Commuting to the city via public transport is going to get a whole lot easier.
Big plans are in store for the public transportation system in Greater Klang Valley – Unbeknownst to many, the new MRT 1 and under-construction MRT 2 (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya) might receive numerous sister rail lines in the next decade or so.
In October 2016, the state government disclosed details on the Selangor Public Transport Masterplan, an ambitious development roadmap.
The master plan which includes 12 proposals, will see the state government lobbying the federal government for MRT, LRT and KTM projects – all which are to be completed by 2035, should they be approved.
The long-term plan which aims to expand existing rail lines to connect the whole of Greater Klang Valley is based on a “wheel and spoke” design, very much similar to a (semi) circular shape of a wheel with spokes cutting across to the radius to the centre.
Here are 5 of the rail proposals you should take note of:
1. MRT line 3
Also known as Circle Line 1 due to its circular track, MRT 3 will be built entirely underground. Construction is expected to commence in 2022 and completion is scheduled for 2026. The exact locations of the stations are yet to be confirmed but a rough estimate could be deduced based on the boundary lines set. [P3 – Dotted Yellow Line]
RELATED: MRT Line 1: The good, the bad & the Ugly
It is expected to cover Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Ampang Jaya, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Tun Razak Exchange, Bandar Malaysia, KL Ecocity, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Mont Kiara and Sentul. The MRT Circle Line will be integrated with the other two MRT lines.
2. Proposed extension of MRT line from Sungai Buloh to Klang
Interestingly enough, these are not the only updates for the MRT lines. There is a proposed extension to the existing MRT Line 2 by the federal government. The route will connect Sungai Buloh and Klang, as can be seen in the image above. [P8 – Yellow Line]
The LRT system will be seeing the introduction of two other new routes as well:
3. LRT Circle Line 2 North
This route will extend from Rawang to Shah Alam, cutting through major residential neighbourhoods such as Kota Elmina, Bandar Saujana Utama, Elmina West and Subang Jaya. [P6 – Yellow Line]
4. LRT Circle Line 2 South
Whereas, the southern line will connect Shah Alam to Putrajaya, passing through Shah Alam and Kota Kemuning. Refer to the above image. [P7 – Dotted Yellow Line]
5. Proposed extension of existing LRT lines
The proposed extensions will connect existing LRT stations to new areas in Greater Klang Valley. The first one will connect Putra Heights (Sri Petaling & Kelana Jaya LRT Line) to the future LRT Circle Line 2. [P11 – Dotted Yellow Line]
The second proposed route, which is 22 km long, will begin at the existing Gombak station (Kelana Jaya LRT Line) and run through Selayang and Kepong. [P4 – Dotted Yellow Line]
Currently on Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s agenda is the construction and completion of the LRT 3, a new LRT line consisting of 25 stations running from Bandar Utama to Klang, where its final station will be Johan Setia. Route mapping and pre-development matters are currently being formulated. The third proposed line will extend from Johan Setia to Nilai in Negeri Sembilan. [P12 – Yellow Line]
With the population spreading outwards to areas such as Rawang, Cyberjaya and Seremban, there is a pressing need to expand transportation infrastructure in enabling for a more efficient commute for thousands of urbanites living within the Greater KL conurbation. A more comprehensive transport system is also a blessing for young working professionals as it makes it possible for them to work in CBDs while living out in more family-conducive and financial-friendly neighbourhoods.
Implementation of all the proposed rail lines will take place based on which areas have immediate demand for public transportation access. Hence, we can only wait and see, in the meantime let’s keep our fingers crossed!