KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is to provide round-the-clock KTM Komuter train services on four routes for three days beginning Jan 30 in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival which falls on Jan 31.
KTM Berhad general manager of operations S. Mahendran said it encompassed 783 services with additional trains on four routes, namely Port Klang-Batu Caves; Port Klang-KL Sentral-Port Klang; Seremban-Batu Caves-Seremban and Sentul-Batu Caves-Sentul.
These services would facilitate the journey of the people, especially Hindu devotees and tourists, to and from Batu Caves where the focal point of the festival would be at the Sri Subramaniam Temple, he said at a press conference here today.
“During the period, the operating hours of the additional trains will extend beyond the normal end-of-service time of 10.50 pm to 5.30 am. Even on Jan 31 and Feb 1, which are public holidays for Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day, respectively, the trains will keep to working day schedules instead of public holiday schedules.
“This allows for the frequency of trips every 15 to 20 minutes according to the working day schedules compared to 30 minutes as per the public holiday schedules,” he said.
Mahendran said that to ensure smooth operation and the safety of passengers, KTMB would deploy 400 staff and enlist the assistance of police personnel and St John Ambulance members.
KTMB anticipated more than 500,000 passengers during the three-day period, he said, adding that it would introduce the cashless payment method and offer free the KTM Komuter Link cards for adults that would have to be topped up with at least RM3.
“50 per cent concession fares are offered to senior citizens, disabled people, students and children aged two to six. Children below two travel free,” he said.
He also said that to prevent congestion at the Batu Caves Station, passengers were advised to take the shuttle train up to the Sentul Station and board a shuttle bus free of charge to the KL Sentral Station and continue their journey by train to their destinations.
“The shuttle trains will run from 1.14 am on Jan 31 to 11.35 pm on Feb 1. These services are in addition to the normal services,” he said.
He also said that during the period, KTMB also provided train services from and to the Batu Caves Station from the Port Klang Station.
However, he added, no additional trains were provided on the Tanjung Malim-Rawang route as was done previously due to the upgrading of the Klang Valley Double Track infrastructure.
Mahendran advised commuters to plan their journey and refer to the train schedules at www.ktmb.com.my, ensure they had sufficient balance in their Komuter Link and Touch ‘n Go cards and to always adhere to instructions and announcements by the KTMB staff on duty.
Meanwhile, KTM Komuter Services general manager Khair Johari Ishak said KTMB had established a strategic cooperation with GrabCar whereby people were given a discount of RM5 to get to 16 selected stations to board trains to Batu Caves.
“The discount offer is only for 1,500 GrabCar users and is limited to two trips. The payment has to be made in cash or with a debit/credit card,” he said. - Bernama