Prasarana: KJ line signalling system fault unprecedented, safety a priority

The Kelana Jaya LRT line had to be suspended at 16 stations because there was a recurring and unprecedented breakdown in its signalling system, which rendered the control centre unable to track the train's location, Prasarana said.

The Kelana Jaya line is driverless and runs autonomously.

Offering his "utmost apologies" for the disruption, Prasarana chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah said the line had to be suspended as it could pose a safety risk.

"It's not expected but we had to do it for passenger safety... we mentioned seven days (of suspension) but we will try to finish (repairs) earlier so we can start services as soon as possible," he said at a press conference today.

The issue was first detected last Saturday and it persisted even after repairs were undertaken, he added.

"The problems, traced to an instability in the automatic train control system (ATC), started on Nov 5.

"Preliminary checks found the ATC could not detect the signals between the control centre and the trains, so the trains could not operate autonomously from Kelana Jaya to Ampang Park stations," Azharuddin explained.

The hardware and software, he said, are actually at the end of their lifespan and Rapid Rail had already received allocations of about RM150 million for the first phase of upgrades last month.

However, the breakdown happened before the change could be made.

"This is an ageing system which needs a replacement for all its parts - trains and systems - it is about time to change and we have plans to do that.

"It caught us by surprise that this incident has happened so severely," he added.

Canadian engineers on the way

Azharuddin said Rapid Rail had worked remotely with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Thales in Canada to resolve the matter but a solution could not be found. As such, engineers from Thales are en route from Toronto to assist.

He pointed out that even Thales experts said what happened was "very rare".

"We are investigating all angles but what we know is the system is ageing. We are preparing to replace it and we will do so," he said.

Prasarana is also looking at compensating riders with monthly tickets and will make an announcement on that later.

Azharuddin said in the long term, the company will replace the entire ATC system for the Kelana Jaya line.

The suspension today, he said, is not related to the previous breakdowns, which were mechanical in nature and involved the rolling stock.

In the past year, the Kelana Jaya line had regular delays in frequency due to issues involving tachometers and brake calibre of the trains, he explained.

"It's related, but different issues actually," he added.

However, Rapid Rail is also in touch with rolling stock maker Bombardier on the signalling issue, to troubleshoot the problem.

Free bus rides

Prasarana is providing up to 85 buses for five routes between LRT stations for free, as an alternative transport to affected passengers, with a frequency of 15 to 20 minutes between buses.

The routes are:

- Ara Damansara to Pasar Seni, express via Federal Highway
- Ara Damansara to Kelana Jaya (without going through Lembah Subang)
- Kelana Jaya to Pasar Seni stopping at all LRT in between (with Kerinchi and University stops will be across the street from the station)
- Pasar Seni to Masjid Jamek
- Masjid Jamek to Damai, stopping at all LRT stations in between

However, buses cannot be provided between LRT stations in downtown Kuala Lumpur due to traffic congestion.

"So we suggest if you can walk between two stations, please do. To have a shuttle service between stations is difficult due to the traffic congestion," Rapid Bus chief executive officer Muhammad Yazurin Sallij Muhammad Yasin said.

Prasarana is also reviewing feedback to introduce more routes.

The Kelana Jaya line, which opened in 1998, is the most well-used metro rail service in the country, serving 200,000 riders daily.

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