Express Rail Link
The Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd is a company that owns and operates the airport rail link of the same name that connects the Kuala Lumpur International Airport with the Kuala Lumpur Sentral transportation hub, 57 kilometres apart. The company operates two different train services:
- KLIA Ekspres, a direct airport rail service directly from KLIA to KL Sentral, launched on April 14, 2002.
- KLIA Transit, a commuter rail service with three additional stops between KLIA and KL Sentral, launched on June 1, 2002.
Background
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, 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 joint 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.
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, loans from Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia and the remainder through import credit from four German financial institutions.
Unit / Subsidiaries
ERL Maintenance Support Sdn Bhd, or E-MAS, is ERL’s operations and maintenance subsidiary. E-MAS had working together with CRCC since 2012 on the operation & maintenance of Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Southern Line which their 13 employees were selected for the first outing in 2012 and another 29 employees were sent in 2013. In 2014 Hajj season, ERL has been working with Prasarana Malaysia to help fulfil CRCC’s manpower requirements.Major facilities
- Customs, Immigration and Quarantine facilities
- Departure lounges
- Passenger arrival and departure halls
- Underground track area
- Duty-free outlets
- Food and beverage outlets
- Station parking
Rolling stock
On 27 November 2014, Express Rail Link ordered from CRRC Changchun six new 4-car trainsets to cater to the ridership growth of both KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services. CRRC's Zhuzhou plant had already supplied rolling stock to the rapidKL Ampang Line and KTM Komuter beforehand. Of the six new trains, two will be used for KLIA Ekspres and four for KLIA Transit. Delivery of the six new trains will be made progressively from May 2016 onwards, after which testing will be done. ERL expects all six trains to be operational by November 2016.
Commercial service commenced on 13 March 2018 using CRRC Changchun Equator EMUs.
Fleet
| Line Code | Line Name | Formation | In service On order | EMU/Fleet | Manufacturers |
| 4 cars EMU | 8 trainsets 2 trainsets | Siemens Desiro ET 425 M CRRC Changchun "Equator EMU" |  Siemens AG CRRC Changchun | ||
| 4 cars EMU | 4 trainsets 4 trainsets | Siemens Desiro ET 425 M CRRC Changchun "Equator EMU" | Siemens AG CRRC Changchun |
Ridership
Accidents
On August 24, 2010, Express Rail Link suffered their first reported accident in which 3 passengers were injured. Two ERL trains collided at Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Of the trains involved one of them was about to depart at 9.45pm for Kuala Lumpur International Airport while the other train, which was empty, rammed into its rear.Expansion
A 2.14 km extension to the new KLIA2 terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport has been completed. Commercial service commenced on 1 May 2013.There are proposals to extend the line to Labu, Seremban and Melaka.