By ROSHIDI ABU SAMAH
BATU GAJAH: KTMB will charge a fare between RM30 and RM35 for the Electric Train Service (ETS) between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur scheduled to be in operation in the first week of August.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the fare was just as the goverment had taken into consideration the welfare of potential commuters.
"The fare can be considered cheap. KTMB had initially applied for a fare of RM50 but it was rejected by the government.
"We want to encourage the public to use the ETS which is more comfortable and safe compared to express bus services. That is why we want the ETS fare to be competitively priced," he told reporters after the opening of KTMB complex by Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah here Tuesday.
Kong added that there would be five ETS trains that would provide eight return trips for the Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh route daily. The first train will leave at 5am and the last at 11pm.
He said KTM would increase the numbers of trips if there was a great demand for the services especially during festivals.
"We are planning to get the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) himself to launch the new train service at a date to be decided," he added.
With a speed of 140km/h, the ETS is expected to reduce travel time between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur to about two hours from three hours previously.
Meanwhile, Kong said the new KTMB complex, built in a 75ha area, cost of about RM400mil.
He said the project was started in November 2006 and completed in November 2008.
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