Kelana Jaya Line trains: Prasarana orders 26 new sets, RM1bil

Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has ordered 26 new Kelana Jaya Line trains for more than RM1 billion. Acting president and group chief executive Dr Prodyut Dutt told Bernama the first sets arrive in March 2029.

The order comes as the line faces more breakdowns. Prodyut said incidents this year are about 30% higher than last year.

This report draws on Bernama, carried by The Sun, with earlier reports from Free Malaysia Today and The Star.

What Prasarana has ordered

The order covers 26 train sets, worth more than RM1 billion. The maker is CRRC Corporation Limited of China, according to the Bernama report.

Deliveries start in March 2029, then two sets a month. That is later than the timeline given earlier this year. In February, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the 26 trains were expected by 2028.

Prodyut said cost is not the issue because the government has been very supportive. Budget 2026 set aside RM1 billion for the replacement, Loke said in February.

Prasarana weighed an overhaul of the 15-year-old trains first. Prodyut said an overhaul would cost almost 90% of the price of a new unit.

Prasarana has already added 27 Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 sets under the KLAV27 programme. The last of those began service last year, according to Free Malaysia Today.

The new trains aim to stabilise the older fleet. Loke said in February that this was part of Prasarana’s plan, together with early spare-parts buying.

Why the Kelana Jaya line is under strain

The Kelana Jaya Line runs 74 trains across three generations. The first-generation units are four-car sets, the Bernama report said.

Prodyut said he cannot deny that incidents have risen this year. He said about two-thirds of disruptions involve the emergency braking system.

Spare parts are another problem. He said tachometers can take eight to 12 months to arrive. In February, Loke asked Prasarana to buy spare parts early. That followed a run of disruptions since the start of Ramadan.

Prasarana has added round-the-clock maintenance, train turnbacks and track isolation. It has also added shuttle loops, feeder buses, WhatsApp alerts and more station staff.

Loke told Prasarana in February that maintenance cannot be compromised. He also asked it to communicate better with passengers. He said problems with the older trains should not overshadow three years of improvements, such as the KLAV27 sets.