KUALA LUMPUR – Prasarana Malaysia Bhd will continue monitoring passenger numbers on the newly launched Shah Alam Line before deciding whether to increase train frequency, with seven additional train sets expected to be introduced by 2028.
The trains were packed on the first day of operations, largely due to the government’s free ride initiative. Despite the high turnout, commuters described their journeys as orderly, comfortable and efficient.
Feedback from passengers was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the line’s modern stations, well-maintained facilities and smooth operations. Commuters also reported that services ran without any glitches, describing the experience as safe and pleasant.
Prasarana Group Chief Executive Officer and outgoing president Amir Hamdan said the operator would first observe travel patterns and ridership growth before making any operational adjustments.
“As of now, we will observe. We will see first how the line is used. If there is an increase, our Operation Control Centre (OCC) will monitor train movements, as well as the situation on the platforms and at stations,” he said after inspecting operations on the line’s first day.
He said train frequency would be increased if passenger demand continues to grow.
“If there is an increase in passengers, we will add more trains to reduce waiting time or increase services during peak hours,” he said.
Currently, trains operate at intervals of about 7.5 to eight minutes during peak hours, while off-peak services run every 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Amir clarified public misconceptions over the service intervals, stressing that the eight-minute figure refers to the waiting time between trains rather than the travel time between stations.
“Between one station and another, the journey takes about three to four minutes. The eight minutes is the waiting time for the next train,” he said.
He added that Prasarana is studying ways to shorten waiting times and improve overall journey times once all safety assessments have been completed.
“We are conducting studies to see where we can reduce the overall journey time. Once all the necessary safety measures and independent safety assessments have been completed, we will reduce the waiting time for the next train,” he said.
On fleet expansion, Amir confirmed that the government has approved the procurement of seven additional train sets for the Shah Alam Line.
“It is already in our plan and has been approved by the government. There will be an additional seven trains, but it will take some time. Hopefully, by 2028, we will receive the additional trains,” he said.
The Shah Alam Line currently operates with 22 train sets, with the fleet expected to increase to 29 by 2028.
However, Amir said the pace of future service improvements would ultimately depend on passenger demand.
“We will see the maturity of the line depending on the increase in ridership every year. We will measure the load factor and the percentage increase in ridership before deciding on further improvements,” he said.
Earlier, Amir said Prasarana is targeting an average daily ridership of 67,000 passengers during the line’s first year of operations.
Based on observations from the opening morning, he estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 passengers would use the line on its first day.
“I think if we achieve between 5,000 and 10,000 passengers today, it would be a good achievement for the first day. Our first-year target is 67,000 passengers daily, but people will need time to get used to the new line,” he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that commuters on the newly launched Shah Alam Line would enjoy free train rides, including complimentary feeder bus services, for one month beginning today following the line’s official launch at the Johan Setia Depot. – June 29, 2026