The Kuala Lumpurmonorail system in Malaysia opened August 31, 2003, and serves 11 stations running 8.6 km with two parallel elevated tracks. It connects Kuala Lumpur's main station KL Sentral with the "Golden Triangle". It was built for RM1.18 billion by KL Infrastructure Group Berhad (KL Infra) that holds a 40-year concession to operate the monorail.
The stations starting from north to south are given to the left. [1] (http://www.monorail.com.my/network.gif)
Ridership
The ridership has increased from 341,850 passengers in September 2003 to 1.18 million passengers in August 2004. A ride runs about RM 1.20-RM 2.50 which takes passengers to popular spots in the heart of the city.
As of early 2004, the trains themselves are very small and overcrowded at peak times. The station platforms are much longer than the trains, implying future expansion is possible. At present the trains have only two carriages.
Financial performance
For the financial year ending 30 April 2004, KL Infra posted a net loss of Rm46.24 million on a RM15.08 million revenue. [2] (http://www.monorail.com.my/pressclippings1.htm)
Accidents
David Chelia
Prior to the opening of the KL Monorail an accident occurred involving a safety wheel from a train falling off and hitting a pedestrian walking under the monorail viaduct. The victim, Mr. David Chelia, a journalist by profession, suffered injuries that required hospitalisation. The matter was settled out of court under undisclosed terms.
The monorail company reported that any such accident was "unlikely" as 6 bolts would have to be removed for it to occur. Furthermore a check of all 23 other safety wheels on the train involved did not turn up any other issues.
As a result of this accident, the launching of the monorail was postponed.
The KLMonorail system consists of a single dual-way line that serves a total of 11 stations located along the southeast and northeast regions of Kuala Lumpur that had previously receive insufficient access to rail transport, namely Brickfields, Bukit Bintang, Bukit Nanas, Chow Kit and Titiwangsa.
SPN gave its agreement in principle to the takeover of KLMonorail on December 22, 2006 and a follow-up meeting was held on February 6, 2007 with the government on the takeover of its operational assets and assumption of loan liabilities.
Following the agreement to the takeover, BPM granted to KLMonorail an extension of time until April 29, 2007 for an interest repayment amounting to RM4,244,801.91 which was originally due on December 29, 2006.
It was built for RM1.18 billion by KL Infrastructure Group Berhad (KL Infra) that holds a 40-year concession to operate the monorail.
A more ambitious project is KL Sentral, which would serve as the hub for LRT and monorail services as well as the KTM Komuter, a fast train already operating from stations in the city to Rawang in the north, Port Klang in the southwest and Seremban in the south.
KLMonorail, being the newest addition to the Klang Valley public transport network has come up under serious criticism by the public over the way its stations have been connected to the other systems in the current network.
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