Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein needs to take accountability for 8 train derailments that has occurred in the last one year alone in Peninsular Malaysia.
Train derailments not only risk injury and death, but cause tremendous distruption to the transport of people and goods, causing multplying losses.
The recent incident where a goods train jumped the tracks near Angkasapuri on January 9th, 2014 is a case in point that cause massive delays to the KTM Komuter services for the day, because only one of the 2 tracks could be used between the Pantai Dalam and KL Sentral stations.
Poor reliability of the KTM Komuter services in the Klang Valley as was expenrienced on the 9th is counter productive to all efforts in the PM’s GTP to increase the usage of public transportation. This is on top of the reliability concerns of logistics departments nationwide in using rail to transport goods and cargo, especially to our major ports.
There must be an immediate investigation into these 8 reported incidents, as well as the maintenance activities on the tracks & trains. Proper tracks & train maintenance by KTMB is absolutely crucial to prevent any future incident from reoccuring.
Only then can we realisitically hope to rebuild the confidence of the commuting public and private sector to utilize our rail services to its maximum potential.
KTM Reported Derailment and Major Incidents in 2013
- Jan 27, 2013: KTM Passenger Train Ekspress Sinaran Selatan derailed near Kempas Baru, Johor. Six Injured.i
- Feb 9, 2013: KTM Passenger Train Sinaran Utara derailed near Bukit Mertajam, and then caught fire. 183 passengers on board.ii
- Feb 15, 2013: KTM Komuter (not in service) derailed at SS19 Shah Alam.iii
- May 31, 2013: KTM Passenger Train derailed between Mentakab and Mengkarak.iv
- Nov 1, 2013: KTM Komuter Passenger Train derailed at Rawang. 120 passengers on-board.v
- Nov 2, 2013: Locomotive of Passenger Train caught fire near Kuala Kangsar, train from Haadyai to Kuala Lumpur.vi
- Dec 23, 2013: KTM Ekspress Wau derailed between Merapoh and Chegar Perah, no one injured. 400 passenger on board.vii
- Jan 9, 2014: Goods train derailment delays Port Klang – Batu Caves commuter service viii