever has high expectations on ktm narrow meter railways gauge. You wants higher travelling speed you must upgrade to standard railways gauge 1.435 meters
Unfortunately that would require major overhaul to the system. I figure itll be easier to create a new proprietary system and develop hsr instead.
How long is the trip from kl central to JB central? An have special express service with less stop for early morning trip to JB from kl.. I believe there are potential forr business traveller to south to compete with airlines…perhaps even to sg.. do benchmark against travel time to JB and sg