A malfunction to the ATC was detected yesterday at 3.03pm, leading to RapidKL halting the LRT services between the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Jaya stations

by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / pic TMR FILE

PRASARANA Malaysia Bhd is still looking for the cause of the disruption to the Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) line’s Automatic Train Control (ATC).

A malfunction to the ATC was detected yesterday at 3.03pm, leading to RapidKL halting the LRT services between the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Jaya stations.

At a press conference today, Prasarana CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah said there was a loss of signal between the operation centres and trains, preventing the trains from moving automatically between the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Park LRT stations.

He described this malfunction as a “serious problem” which has never happened before.

“Original equipment manufacturer experts from Thales Group from Toronto, Canada are expected to arrive tomorrow. They will assist the Rapid Rail team to identify short-term and long-term solutions.

“This encompasses tests of the existing equipment and software as we are looking at every angle and we need these experts to identify the issue to keep our passengers safe,” he told reporters at the Lembah Subang Rapid Rail depot.

Rapid Rail has temporarily suspended the LRT services for 16 stations along its Kelana Jaya Line starting today until Nov 15.

Meanwhile, Prasarana will look into ways to compensate and refund passengers who had purchased the monthly My50 passes and have been affected by the disruptions.

Mohd Azharuddin also acknowledged that the Kelana Jaya LRT line needed to be upgraded and that Prasarana had already made plans in this regard.

“The Kelana Jaya LRT line has been operating for nearly 25 years. It is an ageing system and all its parts need replacements,” he added.