Public transport in Malaysia is set to achieve new milestones in 2025 with increased train reliability, expanded payment options, and higher ridership levels benefiting commuters and travellers alike.
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, the operator of urban rail and bus networks, reported an impressive 1.18 million daily journeys across its services in 2024, marking a 24% increase from 2023.
Improving Rail Reliability
Transport Minister Anthony Loke emphasized the importance of reliability in urban rail and bus services, particularly through the mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) metric. This measures the distance a train line can operate without a disruption lasting more than five minutes.
- The Putrajaya line demonstrated stellar reliability, achieving an MKBF score of 1.35 million kilometres—the highest among Prasarana’s five lines.
- The goal is to ensure all lines surpass the one-million-kilometre benchmark by the second quarter of 2026.
To boost reliability on the Kelana Jaya line, historically Malaysia’s most-used urban rail line, 27 new train sets have been procured, with 23 already in operation as of December 2024.
Enhanced Maintenance Strategy
Prasarana has adopted an enhanced maintenance philosophy, focusing on predictive maintenance to prevent breakdowns before they occur. This approach aligns with global best practices seen in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong, where metro systems routinely achieve exceptional MKBF scores.
Ridership and Challenges
Ridership on Prasarana-operated services, including those run by Rapid Rail and Rapid Bus, showed strong growth in 2024. However, bus ridership in Penang and Kuantan remains stagnant, presenting an area for future improvement.
Modernized Ticketing and Payment Options
Public transport users can look forward to streamlined ticketing experiences:
- My50 Unlimited Travel Pass: Starting May 2025, users will be able to renew their passes via e-wallets, eliminating the need to queue at counters.
- Open Payment System: By the end of 2025, Prasarana aims to implement a system that accepts multiple payment methods, including credit cards, across both its train and bus services. While a tender process faced delays, a limited tender is now in progress, with plans for a phased rollout.
Looking Ahead
The Kajang MRT line has surpassed the Kelana Jaya line as the country’s most-used urban rail line since June 2024. With ongoing investments in new train sets, improved maintenance strategies, and upgraded payment systems, Malaysia’s public transport network is poised to deliver a more reliable, efficient, and commuter-friendly experience in 2025 and beyond.
Key Milestones for 2025
- Improved MKBF: Target of 1 million kilometres on all lines by Q2 2026.
- New Train Sets: 27 procured for Kelana Jaya, 23 in service.
- Modern Payment Systems: E-wallet renewals for My50 pass by May; open payment rollout by year-end.
- Enhanced Bus and Rail Services: Focus on boosting stagnant bus ridership in select regions.
These advancements reflect Malaysia’s commitment to elevating its public transport infrastructure to world-class standards.