LRT3 hits another snag

PETALING JAYA: Those travelling for work from Klang to Kuala Lumpur will have little to cheer, as the long‑anticipated Shah Alam LRT line (formerly LRT3) is now projected to be delayed to at least the second quarter of 2026.

According to industry sources, the primary cause of the delay lies in the final and most demanding stage of the project - system testing and commissioning.

The line is currently undergoing a mandatory "fault-free run" as prescribed by the Land Public Transport 2010.

During this phase, the 22 trainsets, along with their wayside and supporting systems, must demonstrate the ability to integrate and operate continuously and reliably, as expected of a top-tier driverless train system using the Grade of Automation 4 (GoA 4) standard.

Under this testing regime, the rolling stock, signalling, communications and electrification systems must all perform seamlessly together, not just in isolation, before the regulator, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), can certify the system as safe and fit for service.

Insiders say the trainsets have struggled to achieve and sustain the designated operating speed of 80-90kph, something which cannot be dismissed as a "minor issue".

"If trains cannot reliably maintain these speeds, the planned service headway of six minutes becomes unachievable, directly impacting capacity and frequency for commuters, and falls short of the specifications spelt out in the Railway Scheme put up for public inspection," said the source.

Other important things that remain unsettled include the required documentation, with critical standard operating procedures (SOPs) reportedly not yet "fully locked in" or finalised.

The source said without approved SOPs and complete documentation, testing cannot proceed in a structured, traceable manner - an essential requirement in any modern rail system, where safety cases, audit trails and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.

As a result, comprehensive testing of the trains was understo