Kelana Jaya LRT line in full swing Monday morning

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) line resumed its operation today after being suspended for seven days, from Nov 9 to 15, after it was found to be unstable, was in full swing this morning.

Checks by Bernama at several LRT stations, including Masjid Jamek and Ara Damansara, found that commuters were happy to use the service but hoped that improvements would be made in the future to avoid repeated disruptions.

An Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) teacher, Hazwani Abdul Hamid, 25, said she has been using the bus to travel from her house in Taman Melewar, Gombak to her workplace at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah since the service was disrupted last Wednesday. 

She spent almost one to two hours in the roundtrip compared to just 25 minutes using the LRT.

“When the LRT operation resumed, I am happy. But, I hope that there are improvements, especially in terms of early notification of disruptions. This is because once I was on the train when it stopped suddenly. Many passengers were panicked and worried about their safety,” she told Bernama.

Restaurant assistant, Nor Amini Nadirah Azahari, 19, shared similar views and said LRT was her main mode of transport for her daily routine and any disruption would result in her having to spend a lot of money to get to a destination.

“I work at Masjid Jamek LRT station but sometimes I go to Cybernetics International Technology University in Taman Maluri, Cheras to attend classes," said the part-time student majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Similarly, 20-year-old PICOMS International University student Muhd Aiman Shahrul Nizam hoped that this was the last time the LRT service was disrupted on this stretch.

"The service on the Kelana Jaya line route is always interrupted and when there is a problem, it is not announced well in advance, although it is necessary to help us plan alternative routes, especially during peak hours," said Muhd Aiman who commutes by LRT from Kampung Baru to his university in the city centre.

The media previously reported that a total of 16 LRT stations from Kelana Jaya to Ampang Park were suspended for seven days from Nov 9 to 15 following a malfunction of electronic components in the Automatic Train Control (ATC) system.

However, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong yesterday said the service will resume full operations at 6 am today, two days earlier than expected.

For the affected users, ticket compensation for seven days will be provided even though the service suspension is for five days.

-- BERNAMA