LRT3 Shah Alam Line expected to begin operations by December 31, now in final phase of testing – Loke

The government is looking to keep to its target of launching the LRT3 Shah Alam Line by December 31, said transport minister Anthony Loke. He however indicated that the final date for the project’s opening had not been set, and will only be confirmed once all testing phases meet the authorities’ satisfaction, the New Straits Times reports.

“The latest target date for the operation of the LRT3, or Shah Alam line, has been revised to December 31. However, this depends on the results of our testing. This is because the final testing phase currently underway is one of the most crucial aspects for the rail service,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He said trial sessions have been carried out over the past few weeks to ensure that there would be no technical disruptions once the line opens, and that additional tests, including assessments of operational readiness, would follow. “This includes the stations, rail system, personnel and so on. We have the period from now until December 31, slightly more than a month, to complete them,” he said.

Loke added that Rapid Rail has hired 956 workers for the project, covering roles in operations, engineering, technical and other areas to ensure smooth and safe services once the line was operational.

On August 26, Loke had announced that the line, which had originally been slated to begin operations on September 30, had been given a new year-end timeline. He said that several tests were still required, causing the slight delay.

The 37-km line will feature 25 stations from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia, with interchanges at Bandar Utama (Kajang MRT) and Glenmarie (Kelana Jaya LRT). It has been subjected to various changes since the 2018 government change, mostly to do with down-scaling and cost-cutting. When it is up and running, the rail project is expected to benefit more than two million residents in the Klang Valley.

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