KUALA LUMPUR: Rapid Rail, the public transportation service provider through Rapid KL, has identified steps to avoid severe congestion at main light rail transit (LRT) interchange stations.
Rapid Rail yesterday said it would allow ticket dispensing machines to accept currency notes as well as coins, stand by additional auxiliary police at peak hours, and engage more rail ambassadors to help commuters.
"Rapid KL will also study the prospect of alternative services like Rapid KL Ekspres (non-stop bus service from stations to main interchange stations)."
Several Rapid KL services were interrupted due to severe congestion at the Pasar Seni station due to an overwhelming number of commuters who had attended the National Day parade.
This prompted Rapid KL to deploy extra coaches.
"Rapid Rail wishes to apologise to commuters. We will review operating procedures and system to ensure this doesn't happen again."
"Berita Harian" reported that operations at Platform 1 of the Masjid Jamek LRT station for the Ampang-Seri Petaling Line yesterday morning had stopped for a few hours due to safety reasons.
Rapid KL had said that it was a necessary to do so as the area around the station was too crowded with visitors celebrating National Day at Dataran Merdeka.
However, it said, Platform 2 remained operational.
The LRT services did not stop to drop off and pick up passengers at the Bandaraya LRT station, which was also crowded.
Rapid KL had said that passengers on the Ampang/Sri Petaling/Kajang line who wanted to return home following the event at Dataran Merdeka should use the stations at Plaza Rakyat, Merdeka and Sultan Ismail to reduce congestion at the Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations.
Operations at the Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations for the Ampang/Sri Petaling Line had resumed at 10am yesterday.
Rapid Rail later said that the situation at the affected main station was back to normal at 3pm.
The Masjid Jamek station was also crowded early yesterday. -- Bernama