RapidKL has increased coverage area, but worsening traffic conditions affect bus frequency

Petaling Jaya, 21 May 2008: There is a marked improvement in the Klang Valley public transport system since RapidKL commenced operation as a key transport service provider with the most extensive bus coverage in Klang Valley. RapidKL has increased bus service coverage by as much as 53 percent and increased the number of buses by 30 percent since its inception four years ago.

RapidKL now covers 980 housing estates compared to 638 housing estates when it commenced operations in 2005. The 53 percent increase in housing estates does not include the increased coverage to other commercial areas in Kuala Lumpur through the Bas Bandar service. Currently, the peak hour despatch is 650 buses as compared to 470 buses, when RapidKL started operations in November 2004, an increase of about 30 percent.

Despite the increase on the number of buses, bus delays faced by commuters in Klang Valley are mainly due to worsening traffic conditions arising from the rapid growth of private vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur. Delays are also caused by other factors beyond RapidKL’s control, including road diversion and closures; haphazard parking by private vehicle owners, adverse weather conditions as well as traffic accidents.

RapidKL welcomes the initiative recently announced by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur to extend and enforce bus lanes in the city to ease the movement of public transportation. We urge other local authorities to also embark on a similar initiative. This reinforces RapidKL's view on the need for a comprehensive approach to resolve the traffic congestion in Klang Valley.

RapidKL is committed to provide a comprehensive public transport system to the residents of Klang Valley and this includes encouraging commuters to use both the rail and bus as an integrated transport network. If they can get a bus that takes them to a nearby LRT or Rail station, they should take this option as it will take them to their destination faster as the LRT service is not subject to road traffic conditions.

On the issue of the lack of discipline among bus drivers, although bus drivers are given basic customer service training, there are still cases when the behavior of some of the drivers is not acceptable. RapidKL will undertake an intensive customer service programmes for its drivers with the view to enhancing their competency, inculcating customer friendly values and to heighten their motivation towards a sense of pride in their jobs and the company.

We urge all customers with complaints on our drivers to furnish us with details such as Date, Time, Bus Registration and Route number. This information is critical for us to investigate and identify the driver. We will take appropriate disciplinary action accordingly.

Commuters can give their feedback through the corporate website - www.rapidkl.com.my or to call the Helpline at 03 7625 6999 (Monday – Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm)

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn. Bhd (RapidKL), a wholly owned company under the Minister of Finance Incorporated is tasked in providing an integrated public transport system in the Klang Valley incorporating rail and bus services.  Incorporated in July 2004 and operational since November the same year, RapidKL today transports approximately 4 million passengers weekly: 2.1 million on the Ampang Line and Kelana Jaya Line and 1.9 million on the bus system.  Rapid KL provides services across 48 rail stations and 165 bus routes.

Issued by:        Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn. Bhd. (RapidKL)

1 Jalan PJU 1A/46

Off Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

For more information on this release, media members may contact:

Ms.ChellamVasudevan   (60) 3 7650 7788

mkchellam @lrt.rapidkl.com.my