BATU GAJAH: Clearing works on the second rail track near Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)’s Batu Gajah station, which is obstructed by derailed cargo train carriages, will take one more week to complete – which means continued delays for Electronic Train Service (ETS) passengers.
KTMB’s head of corporate communications, Ridhwan Arshad, said the second track is expected to be cleared and reopened within seven working days.
"Today, all ETS trains are using the single cleared rail track, and that is causing a slight delay as the trains must slow down from their maximum speed of 140km/hour to 50km/hour when they reach the affected area, as a precaution.
"However, train delays should not be more than 30 minutes," he said when contacted.
Commuter Masyitah Ghazali, 18, a student at Kolej Profesional Mara in Seri Iskandar who was at the KTMB Batu Gajah station this morning, said she was headed to Seremban to visit her mother, who is unwell.
"Fortunately, the rail services are now back to normal. Otherwise, I would have to look for alternatives, as I've always been taking the train, especially to go back to my hometown.
“The train is the preferred mode of transportation for many students here," she told the New Straits Times.
A cargo train had derailed at Km200.33 at Kota Bharu, Lahat, near Batu Gajah, early last Friday, disrupting KTMB services on both the north and south lines.
It was heading to Tasek, Ipoh, from Kuang, Selangor, to collect a load of cement when the incident occurred at 3.15am.
It was the worst accident in KTMB’s history.