The MRT Kajang Line, previously known as the MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line, is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line servicing the Klang Valley, Malaysia. It is the second fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley region after the Kelana Jaya Line. Owned by MRT Corp and operated as part of the Rapid KL system by Rapid Rail, it forms part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. The line is numbered 9 and coloured green on official transit maps.
It is one of three planned MRT rail lines under the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project by MRT Corp. Phase 1 operations between and commenced service on 16 December 2016. Phase 2 operations between and was opened on 17 July 2017, as a free shuttle service, by former Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak in a ceremony at the station. Full revenue service between and Kajang began the following day.
History
Initial LRT proposal In August 2006, a Kota Damansara–Cheras light rapid transit (LRT) line proposal was made known to the public by the then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak under a RM10 billion government allocation for the improvement and expansion of the public transportation network in the Klang Valley. The line was intended to alleviate traffic congestion in the Klang Valley by encouraging more commuters to opt for public transport. It is also aimed to reduce overcrowding on the KL Monorail and to provide an alternative mode of transport during a period of rising fuel prices.
The line, initially reported to be approximately in length, was planned to be built concurrently with the extension of the Kelana Jaya Line and the Sri Petaling Line to Subang Jaya and Puchong respectively, with both of those lines converging at . Of the RM10 billion, an estimated RM7 billion would go toward the expansion of the Kelana Jaya and Sri Petaling Lines.
Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Berhad (SPNB) was assigned for the endeavour. The Kota Damansara–Cheras line was intended to be served by 140 coaches, with the track gauge as easily integrated with existing LRT lines as possible.
The Ministry of Transport approved the alignment of the new line in July 2007 which would then be tabled to the Cabinet for approval. The Finance Ministry's Parliamentary Secretary announced that the line from Kota Damansara to Cheras and Balakong would be completed by 2012. The line would be long, serving densely populated areas in Damansara and Cheras via "The Golden Triangle" of Kuala Lumpur city. The alignment was to be from Persiaran Surian to the Balakong Interchange on the Cheras–Kajang Expressway (CKE), passing through the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Sprint Highway, the city, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Cheras, stopping at around 30 stations. Ownership of the line belonged to SPNB, and would be operated by Rapid Rail. The estimated construction cost is between RM4 billion and RM5 billion.
In September 2008, executive director of SPNB said that a section of the line in central Kuala Lumpur will be underground, serving 5 stations. However, the locations of underground stations were not announced. It was during this time that the line was said to be with 32 stations in total, which would serve areas of Bandar Utama, Bangsar, KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, Bandar Tasik Selatan and Cheras. The line was being considered for conversion to a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system after taking into consideration the catchment area serving a population of 878,000. It was also reported that the detailed design stage for the line would commence in the second quarter of 2009 and the opening date was expected to be in 2014.
New alignment and conversion to MRT On 14 September 2009, SPNB managing director Idrose Mohamed was reported as saying that the new line could end up longer than the earlier announced alignment although he did not offer any further details. A public display of the alignment was launched a day after the announcement. SPNB was reported to have raised the necessary funds from Islamic investments of RM2 billion and hopes to gain approval from the Ministry of Transport to call out for tenders. In April 2010, a proposal to extend the line by was being studied by the government. The proposal included extensions from Kota Damansara to Sungai Buloh (additional ) and from Cheras to Kajang (additional ). This was intended to provide convenient interchanges to the existing Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) stations at Sungai Buloh and Kajang, as well as to support the upcoming development of land 3,000-acres (1,200 ha) of land in Sungai Buloh. An additional branch line from Damansara Utama to Kelana Jaya (additional ) aimed to relieve congestion on the LDP Highway was also being studied, bringing the total length of the line to .
Unofficial statements in 2009 claimed that the proposed line was changed to an MRT line. In June 2010, during the tabling of the 10th Malaysia Plan, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the government was now considering a RM36 billion Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) proposal from Gamuda Berhad and MMC Corporation Berhad, which would be the largest national infrastructure project. The proposal includes 3 lines, including one which is similar to the Kota Damansara—Cheras proposal. The MRT lines were to be mostly underground with stations to apart in areas with high demand. The concept was envisioned to be inspired by Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. The project, aimed to improve public transport in the Klang Valley, was approved by the Malaysian cabinet on 16 December 2010 and construction of the first line from Sungai Buloh to Kajang would begin in July 2011 with a duration of five to six years. Gross national income from these future lines was estimated to be between RM3 bil and RM12 bil. The government had appointed MMC-Gamuda JV Sdn Bhd as Project Delivery Partner where it would play the role project manager, supervised by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). The whole project would be divided into nine parcels to be done on open tender basis. of the line would be underground and the remaining above ground with 35 new stations. MMC-Gamuda would be barred from bidding for any tender except for tunnelling works (the most expensive portion). Ownership of the lines would be given to SPNB.
To seek for further consultation from the public, SPAD held a 3-month public display of the alignment of the MRT Kajang Line. On 8 July 2011, Najib officially launched the project. The final alignment was adjusted following the public display, having a length of with 31 stations where 16 have Park and Ride facilities. Construction was said to be completed in December 2016 and the line would start operations a month after. On 17 August 2011, the government announced that Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), a new company under the finance ministry had been formed to take control of the project from Prasarana Malaysia. MRT Corp would be the asset owner of the project and officially take over the project from Prasarana Malaysia on 1 September 2011. After the MRT project was formally launched on 8 July 2011, the following amendments were made to the original proposed alignment following the public display exercise between March and May 2011: 31 stations instead of 35 stations will be built and provisions have been made for 3 more stations Future station 1 (Teknologi) located between and stations Future station 2 (Bukit Kiara Selatan) located between and stations which will serve as an elevated interchange station with the future MRT Circle Line Construction of Taman Mesra station was shelved. The proposed Section 17 station was dropped The location of the proposed was moved around southwards to the former Caltex petrol stations. This was due to complaints from Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Damansara Kim residents. Bukit Bintang East and West stations were combined into one, moved and integrated with KL Monorail station. The station was named Bukit Bintang Central station and subsequently station. Park-and-ride facilities has been increased to 16 from 13 previously. Adjustments to the alignment: Shifting alignment into the former Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia land in Sungai Buloh to cater for future development Adjusting the alignment adjacent to to avoid going through the town centre and through Kajang Stadium.
Contract allocation On 21 October 2011, MRT Corp shortlisted 5 companies to construct the underground parts of the line including MMC Gamuda Joint Venture and Sinohydro Group. On 26 January 2012, MRT Corp announced the award of the first two civil works contracts for the construction of the MRT Kajang Line. IJM Construction Sdn Bhd was appointed the contractor for Package V5 at a tender price of RM974 million, while Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd was appointed the contractor for Package V6 at a tender price of RM764 million. Package V5 is from the Maluri portal to Plaza Phoenix (now ) station while Package V6 covers the section between Plaza Phoenix and stations. MRT Corp announced the pre-qualification of 28 companies to bid for six System Works Packages for the MRT line on 8 March 2012. Subsequently, in September 2012, another 31 companies were pre-qualified to bid for the remaining five System Works Packages.
Construction
All stations are to be equipped with platform screen doors, where this contract was awarded to the Singaporean company Singapore Technology Electronics Ltd. 33kV Main Switching Substations were to be constructed at 4 stations, namely Taman Industri Sungai Buloh (now known as ), Section 16 (now known as ), Taman Cuepacs (now known as ) and stations. The other 3 substations are added at the Cochrane launch shaft, Sungai Buloh depot and Semantan portal. Two more 132/33kV Transmission Main Intakes are constructed at Cochrane Launch shaft and Semantan portal. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) agreed to supply 116.5MW of power on the Kajang Line which costs RM173.1 million.
On 1 November 2011, the 70's Klang bus stand ceased operations and was demolished to make way for the underground platforms and new entrances of . When construction of the station is completed, a new bus hub was to be constructed. On 1 August 2012, MRT Corp announced that the project was in active construction phase. MRT Corp said that the project cost would not exceed the limit of RM23 billion. The first section between Sungai Buloh and Semantan was expected to open in December 2016, with the entire line opening in July 2017. The total cost of the line was confirmed to be RM21 billion in December 2016.
On 30 May 2013, tunnel excavation works for the Kajang Line began with the world's first Variable Density Tunnel Boring Machine (VDTBM). This TBM was jointly designed by MMC Gamuda KVMRT Tunnelling and Herrenknecht AG, a German company. Commencement of tunnelling works was launched by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Cochrane Launch Shaft, which would later become the station. The shaft is deep and this TBM was to dig a distance of towards Pasar Rakyat (now ) station. 10 TBMs were used to construct the tunnelled section of the line, where 6 are Variable Density and 4 are Earth Pressure Balance TBMs. The tunnels are to have a diameter of , where the first breakthrough of the TBM excavations occurred on 25 December 2013.
Opening On 16 December 2016, Phase 1 of the line which spans 21 km from to , consisting of 12 stations serviced by 24 trains, was opened. The fare of this part of the line and its feeder bus routes was free of charge until 16 January 2017.
On 17 July 2017, Phase Two of the line from Semantan to began operations.
The line is operated by a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia, Rapid Rail.
Overview
Route