RM257mil spent yearly on maintenance of KTMB assets

It costs RM114 million to maintain KTMBs rolling stock, such as passenger coaches, according to transport minister Loke Siew Fook.PETALING JAYA: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) requires RM257 million annually for the maintenance of its railway assets, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook.Loke said it would cost RM114 million to maintain KTMBs rolling stock, such as passenger coaches, RM84 million for rail infrastructure, RM36 million for signalling and communications systems, and RM23 million for the electrification system.He said KTMB is in the midst of upgrading its electrification system in the Klang Valley to ensure they are in optimum condition and to prevent service disruptions.We expect the electrification system upgrade project to be completed in the third quarter of 2027, he said in a written parliamentary reply.Loke also said Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is working on overhauling every component of 50 trains on the Ampang LRT line.Set to be completed in the first quarter of 2028, this will cost an estimated RM190.4 million.For the Kajang MRT line, train wheel replacement work, valued at RM36.7 million, is expected to be completed in January 2025.He was responding to a query by Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras) on the annual maintenance costs of the various railway systems in the country.