New MRT line

Update: Please note, this post refers to the Kota Damansara – Cheras MRT line as proposed in 2009, and not the Sg. Buloh – Kajang MRT line proposed in 2010 (which went to public display on 14 Feb 2011).

A great deal of discussion has already been taking place about the Kota Damansara to Cheras Line.

The Kota Damansara – Cheras line is being touted as the first ‘MRT-capacity’ rapid transit line to be built in the Klang Valley. Some commentators are already starting to use the term ‘MRT’ instead of ‘LRT’.

The map above shows an approximation of the proposal for the line and we at TRANSIT anticipate some changes in the actual line.

Right now we do have some information about the expectations for the line which we are happy to share with you.  For more information, keep on following TRANSIT. If you are interested, you can find a discussion on Skyscrapercity.com at this link.

General Expectations

• Be a project in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) from 2010-2014;
• Extend from Kota Damansara to Plaza Phoenix in Cheras;
• Cost approximately RM25 billion (according to current plans);
• Start serious planning and design works in 2010-2011;
• Start construction in 2012 with completion targeted for 4-5 years.

Operations

• Follow TNB, road and river allowances wherever possible to cut costs;
• Have an initial capacity of approximately 45,000 passengers per direction per hour;
• All public areas of the stations (including concourses, platforms and outside areas) to be fully accessible;
• Operate in a tunnel along Jalan Tun Sambanthan (from the Brickfields YMCA) and through KL, a distance of 5.9km.

Integration & Connectivity

• The line will probably be extended from Kota Damansara to Sg. Buloh (allowing ‘integration’ with KTM Komuter service and the Sg. Buloh Integrated Transport Terminal);
• The line will connect to the Kelana Jaya line with a direct transfer at Bangsar Station as well as a less direct connection at the NU Sentral project;
• There may or may not be a link between the line and the Kelana Jaya LRT at Pasar Seni and Masjid Jamek.
• The line will connect to the KL Monorail at NU Sentral, with another less direct connection at Imbi station;
• The line will connect to the Ampang LRT, probably at Maluri station.

Routing

• Operate mostly elevated with a 5.9km tunnel along Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields (from the YMCA) and through the centre of KL and the Golden Triangle;
• From Sg. Buloh and Kota Damansara to Petaling Jaya the line will be elevated. It will follow Persiaran Surian to Mutiara Damansara.  Then it will follow the LDP to Bandar Utama and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. From TTDI, the line will follow the Sprint Highway to Pusat Bandar Damansara;
• From Pusat Bandar Damansara the line will likely follow Jalan Ma’arof in Bangsar, Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, and Jalan Raja Chulan in KL;
• The current proposal is to have the tunnel start at the Brickfields YMCA but it may be necessary to tunnel through Bangsar given the hilly topography and the fact that this area is more residential (not to mention, “upscale”). Of course, the costs of construction and land acquisition will be significantly increased;
• The line will have a station at the NU Sentral project but will not be directly connected to KL Sentral.

An aerial photo of the potential route of the line (according to what was published in The Star) has already been placed on Google Earth.  You can see the images in the gallery below.