SEPANG: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) has today received its fifth train from Bombardier Transportation, having transported by air on the long-range heavy transporter cargo aircraft, Antonov An124-100.
With 84-tonne payload, the delivery of the four-coach Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 marked the first train being transported by air in Southeast Asia, having travelled 15,837km from the United States.
The train arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 2.13pm today after departing on August 22, from the Plattsburg International Airport.
Prasarana president and chief executive officer Muhammad Nizam Alias said the historic train delivery was a testament of the Bombardier-Hartasuma Sdn Bhd consortium in ensuring the project can be delivered on time.
"Rail users in the Klang Valley are eager for these new trains. This is the government's investment to ensure the rakyat get the benefit from this world's class transportation facility," he said at the train delivery ceremony here today.
He said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) facility and efficiency at KLIA had supported the delivery.
Prasarana is expected to receive the remaining 22 units of the Bombardier trains in stages by 2023.
All 27 units will be used for the Kelana Jaya light rail transit route.
With an estimated value of RM1.7 billion, Prasarana's train order was part of its initiative under the "Kuala Lumpur Additional Vehicle 27" (KLAV 27) programme.
The new trains are equipped with enhanced features to provide more comfort to passengers, while ensuring optimal frequency and reducing the waiting time from three minutes to two minutes.