The Transport Ministry aims to increase the usage of public transport to 25 percent by 2015 from the 16 percent currently, in a bid to reduce road traffic.

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri said at present, there were more than 18 million vehicles on the road nationwide, causing traffic jams especially during the festive season.

"The ministry intends to increase the public transport capacity in the hope of reducing congestion on roads, especially during the festive season and also to reduce carbon emission," he said after launching Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd's (ERL) ‘KLIA Transit to LCCT’ service here today.

He said more than eight million vehicles are expected to be on the roads during this Hari Raya festival.

Commenting on the proposed Ampang Line LRT extension from the Sri Petaling station-Putra Heights by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, Abdul Rahim said it was part of the government plan to enhance current rail services in the country to other destinations as well.

"It is also to encourage people to use public transport rather than private cars," he added.

The proposed LRT extension will pass through the Kinrara and Puchong areas before ending at Putra Heights, a distance of 17.7 km with 13 new stations.

"The railway in Malaysia has evolved as the backbone of the public transportation network. Rail operators have done much to establish this," he said.

Now you go to LCCT by rail...

Earlier, Abdul Rahim and ERL chief executive officer Noormah Mohd Noor officiated the new service.

Passengers heading to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) may now board the KLIA Transit fast train from KL Sentral to Salak Tinggi and be ferried directly to the LCCT on a dedicated shuttle coach.

The new service, Noormah said, is expected to increase passengers on the ERL by 10 percent by the end of this year.

She disclosed that at present, about 7,000 passengers used the KLIA transit everyday.

- Bernama