MRT Putrajaya Line offers free rides until March 31

The second Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in the Klang Valley, the MRT Putrajaya Line (PYL), has officially been launched by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the line’s depot in Serdang.

The line, which starts at Kwasa Damansara, next to Kota Damansara and Sungai Buloh, and ends at Putrajaya Sentral in the administrative capital, has 36 stations along its 57.7km length.

The prime minister officiated with the opening the 38.7 km section of Phase 2. The first phase of PYL from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu along Jalan Ipoh has been operational since June 2022. Out of the 57.7km, 44.2km is elevated, while the remaining 13.5 km, located in the city centre, is underground.

The new line will have an initial ridership of 104,000 passengers daily. It has ten interchange and connecting stations, including Titiwangsa, Ampang Park, Chan Sow Lin and Sungai Besi. It is also expected to reduce congestion, especially on roads and highways leading to Kuala Lumpur city centre, including the Maju Expressway and Sungai Besi Expressway.

Forty-nine electric four-car trains, named “Ducky,” will serve the Putrajaya line. Each train can carry up to 1,200 passengers, and the trains are fully automatic and self-driving and rely on two braking systems to ensure passenger safety. The frequency between trains is four to six minutes during peak hours, seven to ten minutes during non-peak hours, and seven to fifteen minutes during weekends and public holidays.

The journey from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral takes approximately 84 minutes, and the operating hours are from 6 am to midnight. The first train from the Kwasa Damansara station departs at 6 am, while the last train from Putrajaya Sentral is midnight. PYL will offer free rides until March 31.

The MRT line will have 31 feeder bus routes to accommodate commuters covering over 350 km, and fares range from RM1 to RM2.40, which is cashless only. Additionally, it features 17 stations on the line that offer Park & Ride facilities, with 6,416 parking bays, charging RM4.30 per entry per day. Users can utilise Touch n Go cards by tapping in and out of the MRT to enjoy the discount. RM1.10 per day parking charges apply to motorcyclists.

The PYL will improve connectivity for commuters in the Klang Valley. With ten interchange stations and connecting stations, the line provides easy access to existing train lines in KV, from the KL Monorail to the KLIA Transit. Opening the full line is a significant milestone for Malaysia’s transportation sector. It marks a significant step towards the country’s goal of promoting public transportation and reducing traffic congestion.