Commuter train maintenance depot to be built in Seremban

June 21, 2012

SEREMBAN, June 21 — In line with the acquisition of 38 new commuter train sets, the government has agreed that a special maintenance depot be built at the Seremban railway station.

A commuter train at the Batu Caves station. — Picture courtesy of ktmkomuter.com.myTransport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said this would be the latest maintenance depot to specially service the new 38 commuter train sets.

“The depot project, located on a 16.34ha site, will include the Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) depot, satellite store, cleaner store, 15 lines (6km each) of trackwork, train electrification, signalling and depot equipment,” he told reporters here today.

Kong said overall, the depot would be built based on the train depot in Northampton, England.

He said the depot would be able to do maintenance work on six sets of commuter trains and stabling of 19 sets at any one time.

Kong said the government had appointed IJM Construction Sdn Bhd through open tender to build the depot.

“IJM Construction is required to complete the construction of the depot within 18 months by the end of September 2013 at a total cost of RM119.64 million,” he said.

On the new 38 commuter train sets imported from China, he said to date 17 sets were in operation and five more sets were expected to arrive next week.

“After this, the remaining 16 sets will arrive in stages until the year-end. Overall, at the moment, 40 commuter train sets are in operation, providing service to about 100,000 passengers daily.

“With the addition of the 38 new sets to the existing ones, we hope to reduce waiting time to 15 minutes and less,” he said. — Bernama