LRT disruption: Full test tomorrow to determine reopening

PETALING JAYA: A full test will be conducted tomorrow on the Kelana Jaya light rail transit (LRT) line to ensure there will be no disruptions to the system before the service reopens to the public.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the opening date of the LRT service for the Kelana Jaya line will depend on the results of testing which will start tonight.

"Tomorrow is a full test day. If everything goes well, a decision will be made by the original manufacturer to guarantee its safe use, following which the Public Land Transport Agency (APAD) will come in to do the final test.

"When APAD finds it is safe as guaranteed by the original manufacturer, it will make a decision after obtaining the results of the test. Whatever safety features that must be complied and whether the opening will be brought forward, depends on the test results tomorrow," he said in a press conference here today.

Wee said if the service can be restored the next day, Prasarana needs to make an announcement at 6 pm to alert the the public and to be ready.

He said the Vehicle Control Centre (VCC) and Signaling Management Centre (SMC) have been identified as the cause of service system disruption.

"These two systems have caused the operation control centre (OCC) unable to detect the presence of trains on the screen

Wee said that after both components had been changed, testing was carried out yesterday involving 37 stations and 24 trains from Gombak to Putra Heights and was found to be positive so far.

He said Prasarana's decision to suspend operations at 16 stations for seven days since Wednesday was difficult but it had to be taken because there was a risk of train accidents.

"I think the decision is right to protect the lives of the people," he said.

Earlier, Prasarana had announced that operations at 16 LRT stations from Kelana Jaya to Ampang Park would be suspended from Nov 9 to Nov 15 after services were found to be unstable since Nov 5.

-- BERNAMA