KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced that KTM Komuter trains will run for 24 hours over four days and three nights beginning January 23 for the Thaipusam celebrations.
In addition, 33 extra services will be provided for the Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang-Batu Caves routes, with an additional 39 services for the Batu Caves-Port Klang-Batu Caves route.
This brings the total number of additional KTM Komuter trains during this period to 72 services per day.
Loke said these are among the improvements aimed at facilitating the travel of devotees during the religious festival.
He also announced other improvements in conjunction with the festival, such as additional electric train services to Butterworth-KL Sentral and Padang Besar-KL Sentral, free Rapid intermediate bus services in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and the ongoing renovation of the pedestrian bridge at the Batu Caves railway station by the Railway Asset Corporation.
Thaipusam falls on January 25 this year.
“After the announcement of the Chinese New Year additional public transport initiative yesterday, I visited Batu Caves today for the first time to observe the Thaipusam festival location, which attracts hundreds of thousands of Hindus, tourists, and the general public every year,” he said during a press conference here at the Batu Caves KTM Komuter station earlier.
Aside from that, the ministry, through Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd, will offer free fares to Klang Valley Komuter passengers on January 24 and 25.
“This is the first time we are offering complimentary fares to Klang Valley KTM Komuter users in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration.
“As a caring government, we hope that this initiative to provide free fares will make the Thaipusam celebration more meaningful.
“Additionally, other commuters and tourists can take advantage of the free KTM commuter service for two days,” he added.
He said that a total of 250,000 people are anticipated to use the Komuter service in the Klang Valley over the course of four days and three nights.
“The number of passengers is expected to reach its peak on Thaipusam Day (Thursday),” he added. – January 13, 2024