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Rapid KL has provided an update regarding the progress of repairs on damaged lifts and escalators at Rapid KL train stations
In a Facebook post made by Rapid KL on Saturday, 15 October, the company announced that they are in the process of ordering spare parts to repair faulty facilities at Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train stations.
The repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
As for monorail stations, civil works and facility installations will begin in April 2023 and are estimated to be completed by May 2024.
An out-of-order escalator pictured at Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) MRT station.
Image via The Vibes
According to Rapid KL, the spare parts had been ordered from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) from Shanghai, China
The first batch of spare parts is due to arrive by the end of this month, second batch will arrive in mid-November, and the third batch will be received in the fourth week of November.
A total order of 87 handrails and 37 step chains was placed with the manufacturer.
For clarification, a handrail is the part of the escalator where individuals would hold on for balance while riding on the escalator. A step chain is a part of an escalator that is responsible for moving the steps of the escalator.
A diagram pointing out the different parts of an escalator.
Image via Encyclopedia Britannica
Rapid KL also announced that it will be implementing a Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) programme where broken or frequently problematic components will be replaced without waiting for their lifespan to end.
It is with the implementation of the CBM programme that Rapid KL has placed an additional order of 192 units of handrails and 22 units of step chains in order to cover the maintenance of all rail routes.
“We will periodically update the status of repair and installation of the facility through our social media platforms and mass media channels,” the company promised.
In May, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong attributed the delay in facility maintenance to supply chain disruptions
According to The Star, the Transport Minister said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were delays in procuring the spare parts needed to carry out facility repairs and maintenance.
He also said that maintenance and repair procedures heavily relied on the availability of spare part units. Without them, repairs to lifts and escalators cannot proceed.
“A period of three months was required for the process of shipping spare parts from the OEM in China. Rapid Rail is closely monitoring suppliers and contractors to expedite the procurement and installation of spare parts,” Wee said to the media.
Image via Utusan Malaysia