KUALA LUMPUR, 23 November — Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana), which recently formalised collaboration with MRT Jakarta, will be sharing its expertise with its rail counterparts in Thailand as well by providing technical support for Bangkok MRT Purple Line.
A team of six drivers and five controllers from Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of Prasarana and operator of Rapid KL rail services, will be attached to the Thai MRT operator for four months under a collaboration exercise between the two establishments.
“The request came from Marubeni-Toshiba JV (MTJV), which is the company responsible in delivering the systems for Bangkok Purple Line. Their request was for manpower support for its Site Integration Test. Four of our train drivers left for Bangkok yesterday for the purpose.
“We are proud and honoured to offer services to our fellow international partners especially from the Asean member countries. In Asean, we are part of a big family, said Rapid Rail Chief Executive Officer, Encik Ahmad Nizam Mohd Amin.
Ahmad Nizam added that the request by operators in other countries reflects the confidence and recognition of the capability of Rapid Rail engineers and technical staff.
“Rapid Rail recently successfully spearheaded the operations of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Makkah Metro Southern Line for this year’s haj operations. It was our first international assignment and we are grateful that we managed to successfully carry out the assignment and help pilgrims around the world to perform their haj.
“With that first year experience, we aim to further improve our services in the Holy Land next year. There are still plenty of rooms for improvement; we have identified these areas and will be starting our preparations very early for the 2016 haj season,” added Ahmad Nizam.
On the collaboration with MRT Jakarta, Ahmad Nizam said Rapid Rail and Prasarana will share its experience in the planning and operations of urban rail lines with MRT Jakarta and both parties will explore the possibility of exchanges in technical and operational information, expertise, and know-how to further enhance and develop their mutual capabilities.
The Purple Line is a rapid transit line of the Bangkok MRT under construction for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. When opens, it will be second line to be operated by MRT and the city’s fifth rapid transit line for the city. The Purple Line is scheduled for commencement of operations at the end of 2016.
