LRT3: 33 Problems Identified, Solutions Ready, Tests Ongoing

Although solutions have been developed for all 33 technical issues flagged on the LRT3 Shah Alam Line, the systems have yet to complete full testing to confirm they perform reliably under operating conditions.

According to Sinar Harian, Shah Alam Line COO Mohd Ariffin Idris said the project team is now focused on extended and continuous testing, aimed at validating whether the fixes introduced truly resolve the problems encountered earlier.

He explained that while corrective measures are already in place, they must be proven through rigorous trials before the line can be considered operationally ready. Testing, he said, is still ongoing and remains a critical phase of the project.

A major area of attention is the system software, which is being upgraded to the latest baseline to ensure it can cope with both existing faults and any new issues that may emerge during testing.

Mohd Ariffin added that failure-free run (FFR) testing is currently being carried out on all trains assigned to the Shah Alam Line. A total of 22 trains must undergo the process, with each test monitored by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) as part of standard regulatory requirements.

Even trains that have already clocked the required mileage are not exempt, as they still need to be reassessed to ensure every technical and safety criterion is fully satisfied.

According to him, the line cannot open to passengers until all trains pass FFR testing and the entire system, including infrastructure and signalling, is confirmed to be fully complete and stable.

Testing is conducted around the clock, including overnight sessions, with specialists from original equipment manufacturers involved to address specific technical challenges. These include signalling systems supplied from Germany and rolling stock sourced from China.

He noted that uncovering new issues during dry runs is not unusual, and any problems identified will be rectified before further testing continues to ensure long-term stability.

As for the start of public operations, Mohd Ariffin said an official projection is expected to be announced by senior management around January next year, once testing reaches a more conclusive stage.

Earlier reports by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd revealed that the 33 technical issues, largely linked to software errors and system disruptions, were identified during two and a half months of testing and were a key reason behind delays to the line’s launch.

Among the problems detected were trains failing to stop precisely at platforms, issues with door operations, incorrect speed settings, failures in automatic train movement, and unintended train movement when the system should have remained static.