The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain system has experienced 19 minor glitches since returning to service in July, but operations have now stabilised, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Hasbi said the Aerotrain project, completed on June 30 and relaunched on July 1 is currently under a two-year defect liability period.
“We want to ensure 100% operational efficiency. If they fail to meet this, a penalty of up to RM190,000 per month will be imposed. They must make sure the system is always tip-top,” he said. Hasbi explained that the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Alstom, is responsible for maintaining the train’s performance with 100% availability required when operating a single train, and 99.5% when both are running.
He was responding to Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN–Jerantut), who questioned the government on recurring breakdowns and the steps being taken to ensure the system’s reliability.
According to Hasbi, most of the 19 disruptions reported between July and September were due to signalling issues, while a few were caused by passengers trying to manually open the train doors. “Repairs were carried out immediately, with officers and technicians stationed on-site to ensure that all issues are rectified promptly,” he added.
Since resuming operations, the Aerotrain has carried more than 5.3 million passengers and covered nearly 40,000 kilometres.
Operational availability stood at 99.19% as of October 8, and Hasbi said stability continues to improve with the system running at full efficiency in recent weeks.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is working closely with Alstom to ensure smooth operations and quick technical responses when problems arise.
“Currently, train performance is at 100%, and MAHB will continue collaborating with the manufacturer to sustain maximum operational standards,” Hasbi concluded.
