SEPANG – The automated people mover system or Aerotrain service is on track to be back in service at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by the end of January 2025, following the delivery of two new Aerotrain sets last week.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said both sets are now being installed and will undergo testing over the next four to five months.
“Therefore, I would like to explain to passengers that if they see these trains moving next month while empty, it is because they are being tested.
“These tests are necessary as we want the (Aerotrain) system to work smoothly. Later, we will be testing the integrity of the entire system,” he told reporters today after inspecting the new Aerotrains at KLIA today.
Each Aerotrain set consists of three coaches that can accommodate 270 passengers per trip.
They will undergo dynamic testing beginning next month, whereby the trains will be tested by going back and forth on the actual tracks between the KLIA main building and the departure and arrival terminals.
Final testing will be done by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) in mid-January next year, said Loke, and the Aerotrains are expected to go into operation by the end of January.
The Aerotrain service at KLIA was suspended in March 2023 after frequent breakdowns as it was due for an overhaul after 23 years in service.
Since then, transit buses have been used to ferry passengers from the main airport building to the terminals.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) had before that, in March 2022, announced the KLIA Aerotrain Replacement Project with a timeline for completion of three years.
However, the project suffered from delays and was followed by the award of a new project in January this year to a consortium comprising Alstom, original equipment manufacturer Aerotrain and JMC-Pestech JV to steer the project back on track.
Loke today said the Aerotrain replacement was long-awaited and instructed Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and contractors to ensure all tests are conducted properly and done on schedule.
“I have told MAHB and the contractors that next year is an important one for Malaysia since it will be chairing Asean. Many international meetings will be held where many visitors and government officials from Asean will be visiting Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country.
“We are expecting the Aerotrain (service) to be ready to take in visitors,” added Loke. – September 2, 2024