KUALA LUMPUR: Human error has been cited as the reason behind the accident involving the two LRT trains along the Kelana Jaya line yesterday.
Based on preliminary reports from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the train hostler (driver) who was manoeuvring the empty coach TR40 should have gone southbound, but instead went the opposite direction.
In chronological order, TR40 was moving automatically from Gombak heading towards Subang depot at 8.21pm but it faced technical errors and stopped while approaching the Kampung Baru station.
The train failed to operate automatically as the Vehicle On-Board Controller (VOBC) stopped functioning, he said.
Operations Control Centre (OCC) identified the location of the TR40 and a hostler was ordered to manually drive the train from Kampung Baru station to Dang Wangi station to make way for the other trains being driven automatically southbound.
At the same time, TR81 remain static at KLCC station before it resumed moving automatically at 8.24pm heading towards Kampung Baru station after it received a signal that TR40 had left.
"This resulted in TR40 colliding head on with TR81 ferrying 231 passengers at 8.33pm," he said in a statement today.
Following the preliminary report, a nine-man task force investigation committee has been set up led by the ministry's Secretary General Datuk Isham Ishak.
He said the task force also comprises experts from external parties.
The committee will compile all investigation reports before presenting a final report in 14 days from the date of the incident.
The final report will then be presented to Cabinet, he said.
He also said three days will be needed to clear the accident debris at the site and train operations will now shift to hybrid mode.
"Buses have been deployed to transport the passengers while trains have also been rerouted from the accident zone," he said.
The incident was the first ever to occur in the 23 years of the rail service.
Out of the 213 passengers involved in the accident, 64 of them were rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital last night.
A total 21 are still receiving treatment as of today, while six are in critical condition and 15 partially critical.
Another 43 received outpatient treatment last night, he said.
"As announced by the Prasarana chairman, RM1,000 will be given to each of the 213 affected passengers.
"Prasarana will also bear all medical treatment costs of the victims, including follow-up treatment and compensate any loss of income.