Tapping out: Commuters exiting the Mutiara Damansara MRT station. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Time and again, people, especially those living in Klang Valley, are encouraged to use public transport and leave their cars home.
However, those opting for public transport, especially trains, are now facing a dilemma – commuters being denied entry due to the early closure of some stations.
Despite spending billions of ringgit to build a modern urban rail system consisting of two MRT lines, namely the Kajang and Putrajaya lines, and two LRT lines – the Kelana Jaya and Ampang/Sri Petaling lines – commuters have complained of being unable to rely on these networks when they have to embark on a late train or the last train for the day.
Many argue that catching the last train from the station is nearly impossible as the faregates – where the card or token is tapped to enter the station – are disabled way before the last train arrives.
It remains an ongoing problem.
Depending on the location, some train stations close 45 minutes – or even much earlier – before the last train departs, leaving commuters with few options, including hitching ehailing rides.
Research student Ernest Wong said that many users are under the impression that they can still enter the station until the last train departs.
“For example, commuters who want to travel towards Kwasa Damansara from the Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station cannot enter the station after 11.45pm despite trains running in that direction until 12.30am,” said the 21-year-old.
Several years ago, he was in a similar situation at an LRT station, resulting in an expensive e-hailing ride home.
To make things worse, he said most buses also stop operating before the last train.
“Most buses usually run their last service at 11.30pm,” he said, adding that the last train can be as late as past midnight.
Executive Rachel Yap, 27, said she is confused by the last train time and station operating hours.
“Two months ago, I had arrived at the station and was barred from entering. But I saw trains still running in my direction of travel.
“It was frustrating. I had to call my family to come pick me up,” she said.
Though Yap plans her travel times wisely now, she said that train stations should operate till the last train departs.
In a Facebook post, user Zengger Ling expressed disappointment that some stations only operate on an “exit-only mode” where passengers on the last train are allowed to exit but not those entering to catch the last few trains.
“Why can’t passengers enter the station when there are still trains available?” he said.
Content writer Yanika Liew, 24, also shared her frustration with the limited accessibility.
She lamented the constant rush to be at the LRT station before 11.30pm.
“I use public transport to go to work. When I have to work overtime, I always have to keep in mind to catch the last train.
“Even if the event ends at 10.30pm, there might not be enough time for me to reach my station,” said Liew, adding that leaving early meant losing out on networking with others.
On its website, Rapid Rail, the operator of rail services in Klang Valley, the MRT and LRT station closures stated typically range from 11.30pm to midnight on weekdays and up to 11.30pm on weekends.
This is significantly earlier than the last train arrival or departure times, with some trains running as late as 12.30am, depending on the particular station.
When contacted, a Rapid Rail customer service officer replied: “The stations close at a fixed time to clear passengers.”
On its website, Rapid Rail said its Kelana Jaya LRT – the most used urban train line in the country – stations close anytime from 10.45pm to 11.30pm on working days, depending on location, while the last train runs until 12.57am.
As for the Kajang MRT – the second most used train line – stations close as early as 11.25pm, even though trains run as late as 12.38am to 12.44am, depending on direction.
Rapid Rail said that “patrons should enter stations before the station closing time”, which implies that prospective passengers must also keep track of this time other than the timing for the last train.
For KL Monorail, the website does not even indicate what the first and last trains for all the stations are, nor does it list station closing times.
Instead, the public is given this sentence: “Closing time for stations varies depending on location. Travellers exiting at stations with its shutters rolled down (sic) don’t panic. You may exit at the bypass door as indicated by station staff.”
Wong said in other cities, stations are still accessible past midnight to serve trains that run well past 12am.
“Our city is alive beyond midnight but there is a lack of safe transportation,” said Wong.
Another user, who only wanted to be known as Kong, 53, said no station should close before the last train leaves.
“This is Klang Valley, where there are always people working in offices, sometimes until late at night.
“By not catering to them, Rapid KL is missing out on attracting new passengers,” said the analyst, who has been using the LRT since 2001 and the MRT since 2017.
A train enthusiast who has travelled around South-East Asia, Calvin Chew, said he has yet to encounter metro stations closing before the last trains leave in Bangkok or Jakarta.
“The station closes after the last train leaves and the last passenger exits a particular station. Full service is still provided until the last minute. Looks like we still have a long way to go,” he said.
The Star has reached out to Prasarana Malaysia, Rapid Rail’s parent company, as well as the Land Public Transport Agency, the regulator of land public transport matters in the country, for a response.
In the meantime, users can check LRT and MRT station closing times, other than the last train arrival and departure at https://myrapid.com.my.
