KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will conduct a feasibility study to introduce tram services as an alternative mode of public transport in the capital which is expected to be completed by the end 2017.
According to the Land Public Transport Transformation Journey (PTPAD) 2010-2015, the study was to enhance the habitable elements of Kuala Lumpur due to the nature of the tram that was more efficient and environmentally friendly.
The study will focus on the actual demand of the passengers, economic projection as well as financial and technical measures needed to support the operation of the tram services.
This initiative was stated in the Urban Rail Development Plan, which was a part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur Land Public Transport Master Plan to enhance the travel experience using the rail system.
In addition, a study on the improvement of the First-Mile and Last-Mile Urban Rail for Greater Kuala Lumpur will also be conducted to enable the long term planning such as coverage and connectivity with other modes of public transportations.
The By-laws will also be proposed to provide the framework to ensure the use of rail assets optimally.
In another development, the report also said the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad's (KTMB) Klang Valley Double Tracking (KVDT) project was expected to be completed in November 2019.
The project involved the preparation of the new tracks and replacing old equipment, the installation of radio systems, the upgrading of 16 stations and the construction of a substation in Sentul, here to generate additional electricity supply and also to increase the frequency of trains.
The KVDT project will be implemented in four phases such as the phase 1A from Rawang to Simpang Batu; Phase 1B (Kuala Lumpur-Simpang Port Klang); phase 2 (Simpang Batu - Kuala Lumpur); Phase 3 (Sentul - Simpang Batu) and phase 4 (Simpang Port Klang-Salak Selatan).
The PTPAD report was issued in conjunction with the annual Land Public Transport Symposium 2016 and launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. --BERNAMA