LRT: PM launches 1 Malaysia train (Update #2)

Updated with FAQ about the 4-carriage trains (Courtesy of RapidKL’s website)!

TRANSIT was present on 31 March 2010 when Prime Minister Najib Razak officially launched the 1Malaysia 4-carriage LRT train at Subang Depot at approximately 4:00 pm.

[TRANSIT: Scroll down for a nice .pdf portfolio show of the trains]

The Prime Minister boarded a 4-carriage train at Bangsar station next to Prasarana HQ and traveled all the way to the Subang Depot. He was accompanied by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Izzuddin Dali as well as the Director General of Operations for MOT and Prasarana Group Managing Director Idrose Mohamed.

According to the Prime Minister, “It [the trip] was a very pleasant experience and the views were beautiful too.”

He also wondered aloud “why there are those who had no problem using public transportation when overseas but when back here, would never take the LRT or bus,” he told reporters.”

[TRANSIT: Before you react, as some already have, Najib did go on to mention some of the specific challenges that had to be dealt with – and that Prasarana was dealing with these challenges.]

The Prime Minister also mentioned that an attitude shift was necessary to get more Malaysians to understand and appreciate the advantages of public transport instead of collectively dismissing it.

[TRANSIT: Frankly, there are a few attitude shifts that need to happen – amongst the public, the government, the media and the operators. TRANSIT’s reason to be is to help that shift happen.]

The following articles mention the launching:

• Najib impressed by service improvement benefiting city folk (The Star);
• Selective extension of LRT lines (The Star – feed from Bernama);
• Najib Says Mental Shift Needed For Greater Usage Of Public Transportation (Bernama)
• ‘Public transport is for all’ (NST)

TRANSIT Says:

TRANSIT would like to thank the Group Managing Director of Prasarana and Prasarana and RapidKL staff (especially those in the Communications Group) for the invitation and the gracious welcome at the launching.

Aside from the launching, we were able to hold numerous discussions with staff of Prasarana, RapidKL, RapidPenang, and various government ministries and agencies – including the senior management of the new Public Land Transport Authority (SPAD) and many of the staff of the contracting, planning, and engineering companies that work with Prasarana and RapidKL.

We also managed to meet with members of the Mobiliti Association of Selangor and BEAT-KL to discuss accessibility issues, and even take a quick (self-guided) tour of the depot.

TRANSIT would also like to express our sincere appreciation of Group Managing Director Idrose Mohamed and those Prasarana, RapidKL and RapidPenang staff who are always interested in feedback and look at critical analysis, criticism & feedback in a positive light instead of taking it as a put-down.

As Idris Jala, the CEO of Pemandu has said, “Feedback is a gift”.

Enjoy the photo slideshow which has 27 photos of the launching. We will also post a few of our photos from the Lembah Subang Depot soon – hopefully as a prelude to a real depot tour sometime in the near future.