ERLSB Embarks on Major Cost-Saving Programme
By Sharen Kaur
RAIL operator Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERLSB), which holds the concession to run high-speed rail services between the KL Sentral Station and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, has embarked on a major operation and energy cost-saving plan for each trip made by its fleet of trains, through the deployment of several key energy-saving programmes.
ERL Maintenance Support Sdn Bhd (Emas) acting chief executive officer (CEO) Thomas Baake said the first of such programme implemented in 2003 had reduced the energy cost per trip from RM65.56 to RM62.11 in 2005.
“This translated into a total savings of about RM300,000 and we expect to continue our efforts in this aspect. It is also our responsibility to provide environment-friendly high-speed rail services. Cost-saving will come as a windfall benefit,” Baake told Business Times.
Emas is the maintenance support unit of ERLSB, which is 50 per cent owned by YTL Corp Bhd, with Tabung Haji Technologies Sdn Bhd holding 40 per cent and Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd the remaining 10 per cent.
It operates and maintains eight express trains that run 135 services daily on a modern electrical rail system between KL Sentral and KLIA, and four transit trains running 78 services a day, stopping at three intermediate stations in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya and Salak Tinggi.
The trains have built-in energy-saving features and no direct emissions of pollutants.
“A task force comprising Emas and ERLSB officials has been formed to look at ways to reduce, re-use and recycle products and materials used within the company to minimise its operational cost,” said Baake, who will be Emas’ new CEO affective April 6.
He was previously the safety and security manager for the ERL system for five years and has with him some 36 years of experience in railway matters.
“Emas has a target this year. We need to optimise the use of air- conditioning and spend some RM50,000 to install meters in all our trains. The meters will enable us to determine how much energy has been consumed per trip and how much more can we save,” he said.
He also said that each train, which has a life span of between 30 and 40 years, is usually overhauled after running 1.5 million kilometres, at least over four years.
The depot to maintain and overhaul the trains, as well as the company’s administration building is in Salak Tinggi.
Emas also carries out condition- monitoring at the depot to make projections as to when changes should be made for each train to operate well.
The track works, spanning 57km, are maintained by Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned unit of YTL.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that these services are safe, reliable, economical and environment-friendly. We have some 13,000 passengers who make use of the services each day,” Baake said.
On another issue, Baake said that there are no plans at the moment to increase the size of its fleet.
“When the project was launched in April 2002, there were plans to include more trains at a later stage. But at the moment, we find the services running sufficiently,” he added.
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