KLIA Aerotrain Completion Delayed And Is Now Expected To Be Ready By June 2025
It was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2025.
By Tamara Jayne — 24 Jan 2025, 03:25 PM
The much-anticipated return of the KLIA Aerotrain has been delayed yet again
Initially set to be completed by end of January 2025, the train may now only be ready by the second quarter of 2025 due to a major breakdown in 2023.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) managing director, Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, explained that the trains are undergoing rigorous testing to meet world-class standards.
"All tests should be completed by April. We set the Q2 timeline in case further tests are needed. We are confident that it will be operational by Q2," he told a media briefing on the project at Terminal 1 on Friday, 24 January, reported The Star.
The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) is supervising the testing to ensure compliance with strict regulatory standards.
"Every nut, bolt, and system is undergoing thorough checks," MAHB stated in a video update, promising a reliable and improved service
The project, however, has faced criticism, particularly from Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who expressed frustration over the repeated delays.
On 15 January, Loke said there was no definite completion date despite being given the end of this month as the deadline. He highlighted that "more can be done at a faster pace", attributing the delays to the government-linked company.
The new Aerotrain will feature three coaches per train, increasing passenger capacity to 270 per trip, compared to the previous 230
Two train sets from China arrived in Malaysia last September and are now in the inspection phase.
The repair and upgrade project comes with a total cost of RM456 million, which includes significant technical improvements to ensure the system's efficiency and reliability.
Despite the setbacks, Izani assured the public that the Aerotrain would be fully operational no later than June 2025.
