PETALING JAYA, Sept 2 — Shattered glass window panels on trains plying Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Batu Caves-Port Klang and Rawang-Seremban lines pose a danger to commuters.

Ahmad Zaki, 34, who is in the manufacturing line and commutes to work from Kampung Raja Uda to Angkasapuri, said shattered train windows were a longstanding problem.

“Either it is caused by vandalism or some other reason, they are not replacing the windows. They should do something because it is a safety hazard,” he said.

“What if the glass breaks up while the train is moving at high speed? Someone will get hurt.”

College student Adrian Lee, 23, who travels from the Klang station to Subang Jaya daily, said KTMB should pay more attention to the safety of its passengers.

“It’s not a free ride, we are paying for it,” he said.

“I don’t know how many people take the train daily but I’m sure they (KTMB) make enough to cover their cost. This is disappointing.”

Businessman Chew Sin Long, 51, said it was a shame KTMB had not done anything to replace the shattered windows.

“I take the train at least twice a week from Subang to Port Klang and have seen the windows like this for months. Will they act only when someone gets hurt?” he asked.

Chew said the problem could also be the quality of the glass.

“On some cracked windows, it is obvious the glass was hit by something. But other damaged windows have no signs of impact. Maybe the glass is of poor quality,” he said.

A check by Malay Mail showed a Rawang-bound train with the serial number SCS 35 had 18 broken windows.

Residents living along the railway line claimed they had seen students pick up gravel as they illegally crossed the railway tracks.

A vendor who only identified himself as Rajan said he had seen students pelting passing trains near the Kepong station.

“Everyday after school, groups of students cross the tracks. Some would throw rocks at the trains from that bridge,” he said, pointing to a pedestrian bridge over the tracks.

Student Lim Bee Hui, 24, who takes the train from Segambut, said the problem was getting worse.

“If it’s one or two windows, I can understand. But I have seen trains with a dozen broken windows,” she said.

“KTMB should take action against anyone throwing objects at trains and fence up the area next to the tracks.”

A KTMB conductor who requested anonymity said he experienced a stone-throwing incident  last year. 

“I was sitting in the train when I heard something and the next thing I knew I was covered in glass. Thankfully I was not injured,” he said.

“Children in some areas pelt trains using slingshots. It is a safety hazard although there are two layers of glass.

“In some trains you can see that the cracked glass is the outer layer. The windows are only replaced when the inner layer breaks.”

He said there were more incidents during school holidays.