Urban Center One Step Closer to Sustainable and Efficient Public Transport System

To the west of Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley is shaping up to be the key economic region for Malaysia and a global destination for residential, tourism and business investment.  Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) promises to boost capacity, improve mobility, reduce congestion and enhance business activity, spurring productivity and creating new employment opportunities within the region. The 23-mile-long (37-kilometer) line will stretch between Bandar Utama in the east and Klang in the west. The line is expected to transport 67,000 commuters daily, greatly improving mobility services for nearly two million residents and significantly enhancing rail connectivity for the Western Corridor of the city.

Developed in line with the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (GKL/KV) Land Public Transport Masterplan, the project includes a 21.7-mile (35km) elevated viaduct, a 1.3 mile (2km) underground tunnel and 20 new stations. Capable of travelling at speeds of up to 49.7 mile/hour (80km/h), the three-car vehicle configurations are expected to carry up to 18,630 passengers per hour in each direction. Services will run every six minutes during peak hours.

The project aims to not only improve mobility but also accelerate interconnectivity between major commercial centers along the economic development corridor from Klang, Shah Alam to Petaling Jaya. To do this, LRT3 will connect with two stations in the existing network.

”We’re excited to work alongside Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, MRCB George Kent Sdn Bhd and Emrail Sdn Bhd to deliver the track works,” said Jacobs Technical Director of Transport Malaysia Reuben Lamack. “We have geared up to execute this highly anticipated project and make sustainable public transport a reality for millions of people in Malaysia.” 

The project is being delivered by our rail team in Malaysia. As design consultant for the track works, our involvement spans all aspects of the design, installation and quality supervision of the rail system. This includes the coordination and review of all switches and crossing supplier designs, power rail supplier designs, walkway and system interface design with civil works.

The project has a tight schedule and the track engineering is complex, requiring  track  specialists’ understanding of how all the pieces need to fit together to meet operational requirements and minimized noise pollution and maintenance requirements, all while maximizing the asset’s lifecycle. To help keep the project on schedule, we developed installation plans that identified issues early on and allowed plenty of time for us to develop solutions to mitigate them. This approach enhances the stakeholders’ understanding of the operational track arrangement requirements and supports more efficient construction of the track works.

The future ahead

LRT3 is helping to raise the standard of living for those living in the bustling Klang Valley, providing improved connections to social and economic opportunities, including creating up to 2,000 new jobs during the construction phase. It will alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel times and improve air quality. The project is also expected to spur the revitalization of high density, mixed-use real estate development around the stations, integrating newer modes of transport with the existing network and unlocking transit-oriented development opportunities along the Western Corridor.  

As Design Consultants of this city-shaping project, we’re thrilled to help improve livability for communities in the Klang Valley.

The project is around 47.61% complete and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad expects it to be completed by February 2024.