The Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) project, which connects Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, to Johan Setia, Klang, is on track to commence operations on 30 September this year, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Almost ready for launch
According to The Edge, the 37.8km-long rail line has reached 98.63% completion and is expected to be fully completed and handed over to Prasarana Malaysia Bhd by the turnkey contractor on 31 July.
In a written parliamentary reply, Loke confirmed that all necessary works are progressing smoothly to meet the scheduled opening date.
He was responding to a query from Azli Yusof (Pakatan Harapan-Shah Alam) regarding the latest status of the project, including trial runs and the targeted full operation timeline.
Trial runs to ensure safety
Loke explained that LRT3 will undergo a two-phase trial run before it is opened to passengers.
The first phase, involving a Trial Run (TR) and Fault-Free Run (FFR), will be conducted by the main contractor, Setia Utama LRT3 Sdn Bhd, over a 75-day period from mid-April to late June 2025. During this stage, the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) will assess the system’s safety, compliance, and reliability.
The second phase, known as the Trial Operation, will be carried out by Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd with technical support from the main contractor.
This phase will begin once TR and FFR receive APAD’s approval and is expected to last for 60 days from July to August 2025.
A costly yet essential project
Originally launched in 2016 during the Barisan Nasional administration, LRT3 was designed with 26 stations to serve the western corridor of the Greater Klang Valley.
The initial budget was set at RM9 billion, but this figure did not include various additional costs such as project delivery partner fees (6%), consultancy fees, operational expenses, overhead costs, and interest payments during construction. These factors pushed the total cost to RM31.7 billion.
In 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government sought to reduce costs, leading to the shelving of five stations and the cancellation of one, bringing the project cost down to RM16.63 billion.
However, during the Budget 2024 presentation, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the five shelved stations—Tropicana, Raja Muda, Temasya, Bukit Raja, and Bandar Botanik—would be revived at an additional cost of RM4.7 billion.
LRT3 to enhance connectivity
Once operational, LRT3 is expected to significantly improve public transport connectivity, particularly for residents in Petaling Jaya and Klang.
The new line aims to ease congestion, provide a reliable alternative for commuters, and support the overall expansion of the Klang Valley’s rail network.
With the final touches underway and trial runs scheduled, all eyes will be on LRT3’s official opening in September, marking another milestone in Malaysia’s public transport development.
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