JP\/x\/Monorail1<\/p>\n
KL monorail trains get more enthusiasts<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nKuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia reached another milestone after the big hit of its own
\nnational automotive products, Proton and Saga, with the recent
\nlaunch of Kuala Lumpur Monorail trains.<\/p>\n
The launch of KL Monorail trains makes Malaysia the second
\ncountry in Asia, after Japan, to have the modern transportation
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
The trains, capable of handling around 35,000 passengers per
\ndirection, speeding on elevated rails run along 8.6 kilometers of
\nrail plying the route on the busiest part of the capital city of
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Since it was launched on Aug. 31, at least 1 million people
\nhave been on board. On the 10th day after it was opened, 100,000
\npeople were transported, according to its official website
\nwww.monorail.com.my.<\/p>\n
After a one-year delay in its operation, the KL residents
\nseemed enthusiastic with the new transport system. It is apparent
\nby the rising number of passengers commuting on the trains that
\nrun on rails 12 to 16 meters above the ground.<\/p>\n
KL Monorail is the brand of monorail that was developed by M
\nTrans Holdings in 1997. The company invested some RM 1.8 million
\n(US$310 million) in the project.<\/p>\n
It has 11 stations whose locations are close to strategic
\nplaces like office blocks, hotels, shopping centers, recreation
\npoints and government offices.<\/p>\n
The station starts from Titiwangsa in the north to KL Central
\nin the south, passing through other stations like Chow Kit, Medan
\nTuanku, Bukit Nanas, Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, Imbi, Hang Tuah,
\nMaharajalela and Tun Sambanthan.<\/p>\n
Some monorail stations are integrated into nearby buildings.<\/p>\n
In Bukit Bintang, for example, the station is integrated with
\nthe second floors of shopping centers on both sides of Jl. Bukit
\nBintang.<\/p>\n
The train is also an effective and enjoyable means of
\ntransportation for sightseeing in KL's golden triangle.<\/p>\n
Safety was once a big concern, particularly after an incident
\non Aug. 16 2002 when one of the Monorail wheels came off and
\ninjured a pedestrian, David Chelliah, a reporter with country's
\nstate-owned Bernama news agency.<\/p>\n
Because of the incident the operation of the KL monorail was
\ndelayed for one year.<\/p>\n
"We gave serious attention to people's concerns about safety
\nissues," said Bakhtiar Jamillee, KL Monorail system managing
\ndirector in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Jamillee said that although KL Monorail was operated manually
\nby a driver, it was fitted with a fail-safe automatic train
\nprotection system.<\/p>\n
"With this system, if the driver runs the train too fast, the
\ntrain is automatically taken over by the system," Jamillee said,
\nadding that KL Monorail was also equipped by advanced and
\nreliable signaling systems and CCTV at all station platforms.<\/p>\n
The stations are also equipped with dedicated communications
\nlines with emergency services such as hospital, police and fire
\ndepartments.<\/p>\n
KL Monorail is also equipped with auxiliary power to dispatch
\nall trains to the nearest station in the event of power failure.<\/p>\n
Larrry G. Williams, general manager operation and maintenance
\nof M Trans KL Monorail System, said all movements of monorail
\ntrains could be observed from eight screens at its control center
\nat Wisma Monorail on Jl. Tebing, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
"We can communicate from here with all drivers of the Monorail
\ntrains," Williams said.<\/p>\n
What may be learned from the KL Monorail if Jakarta seriously
\nwants to develop a similar system is that the new escalated
\npublic transportation system must be integrated with other
\nexisting public transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the monorail is not a competitor to the existing
\nrail-based transportation system. Several Monorail stations in
\nKuala Lumpur and other big cities like Tokyo and Seattle, are
\nintegrated into other transportation modes, including rail-based
\ntransportation, buses and taxis.<\/p>\n
"Since the beginning, the monorail is designed not to become a
\ncompetitor for other transportation modes. Monorail stations are
\nintegrated with stations of light rail transits (LRT)," Jamillee
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Beside KL Monorail, there are several other rail-based
\ntransportation modes operated in Kuala Lumpur, including Star
\nlight rail transit (Star LRT), Putra LRT, Express Rail Link (ERL)
\nand KTM commuter.<\/p>\n
Monorail station meets with Star LRT at Titiwangsa and Hang
\nTuah, with Putra LRT at Bukit Nanas and Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
\nwith ERL, which link Kuala Lumpur KL airport at KL Sentral, and
\nwith KTM commuter also at KL Sentral.<\/p>\n
Jamillee considered monorail the solution for urban transport
\nbecause of several reasons.<\/p>\n
He said it had the smallest footprint among existing tracked
\ntransport systems. Second, the vehicle straddles the narrow
\nguideway beam with the side tires hugging the sides of the beam.<\/p>\n
And third, the vehicle was wider than the guideway that
\nsupported it.<\/p>\n
Now, monorail line is also being developed in the Malaysian
\ncity of Putra Jaya and is expected to completed in 2006.<\/p>\n
The length of Monorail corridor in Putra Jaya is 13.2
\nkilometers with 18 stations. Some 5.1 kilometers of the corridor
\nwas constructed underground. It is equipped with seven stations.<\/p>\n
M Trans Holdings, which receives full support from the
\nMalaysian government, is not only happy with its success at home.
\nJakarta will be the first foreign city to apply the Malaysian
\nTechnology.<\/p>\n
Another lesson from KL Monorail is that it could curb the
\nticket prices as financial sources for the operator also came
\nfrom renting of kiosks at stations and advertisements put on
\ntrains, stations and footprints.<\/p>\n
The fare of a trip along a 8.6 kilometer corridor starts from
\nRM 1.20 (US$0.32) to RM 2.50. While the city bus fare is RM 0.5
\nfor the first two kilometers and then RM 0.05 per kilometer after
\nthat. But it is cheaper compared to a taxi.<\/p>\n
"It is a bit more expensive compared with a bus fare, but I
\ncan save time as out travel is not affected by traffic
\ncongestion," said Imelda, a shop attendant in the Bukit Bintang
\narea.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jpxmonorail1-1447899208",
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