KLIA Ekspres

KLIA Ekspres is a non-stop, airport rail link service between Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral) and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) (at the KLIA ERL station) in Malaysia. The service is run by Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. which began its operations on 14 April, 2002. The service shares the line with KLIA Transit, which stops at all stations along the line.

Both KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services are often referred to by Malaysians simply as the ERL, or Express Rail Link.

Background

Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. (ERL) is a joint venture company between YTL Corporation Bhd., Lembaga Tabung Haji and Trisilco Equity Sdn. Bhd. with each partner holding 50%, 40% and 10% of the company respectively. On the 25'th of August 1997, the Malaysian government presented the company with a 30 year concession to finance, build, maintain and control the operations of the railway.

Construction began in May 1997 and was completed 5 years later. It was then handed over to SYZ consortium, a joint relations consortium between German and Malaysian companies consisting of Siemens AG, Siemens Electric Engineering Sdn. Bhd and Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn. Bhd (SPYTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of YTL Corporation Bhd.

ERL Maintenance and Support was set up in 1999 and is responsible for the operations and maintenance of trains owned by ERL. The company was initially a join venture between Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. and Siemens AG, but since June 2005 it has been wholly owned by Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. [ [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2006/04/2449/developing_local_capabilities_in_malaysia.html Developing local capabilities in Malaysia] "Railway Gazette International" April 2006]

The 1997 financial crisis that hit Asia caused a brief setback to the project but due to strong governmental support, the project went on to completion. The project raked up a cost of RM2.4 billion which was financed through equity mergers (RM500 million), loans from Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia (RM940 million) and the remainder through import creditcite web|title=Import Credit Definition from The Free Dictionary|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/import+credit] from four German financial institutions.

Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. achieved profits in 2003 after only a year of operations.Dubious|date=March 2008

Travelling and ridership

The KLIA Ekspres service officially began operations on the 14'th of April, 2002 connecting Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The non-stop 57 kilometer journey takes around 28 minutes with trains departing at 15 minute intervals during peak hours and 20 minute intervals during off-peak hours.

First train: 0500hrs
Last train: 0000hrs.
Peak Hours: 0500hrs - 0900hrs & 1600hrs - 2200hrs
Off-Peak Hours: 0900hrs - 1600hrs & 2200hrs - 0000hrs

On September 19 2005, the company celebrates its 10 millionth passenger on the KLIA express. The 10 millionth passenger was Emylia Rosnaida who won a business class return trip to New York City from Kuala Lumpur. [ [http://www.kliaekspres.com/10MP%20Press%20Release.html Express Rail Link Celebrates 4th Anniversary] ] The 20 millionth passenger milestone was achieve 12 December 2007 by Mr Sockalingam, which won economy class ticket to Dubai [ [http://www.kliaekspres.com/20millionth.html Express Rail Link Breaks 20 Million Passengers Mark] ]

pecifications

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Ticketing

Travellers from KL Sentral to KLIA can purchase the tickets to board the KLIA Ekspres at the KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT) which is an integral part of the KL Sentral transport hub while travellers from KLIA to KL Sentral may purchase their tickets after their arrival at KL Sentral.

Ticketing is done either by automated ticketing machines or by ticketing staff at the stations. A one-way trip would cost RM35.Validity of purchased tickets are as follows:
* Standard One-Way Ticket: "1 year"
* Standard Two-Way Ticket:
**First trip - "1 year"
**Second trip - "3 months after the first trip"

Air Travel facilities

On 13 July 2007, Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd, the operator of KLIA Ekspres, announced that from 23 July 2007 onwards, all 43 airlines serving KL International Airport may use the check-in facilities at KL CAT. Currently, only Emirates Airline, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Royal Brunei Airlines flights may check-in at KL CAT before boarding the train. [ [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/08/7668/intelligence-a2adfccd64.html Intelligence] "Railway Gazette International" August 2007]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.kliaekspres.com/ Official Express Rail Link website]