LRT Kelana Jaya line commuters, take note, as 10 stations between KLCC and Gombak will open later on weekends, at 9 am instead of 6 am on Saturdays and Sundays, from August 9 until September 14. According to Prasarana, the revised operating hours is to facilitate signalling system works for Phase 2 of its KJ line upgrade to be carried out. Once that is completed, Phase 3 of the upgrade, which is scheduled from October 11 to November 22, will see the same later openings on weekends (and public holidays) at 17 stations between Lembah Subang and Ampang Park, including KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek and KLCC, the New Straits Times reports. Prasarana group COO (strategy and development) Prodyut Dutt said the upgrade work was to replace the KJ line’s original Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, which has been in use since 1998. “We are upgrading the signalling software from version 2 to 8, and replacing obsolete hardware that is no longer supported by the manufacturer. This will significantly enhance safety, enable better train regulation and ensure reliable operations for the next 20 years,” he said. To minimise inconvenience to commuters, Prasarana will introduce a combination of shuttle trains, replacement buses and intermediate vans during the upgrade work period, said Prasarana COO Nor Azmi Mohd Yusof. He said thata limited shuttle train will operate between Pasar Seni and Kampung Baru at 10- to 20-minute intervals, and that commuters travelling beyond Kampung Baru would be able to use two dedicated shuttle bus services during Phase 2 of the upgrade work. Bus Route 2 will stop at all affected stations between Dang Wangi and Gombak, including KLCC, Ampang Park, Damai, Dato Keramat, Jelatek, Setiawangsa, Sri Rampai, Wangsa Maju, Taman Melati and Gombak. There is also Bus Route 3, which will operate as a limited-stop service, halting only at Dang Wangi, KLCC, Ampang Park, Setiawangsa, Sri Rampai and Wangsa Maju. “It’s designed to offer a faster alternative for long-distance commuters,” he said. He added that a fleet of five intermediate vans will also operate between Kampung Baru and KLCC to accommodate passengers needing last-mile transport to the city centre. These vans will run continuously from 6 am to 9 am during the weekends, with no prior booking required, he said. Prasarana estimates that 7,000 passengers will be affected during Phase 2 of the signaling upgrade works, and this is expected to rise to around 20,000 passengers during Phase 3.
