New third-gen KTM ETS trains to hit the rails in August
The first two of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)’s third-gen Electric Train Service (ETS3) trainsets have arrived in Malaysia and have been assembled, the New Straits Times reports, citing Bernama. The new ETS3 trains will serve […] The post New third-gen KTM ETS trains to hit the rails in August appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
The first two of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)’s third-gen Electric Train Service (ETS3) trainsets have arrived in Malaysia and have been assembled, the New Straits Times reports, citing Bernama.
The new ETS3 trains will serve the southern sector of the West Coast Line, which is expected to be fully electrified and double-tracked all the way to JB Sentral by year-end.
“If all the tests proceed smoothly, the trains are expected to begin operations by August. Apart from the first two sets, the remaining eight are being assembled in stages at the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) plant in Batu Gajah.
“All 10 sets are expected to be completed and fully operational by early next year,” transport minister Anthony Loke said, adding that currently, over 85% of CRRC’s Batu Gajah plant workforce are Malaysian.
“This high workforce composition not only contributes to the development of the national rail industry, but also puts Malaysia on a solid track to becoming a regional rail engineering hub in the future,” he said.
ETS currently uses Class 91 (first gen, Hyundai Rotem-Mitsubishi Electric) and Class 93 (second gen, CRRC Zhuzhou) trainsets – according to Railway Gazette International, the third-gen trains will be given the designation Class 94.
The post New third-gen KTM ETS trains to hit the rails in August appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
