ZHUZHOU, March 3 — The bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China will move forward to a new level of technology transfer with the setting up of the train and locomotive factory, CSR Rolling Stock Centre (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Batu Gajah.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd Group Director for Project Development Division, Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff, said the Batu Gajah plant would manufacture international standard train and locomotive with about 30 per cent local content as the requirement under the contract with CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. Ltd (CSR).

He said the factory is expected to be completed in September according to the CSR planning and works are already in progress to complete the factory building by end of this year. 

“The local requirements include employing locals as well as sourcing forseats, CCTVs, LCD screens and handle from local companies,” he told reporters at special visit to CSR to witness the unveiling of the first set of six-car train procured by Prasarana for the Ampang LRT Line Extension Project.

Zulkifli was joined by Prasarana Group Director for Rail Division, Khairani

Mohamed, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Rapid Rail and Prasarana Group Director of Finance Datuk Mohd Zahir Zahur Hussain.

 Prasarana Board Member Datuk Nor Azmal Mohd Nazir and Azrin Abdul Majid, an alternate Director for Prasarana, were also present.

Prasarana, the owner and operator of RapidKL LRT services, has announced that Stage 1 of the Ampang LRT Line Extension Project will begin operations in October from Seri Petaling to Bandar Kinrara.

 Zulkifli said the Ampang LRT Line Extension Project, which would be connected to the Kelana Jaya LRT Line Extension Project at Putra Heights, will be opened in two stages.

 “The Ampang Line extension will be completed in stages with the first stage covering the first four stations by Oct 30, 2015,” he said.

 The second stage will be covering the remaining stations and is scheduled for operations at the end of March 2016. The extended Ampang Line will have 11 stations while the extended Kelana Jaya Line will have 12 new stations.    

 The opening of Stage 1 of the extended Ampang Line will involve new stations. They are Awan Besar, Muhibbah, Alam Sutera and Kinrara BK5, benefiting residents around Bukit Jalil, Projek Perumahan Rakyat Muhibbah and Bandar Kinrara in Puchong.  

Prasarana is buying 50 new sets of six-car train from CSR including 30 sets to replace the current fleet, which have been in service since 1996.

Zulkilfli said the new train sets, which meet the latest international safety standards, would be equipped with universal access features including six compartments for wheelchairs.

The train operations system has also been upgraded to automatic train system with attendant. In addition, the trains will be equipped with dynamic route display map, on-board CCTV and LCD infotainment screens.

“The first set is scheduled for delivery to us in the 4th quarter of 2014,” Zulkifl said, adding that testing and commissioning would commence upon arrival.

The sets would be delivered in batches, he added.

The Ampang Line currently serves some 200,000 passengers daily and is expected to increase the ridership to more than 400,000 with the LEP. — Bernama