Ampang and Sri Petaling lines

Ampang Line
Sri Petaling Line
6-car CSR Zhuzhou Amy articulated LRV leaving Sultan Ismail
Overview
Native nameLRT Laluan Ampang
LRT Laluan Sri Petaling
StatusOperational
OwnerPrasarana Malaysia
Line number3 (orange)
4 (maroon)
LocaleKlang Valley
Termini
Stations36 & 2 reserve
WebsiteMy Rapid
Service
TypeMedium-capacity rail system
SystemRapid KL (brand) Rapid KL
ServicesAmpang Line: Sentul Timur - Ampang
Sri Petaling Line: Sentul Timur - Putra Heights
Operator(s)Rapid Rail
Depot(s)Ampang Depot
Kuala Sungai Baru Depot
Rolling stockCSR Zhuzhou articulated LRV
50 six-car trainsets[1]
Width: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) - narrow profile
Length: 84.0 m (275.6 ft)
Daily ridership182,314 (Q3 2024)[2]
Ridership50.59 million (2023)
65.15 million (2019, highest)[3]
History
OpenedPhase 1: Sultan Ismail - Ampang
16 December 1996; 27 years ago (1996-12-16)
Phase 2: Sultan Ismail - Sentul Timur & Chan Sow Lin - Sri Petaling
July 1998; 26 years ago (1998-07)
Last extensionSri Petaling - Putra Heights
30 June 2016; 8 years ago (2016-06-30)
Technical
Line length45.1 km (28.0 mi)
CharacterElevated and at-grade
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Operating speedAverage: 60 km/h (37 mph)
SignallingSelTrac CBTC
Map
Route of the Ampang and Sri Petaling LRT line

The LRT Ampang Line and the LRT Sri Petaling Line are medium-capacity light rapid transit (LRT) lines in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The combined network comprises 45.1 kilometres (28.0 mi) of tracks with 36 stations and was the first railway in Malaysia to use standard-gauge track and semi-automated trains. [citation needed] The lines are operated as part of the Rapid KL system by Rapid Rail, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia.

A trip from one end to the other takes 41 minutes on the LRT Ampang Line, and 74 minutes on the LRT Sri Petaling Line. The LRT Ampang Line is named after its eastern terminus, Ampang station, while the LRT Sri Petaling Line is named after its former southern terminus, Sri Petaling station.

The LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines form part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System, numbered 3 and 4, and are coloured orange and maroon on official rail maps respectively.

History

[edit]
LRT track around Chan Sow Lin, the interchange station between two lines. The Exchange 106 is visible in the background.

The Ampang Line and Sri Petaling Line were originally known as the STAR-LRT (abbreviation for Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan, which translates to Light Rail Transit System), a single train line originating at Sentul Timur station, with two branches to Ampang and Sri Petaling via Chan Sow Lin station.[citation needed]

STAR-LRT was first conceived in the 1981 Transport Master Plan, when the Malaysian government proposed a network of LRT lines connecting Kuala Lumpur city centre with the surrounding areas. An agreement was signed between the government and STAR in 1992.[4]

The original system (27.4 km (17.0 mi)) consists of 25 stations built in two phases. Phase one (12.4 km (7.7 mi)) consists of 14 stations (Ampang – Sultan Ismail) and a depot near Ampang station. Phase two (15 km (9.3 mi)) consists of 11 stations (Chan Sow Lin – Sri Petaling, and Sultan Ismail – Sentul Timur). The two phases opened in December 1996 and July 1998, respectively.[5][6]

The early phase of Ampang Line uses defunct Keretapi Tanah Melayu Ampang branch and followed closely with the right-of-way from the old Sultan Street railway station which run toward Salak.

The initial plan was for STAR to build, own and manage the STAR-LRT. However, STAR ran into financial difficulties and had to be bailed out by the government.[7] So, in 2002, Prasarana took over the line and renamed the STAR LRT to the "Starline".[citation needed] Operations of the line were subsequently transferred to Rapid KL in 2004 and the line was renamed the LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line in 2005. The LRT Ampang Line assumed the branch line between Sentul Timur and Ampang stations, whereas LRT Sri Petaling Line assumed the branch line between Sentul Timur and Sri Petaling stations.

Extensions

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Main article: Ampang and Sri Petaling lines extension

In 2006, the government announced the LRT Sri Petaling Line extension project. The extension comprised 11 new stations over 17.7 kilometres (11.0 mi) of elevated track beyond Sri Petaling station. This extended the terminus of the Sri Petaling Line from Sri Petaling to Putra Heights.[8] Unlike the original line, which uses the Fixed-block signalling system, the extension uses the Communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling system. As a result, when the first four stations and the next four stations opened on 31 October 2015 and 31 March 2016, the extension ran as a separate train service between Sri Petaling station and Bandar Puteri station.[9][10] Re-signalling had to be carried out on the original line before the extension could be combined with the rest of the line. Thales was awarded a contract on 3 September 2012 to upgrade the signalling system on the original line, and the work was completed in July 2016.[11][12]

Stations

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The LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines run on a common route between Sentul Timur station and Chan Sow Lin station, serving central Kuala Lumpur and the city centre, effectively making all the stations on this section act as interchanges between both lines. The stations have a dedicated platform for trains travelling north to Sentul Timur, and one for trains travelling to Chan Sow Lin, with trains on the respective lines taking turns to stop at the stations at a given time. From the Chan Sow Lin station, the lines diverge and run separately. The LRT Ampang Line travels to its terminus, Ampang station, serving towns in the Cheras and Ampang Jaya regions. The LRT Sri Petaling Line runs to Putra Heights station, where it meets the LRT Kelana Jaya Line, serving southern Kuala Lumpur and Puchong. [13][14]

Stations on both the lines have similar architectural designs and are a mixture of surface and elevated stops. There are no underground stations on both lines. Most of the stations utilise two side platforms, except for 4 stations that use one single island platform. Chan Sow Lin station has 2 island platforms, allowing cross-platform transfers between trains from Ampang and Putra Heights, while the Putra Heights station has 2 side platforms and 1 island platform to facilitate transfers between the LRT Sri Petaling Line and LRT Kelana Jaya Line.

The stations were initially built without accessibility options for physically challenged passengers. Disabled-friendly facilities for most stations on both lines were installed at the beginning of 2012.

LRT Ampang Line

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Code Name Platform type Position Interchange/Notes Opening
 AG1  Sentul Timur Terminus (Side) Elevated Northern terminus. Start of common route between LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line.
6 December 1998;
25 years ago
 AG2  Sentul Side
 AG3  Titiwangsa Interchange station with  MR11  PY17  KL Monorail and MRT Putrajaya Line.

Proposed interchange station with  CC08  MRT Circle Line.

 AG4  PWTC Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  KA04  Putra for KTM Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line and KTM Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line via a 600-metre link bridge.
 AG5  Sultan Ismail Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  MR9  Medan Tuanku for KL Monorail via a pedestrian link bridge.
16 December 1996;
27 years ago
 AG6  Bandaraya Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  KA03  Bank Negara for KTM Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line and KTM Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line via a 250-metre link bridge.
 AG7  Masjid Jamek Interchange station with  KJ13  LRT Kelana Jaya Line.
 AG8  Plaza Rakyat Interchange station with  KG17  Merdeka on the MRT Kajang Line.
 AG9  BBCC–Hang Tuah Surface Interchange station with  MR4  KL Monorail.
 AG10  Pudu Elevated
 AG11  Chan Sow Lin Island Surface Interchange station with  PY24  MRT Putrajaya Line.

End of common route between LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line.

 AG12  Miharja Side
 AG13  Maluri Elevated Interchange station with  KG22  MRT Kajang Line.
 AG14  Pandan Jaya Surface
 AG15  Pandan Indah Proposed interchange with  CC19  MRT Circle Line.
 AG16  Cempaka
 AG17  Cahaya
 AG18  Ampang Terminus (Island) Eastern terminus.

LRT Sri Petaling Line

[edit]
Code Name Platform type Position Interchange/Notes Opening
 SP1  Sentul Timur Terminus (Side) Elevated Northern terminus. Start of common route between LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line.
6 December 1998;
25 years ago
 SP2  Sentul Side
 SP3  Titiwangsa Interchange station with  MR11  PY17  KL Monorail and MRT Putrajaya Line.

Proposed interchange station with  CC08  MRT Circle Line.

 SP4  PWTC Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  KA04  Putra for KTM Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line and KTM Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line via a 600-metre link bridge.
 SP5  Sultan Ismail Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  MR9  Medan Tuanku for KL Monorail via a pedestrian link bridge.
16 December 1996;
27 years ago
 SP6  Bandaraya Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to  KA03  Bank Negara for KTM Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Line and KTM Tanjung Malim-Port Klang Line via a 250-metre link bridge.
 SP7  Masjid Jamek Interchange station with  KJ13  LRT Kelana Jaya Line.
 SP8  Plaza Rakyat Interchange station with  KG17  Merdeka on the MRT Kajang Line.
 SP9  BBCC–Hang Tuah Interchange station with  MR4  KL Monorail.
 SP10  Pudu
 SP11  Chan Sow Lin Island Surface Interchange station with  PY24  MRT Putrajaya Line.

End of common route between LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line.

 SP12  Cheras Side Feeder Bus T401 to  KG21  Cochrane for the MRT Kajang Line.
11 July 1998;
26 years ago
 SP13  Salak Selatan Feeder Bus T402 to  KG24  Taman Midah for the MRT Kajang Line.

Proposed interchange with  CC25  MRT Circle Line.

 SP14  Bandar Tun Razak
 SP15  Bandar Tasik Selatan Island Connecting station, without paid-area integration, to:

Feeder bus T410 to  KG26  Taman Connaught for the MRT Kajang Line.

 SP16  Sungai Besi Side Elevated Interchange station with  PY29  MRT Putrajaya Line.
 SP17  Bukit Jalil
 SP18  Sri Petaling Surface
 SP19  Awan Besar Island Elevated
31 October 2015;
9 years ago
 SP20  Muhibbah Side
 SP21  Alam Sutera
 SP22  Kinrara BK5
 SP23  Kinrara BK3 - - Future infill station
 SP24  IOI Puchong Jaya Side Elevated
31 March 2016;
8 years ago
 SP25  Pusat Bandar Puchong
 SP26  Taman Perindustrian Puchong
 SP27  Bandar Puteri Island
 SP28  Puchong Perdana Side
30 June 2016;
8 years ago
 SP29  Puchong Prima
 SP30  Kampung Sri Aman - - Future infill station
 SP31  Putra Heights Terminus (Island & Side) Elevated Southern terminius of both the LRT Kelana Jaya Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line.

Cross-platform interchange with  KJ37  LRT Kelana Jaya Line.

30 June 2016;
8 years ago

Rolling stock

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The LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines system network fleet consists of the following models:

First generation Adtranz-Walkers EMU

[edit]
A former first generation stock of Adtranz-Walkers articulated LRV trainset, showing the initial four-car configurations

The former fleet consisted of 90 Adtranz standard-gauge light rail vehicle (LRV) manufactured by Walkers Limited of Australia. These trains were electric multiple units (EMU), which draw power from the underside of a third rail alongside the track. All cars in each train were powered. The trains were manned, with driver cabs occupying the ends of the train. The four-car trainset, an initial configuration that consists of only two EMU sets (2+2) of one driving car and one trailer car at both ends were used from the beginning of the operation in 1996. This formation were used in service until the centre trailer cars were added, becoming the six-car trainset, which consisted of three sets of two EMUs (2+2+2) and occupied the maximum platform length of the stations. Each of the two EMU sets at the front and rear consisted of one driving car and one trailer car, while the two EMUs between were trailer cars. Each two EMU sets were not connected to other EMU sets in the train.

The six-car configurations of the Adtranz-Walkers LRV

Each car had 3 bogies: 2 power bogies and one articulated trailer for the centre bogie. The end cars, numbered 1101 to 1260, have driver cabs. Middle cars numbered 2201 to 2230 have a concealed driver control panel, enabling the car to be moved around the depot independently.

The interior of the first generation Adtranz-Walkers LRV

The train interiors were simple and basic. There were no individual seats, only longitudinal bench seating on either side of the train, surfaced in metal, while spaces near the connecting ends of the cars were provided for passengers who use wheelchairs and other assistive devices, with a large amount of floorspace for standing passengers. The rolling stock, which has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1996, were replaced in stages by the new trains between 2015 and 2016.

Second generation CSR-Zhuzhou LRV

[edit]
A second generation stock 6-car trainset of CSR Zhuzhou articulated LRV at PWTC
Interior of set AMY 2 in 2019

The second generation rolling stock of the LRT Ampang Line and LRT Sri Petaling Line currently consists of a fleet of 50 new trains, better known as AMY, that are deployed to increase the capacity of the line and provide a better service. Each of the new trains is six cars long[15][16] and provided by CSR Zhuzhou of China, similar to on the design for İzmir Metro and Buenos Aires Underground 200 Series.[17] These trains are disabled-friendly and include safety features like closed-circuit TV, emergency breakable window, emergency ventilation fan, fire and smoke detection system. The trains are equipped with supervised automatic train operation system (SATO), which claims to be the first railway in Malaysia to introduce such systems. Other elements such as interactive destination display inside the train, non-slipping seats, LCD infotainment, walk-through gangways, and more wheelchair space were included.[18][19] The first trains were put into service on the Sri Petaling-Kinrara BK5 stretch in October 2015, and then until Putra Heights and Sentul Timur in July 2016, and finally the Ampang branch line in December 2016.[20]

Formation

[edit]

Each train consists of six cars, with numbers 1 to 6 labelled sequentially.

Set designation 1 2 3 4 5 6
Formation Cabin Middle Car Middle Car Middle Car Middle Car Cabin

The car numbers of the trains range from 301x to 450x, where x depends on the carriage type. Individual cars are assigned a four-digit serial number by the rail operator Rapid KL. A complete six-car trainset consists of four trailer (T) and two driving motor (Mc) cars permanently coupled together. For example, set 301 consists of carriages 3011, 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015 and 3016.

  • The first digit is always a 3 or 4.
  • The second and third digits identify the set number.
  • The fourth digit identifies the car number, where the first car has a 1, and the last car has a 6.
  • CSR Zhuzhou built sets 301 – 450.

Train control

[edit]

The LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines are equipped with the Thales SelTrac Communications-based train control (CBTC) signaling system, and the iVENCS Control Systems.[21][22][23][24]

The operations are controlled at the Ampang Operational and Control Centre, with two depots located at Ampang on the LRT Ampang Line and Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru on the LRT Sri Petaling Line.

Ridership

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Ampang/Sri Petaling Line Ridership[25][26]
Year Ridership Remarks
2024 46,605,311 As of Sept 2024
2023 50,590,579
2022 44,151,332
2021 21,938,973 Total lockdown
2020 34,715,565 COVID-19 pandemic
2019 65,147,222 Highest record
2018 60,960,445
2017 59,462,032
2016 59,192,907
2015 62,809,412
2014 63,270,432
2013 60,207,397
2012 56,809,978
2011 53,568,672
2010 51,572,177
2009 49,375,077
2008 51,009,480
2007 52,434,883
2006 49,727,909
2005 45,636,997
2004 43,535,471
2003 41,159,817
2002 33,471,344
2001 32,412,191
2000 28,426,201
1999 22,829,543

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

There were three major incidents since the opening in 1996.

Sentul Timur buffer overshoot

[edit]

On 27 October 2006; 18 years ago (2006-10-27) at 7:11am, a six-coach Adtranz LRT train which came in from Ampang overshot the end of the elevated tracks at the end of the stabling tracks at Sentul Timur station, resulting in the front half of the set 1113 dangling in the air about 25 m above the ground. A lone driver was the only one on board when the incident took place. Only Sentul Timur endured service disruption for 20 minutes that day.[27]

Bukit Jalil train collision

[edit]

On 24 September 2008; 16 years ago (2008-09-24) at 6:30pm, two LRT trains collided about 200m from Bukit Jalil station. A carriage of one of the trains involved in the accident hit the rear of the other train, resulting the suspension of the operation on that day. Six passengers were injured in this accident.[28]

Kinked tracks between Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek stations

[edit]
Kinked track under maintenance near Bandaraya LRT Station
Masjid Jamek LRT Station is the starting point of LRT replacement bus
Replacement bus service at Titiwangsa Station

On 27 January 2023, a kinked track as well as cracked viaduct and pier was found near Bandaraya LRT station, and the route between Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek LRT station is closed temporarily for safety reasons.[29] Free shuttle buses are provided in the affected stations. Investigations found out that it was caused by the construction of a 44-storey hotel nearby. It is expected to take up to seven months to repair.[30] However, the repair works have been extended after several other damages have been detected in two other nearby viaducts.[31]

Six stations from Sentul Timur to Bandaraya are closed from 2 April 2023, as the trains used no longer meet the operational criteria, and was unable to return to the depot at Ampang for maintenance, therefore the affected route cannot be operated for safety reasons.[32] Six stations resumed operations from 12 May 2023, while tracks between Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek stations remain closed.[33]

Revised service are as follows:

27 January 2023 — 2 April 2023

2 April 2023 — 12 May 2023

12 May 2023 — 31 January 2024

1 February 2024 — 16 February 2024

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Perkhidmatan Rel Rapid KL Catat Satu Lagi Kejayaan Hari Ini". myrapid.com.my (Press release) (in Malay). 17 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Ridership". Rapid Rail Performance Update. RapidKL. 1 November 2024. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Public Transportation Dashboard". RapidKL. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ An LRT-Bus strategy for greater Kuala Lumpur: What future integration?, page 9-10
  5. ^ Trolley Wire, page 12-14
  6. ^ Light Rail Transit Stations Archived 20 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, page 4
  7. ^ LRT to be bailed out, govt confirms
  8. ^ "George Kent-Lion Pacific JV gets Ampang Line extension job". The Sun Daily. Kuala Lumpur. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Month-long free ride at four new LRT stations – Prasarana". astroawani.com. Bernama. 28 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Prasarana announces partial opening of Sri Petaling LRT line". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. 28 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Thales awarded the contract to upgrade Kuala Lumpur Ampang Line to fully automated CBTC signalling" (Press release). Thales Group.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Temporary suspension of LRT Ampang, Sri Petaling lines". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. 17 June 2016.
  13. ^ Kong Wai Yeng (30 November 2016). "Direct LRT travel between Ampang and Sentul Timur starts tomorrow". Time Out. Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Direct LRT travel between Ampang and Sentul Timur from Thursday". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur. Bernama. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Prasarana: Ampang Line extension Phase 1 on track for October launch". Malay Mail. Kuala Lumpur. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  16. ^ "'Amy' to hit the tracks in October". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  17. ^ "CSR unveils new trains for KL Ampang Line". International Railway Journal. London. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  18. ^ Cheong, Sam (28 February 2014). "RapidKL gets 50 coaches for Ampang Line route". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Ampang Line to get new trains in 2015". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Direct LRT travel between Ampang and Sentul Timur from Thursday | New Straits Times | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News". Nst.com.my. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  21. ^ Thales awarded the contract to upgrade Kuala Lumpur Ampang line to fully automated CBTC signalling
  22. ^ Thales to supply CBTC for KL's Ampang Line
  23. ^ Kelana Jaya Line Extension Opens
  24. ^ "Thales to install CBTC signaling on Kuala Lampur's Ampang Line| Railway Technology". www.railway-technology.com/. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Prasarana's Ridership". 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Statistic of Rail Transport". Ministry of Transport (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Train overshoots LRT terminal and is left dangling | The Star". 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Six injured in LRT accident - Nation | The Star Online". 1 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Ampang-Sri Petaling LRT service disrupted over safety concerns". New Straits Times. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  30. ^ "At least seven months to repair Masjid Jamek LRT stretch, says Transport Minister". The Star. 22 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Ampang/Sri Petaling line service to resume Feb 2024". New Straits Times. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Six stations on Ampang-Sri Petaling LRT line closed from Sunday". New Straits Times. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  33. ^ "LRT service at six stations to resume Friday". New Straits Times. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ampang Line.

Route maps

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