Kuala Lumpur Airport Rail Link To Open In 2002 - Brief Article

International Railway Journal, August, 1999

Commercial operations are due to start in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 on the rail-air link between the Malaysian capital's new Sentral station and international airport.

CONSTRUCTION is now in full swing on Express Rail Link (ERL), which will offer a non-stop service to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and will be associated with a Commuter Rail Service (CRS) stopping at three intermediate stations at the townships of Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya, and Salak Tinggi.

Express Rail Link is a key component of the Malaysian government's effort to enhance KLIA as a transport hub for the region, and the new Sentral station, as a transport hub for Kuala Lumpur. Sentral station is being built as an integrated transport terminal for the ERL-CRS services, Malayan Railways (KTMB) mainline and commuter services, Putra automated light metro, and the KL Monorail.

Express Rail Link, a private company owned by strong and entrepreneurial Malaysian shareholders--Tabung Haji Technologies and YTL--was awarded the concession to finance, construct, operate and maintain the ERL-CRS system for 30 years by the government of Malaysia on August 25 1997.

However, the economic downturn in Asia has affected the overall cost of the project and forced the company to review its financial position. The high volatility in foreign exchange coupled with limited availability of local funds delayed implementation, but strong support from the government, both directly and indirectly, has made it possible to re-activate the project.

The total project cost of Ringgits 2.4 billion ($US 631.6 million) is being financed by a combination of equity (up to Ringgits 500 million), a Ringgits 940 million loan from a local financial institution, Bank Pembangunan dan Infrastruktur Malaysia, and export credit financing facilities totalling DM 665 million ($US 355.8 million) from four German financial institutions.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded in May to the SYZ Consortium, a joint venture between Siemens, Germany, Siemens Electrical Engineering, Malaysia, and Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay, Malaysia.

Work In Full Swing

With the financing facilities and construction contract in place, the consortium is proceeding actively with both the civil and engineering works in order to meet the commercial operations deadline in 2002. ERI is expected to start operations by April 2002 with the CRS opening two months later.

The 57km ERL-CRS route will be constructed with bi-directional double tracks throughout. The route passes through the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur parallel to the existing KTMB alignment and branches off through the Universiti Putra Malaysia. From here, it follows the so-called Multi-Media Super Corridor to the government's new administration centre at Putrajaya, and then Salak Tinggi where construction for the depot is in progress, and onwards to KLIA. Loops at intermediate stations will allow express trains to overtake commuter trains.

ERL will provide a 24-hour non-stop service with a journey time of less than 30 minutes and a 15-minute frequency during peak hours. With a seating capacity of 156 passengers per four-car train, it will offer an ambience similar to airline business class.

CRS on the other hand will serve the market catchment around Bandar Tasik Selaton, Putrajaya and Salak Tinggi with a journey time of 37 minutes at half-hour frequencies during peak hours. The four-car trains, outwardly the same as ERL trains but with a different internal layout, will accommodate 540 passengers including those standing.

The trains will be fully air-conditioned with baggage racks provided for air passengers. ERL trains will be equipped with onboard information, a toilet designed to cater for the disabled, and on-board customer service.

The KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT) located within Sentral station is being constructed to provide the check-in, check-through and other facilities typical of an airport terminal. Departing (outbound) travellers will be able to check-in their baggage at KL CAT, board the train and on arrival at KLIA, proceed to immigration clearance and to the departure gates. ERL claims to be the first rail link to provide a full scale check-through service at a city terminal. Once operational, inbound travellers may check-through their baggage at the point of embarkation, then reclaim their baggage and go through customs clearance at KL CAT.

Once ready, KL CAT will provide facilities including check-in counters, information on flight and train schedules, customer service, information and ticket counter, ticket machines, retail outlets and facilities for the disabled.

Substantial work at KL CAT and the Putrajaya Wetlands area had been completed prior to the signing of the EPC contract. Since December 1998, work has also been underway at Salak Tinggi, the site of the depot and operational control centre. Civil works are now proceeding in other areas covering earthworks, drainage, and bridges including a 1.9km bridge across Sungai Labu near KLIA.