RAC Develops 10-year Plan To Enhance Train Services, Boost Public Transport Use
By Karina Imran
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) has developed a 10-year strategic plan to improve train service frequency and reliability, aiming to encourage more Malaysians to switch from private vehicles to public transport.
Chief executive Datuk Azhar Ahmad said the plan would determine how many trains are needed to accommodate population growth and meet future passenger demand.
“People need reliable services to have confidence in public transport. Having railway stations and infrastructure alone is not enough if trains only arrive once an hour,” he said in an interview with Bernama Mobile Studio in conjunction with Transport Expo Asia 2026 (TXA 2026).
Azhar said the government has announced plans to add 42 trains, expected to enter service by 2028.
“This should improve service frequency from around every 30 minutes to every 10 to 15 minutes,” he said.
Azhar said more frequent and reliable services would encourage greater public transport use and increase its modal share.
At the same time, he said RAC was also looking at ways to revitalise existing railway assets and develop areas around stations through transit-oriented development (TOD), integrating transport facilities with commercial and other developments.
Among the initiatives was developing Seremban Sentral in collaboration with Sunway Group, while similar efforts were being considered for railway stations in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.
“We are also encouraging more TOD. Railway development should not be limited to providing passenger services. We must also look at how to develop the areas surrounding railway stations.
“Ultimately, we want to revitalise, repurpose and regenerate our railway assets to give them new functions and create greater value for the public,” he said.
Azhar said TOD matters because improving public transport usage is not simply about putting more trains on the tracks, but about ensuring development takes place within railway corridors for people to access residential, commercial and other facilities without having to rely entirely on private vehicles.
He said RAC is also working to attract private-sector participation in railway development, including freight terminals and inland ports, to support the government’s efforts to shift cargo transport from road to rail.
Through such partnerships, RAC aims to leverage private investment to develop railway-related businesses and infrastructure without placing the entire financial burden on the government.
"Freight is a commercial business, so we are looking at ways to attract private investment without relying on government funding. As the asset owner, RAC can leverage private sector investment to support railway development.
"We are also looking at the development of freight terminals and inland ports. We want to open up opportunities for private companies involved in the freight business to participate in, manage and operate these facilities," he said.
Azhar said these developments would support Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), which remains the operator of freight services, while allowing the industry to grow through private sector participation.
"Through collaboration with the government, private companies and other operators, we can strengthen the railway industry without placing the entire financial burden on the government," he said.
-- BERNAMA