MRT Will Provide Designated Ladies Coach Soon - Loke

Photo: MRT Corp A designated ladies' coach will be built on the MRT Kajang Line soon, following in the footsteps of its KTM Komuter counterpart, which launched the service in 2010.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that a trial run would be conducted and that he would announce the effective date. He stated that this was one of the initiatives in the works to make travel more comfortable for women.

"We know that public transport users, especially women, are concerned about their safety.
"They do not feel uncomfortable when the coaches are congested and afraid of being possibly harassed. We understand that feeling. "However, we will try to introduce the ladies' coach for the MRT Kajang Line and we will see what is the feedback from users," he told NST. However, Loke stated that implementing the ladies' coach concept on the MRT would be more difficult than on the KTM Komuter.

It differed in that the KTM Komuter travels a greater distance with fewer stations than the MRT and LRT, both of which are fast moving transit services.

"MRT and LRT lines have four coaches respectively while KTM Komuter has six coaches, with one of them being used as women's coach.

"For the MRT, with four coaches, including one dedicated for women riders, there will be challenges to the operations. "And because it is a transit, the movement of users is quite fast and it is hard to control. But we will try to do it as we know this is a service that interests women riders," he added.

For the record, On April 28, 2010, KTM Komuter introduced the ladies coach in the interest of its 60% female riders.

The ladies' coaches are distinguished by pink stickers with the words "Coach for Ladies Only" displayed on the outside and inside of the coach, as well as special waiting areas.