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MRT and public transportation update
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Like the many of you, I am very pleased with the operation of the Sg. Buloh Kajang (SBK) KVMRT Line. You see, I worked on the project as early as 2010, even before MRT Corp was established. I still remember the many people who protested against the project, the multiple naysayers, the haters, the porcupines, etc. Of course there were also many supporters. It is always satisfying to see a project that you worked on coming to fruition.
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The Sg. Buloh Kajang KVMRT Line (Line 1) is only one public transportation project. There are many more in the pipeline.
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The KVMRT Sg. Buloh - Serdang - Putrajaya (52 km, 36 stations) (Line 2) is now being constructed. It will be operational in 2022. It will be of great service to people in the Serdang - Putrajaya area and the city centre besides providing much needed interchange stations - with the SBK Line as well as the LRT and KTM Komuter.
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The KVMRT Circle Line (Line 3) is at the planning stage. This line will provided the much needed inter-line connectivity and will be mostly underground. It is expected to be operational in 2027.
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I understand the KVMRT will not stop at Line 3. Expect more lines.
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The construction of the LRT3 from Bandar Utama to Kelang is expected to start this year. This line is about 36km long and will have 25 stations. It will serve Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Kelang. It is expected to be operational by 2021.
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The KL - Singapore High Speed Rail will run at 300 km/hr, will have 7 stations and can take you from KL to SIngapore in 90 minutes. It is expected to be operational in 2026 (why so slow... because too much protocol. If it was entirely within Malaysia, it would be completed faster.
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The East Coast Rail Link Phase 1 from Wakaf Bahru to Gombak will be about 600 km and will have 23 stations - catering for passengers and freight. This is a real game changer for the East Coast - serving many cities in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. Construction is expected this year and will be completed by 2024.
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The East Coast Rail Link Phase 2 from Gombak to Port Klang is currently at the planning stage. It will go from Gombak to Serendah and thereon to Port Klang. It will play a major role in transporting freight efficiently and avoiding congestion at KL Sentral (at the moment, all freight from north or south must go through KL Sentral before going to Port Klang - causing substantial congestion at the central station). (keretapi pun ada traffik jam)
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The KTM Komuter Line from Subang Jaya to Subang Airport (8 km) is nearing completion. This is provide a public transport alternative to Subang Airport which is being positioned as a regional aviation centre.
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The KL – Kelang Bus Rapid Transit which is expected to roughly follow the Federal Highway is currently at the planning stage.
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Some of the recently completed public transportation projects including the extension of the LRT Kelana Jaya and Ampang line, expansion and upgrading of the KTM Komuter lines and the Sunway Bus Rapid Transit. There may be other projects – you go and look for the info yourself.
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The government, I believe, is also looking seriously into public transportation in other cities - particularly Johor Bahru, Georgetown, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu which are experiencing serious traffic congestion. The Penang State government is currently at the planning stages of the Bayan Lepas LRT. The Gemas to JB KTM double tracking project will start soon.
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Just to let you know that I have been working on most of the above projects. BTW, all the above info is publicly available - if you care to search.
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I like public transportation because, like education, it is a great social equaliser. It enables people from all walks of life to be more productive, compete more fairly and gives them better access to economic opportunities. Without effective public transportation, the poor often end up wasting a lot of their time waiting for the never-arriving buses, get stuck in horrendous congestion or waste a large part of their income paying for transportation.
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With efficient public transportation, the poor, the middle class, the millionaire next door, you and I can all reach a destination in the same time. Good public transportation evens out part of the playing field. It vastly improves the quality of life of a large part of the population. Good public transportation allows people to spend more time with their families and friends instead of being stuck in traffic. Good public transportation allows people to be more productive.
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#jomnaikMRT
#publictransportation
#Kajangmove
#savetheporcupines
