KTM Class 92


The Class 92 is a type of electric multiple unit operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu on its KTM Komuter services. A total of 38 sets were built by CSR Zhuzhou of China, in 6-car formations.

History

The Class 92 was procured under a Malaysian Government initiative, National Key Result Area to reduce congestion and improve public transport with a specific RM2 billion allocation to KTMB to improve commuter rail efficiency. A sum of RM 1.894 billion was spent to procure these trains, with the remainder being spent on the improvement of signaling along the Putra-Mid Valley stretch and a ticketing system upgrade.
The first EMU was delivered on 23 September 2011 and was expected to operate in revenue service by late December 2011. However, delays in testing led to the subsequent postponement of launch. On 8 March 2012, 4 sets commenced operation. All 38 sets were in revenue service by July 2012.

Features

Designed for low dwell times and high passenger seating capacity, the trains have three double leaf doors per side. The driving motors have longitudinal seating only while the trailer feature a mixture of longitudinal and traverse 2+2 seating. It has wide gang-ways interconnecting each coach, allowing passengers to distribute effectively throughout the length of the train. However, two middle coaches of the class 92 is designated women's only coaches by its operator KTM, limiting full interactivity within the train set. Dynamic route maps located above doors details trains position relative to station in real-time. CCTVs and 3-pin power outlets are provided as further features. All trains have over-head air-conditioning systems to provide ventilation, dehumidification and comfortable temperature control.
The KTM Class 92 trains are fitted with 65 million euros worth of Siemens made transformers, power converters, traction motors and vehicle control systems.

Operation

The Class 92 operates along the two Komuter lines in the Central Sector. During current 15-minute frequency operations, as many as 25 class 92 sets are used while the remaining sets are kept in reserve. In the future, it is expected for the total maximum of concurrently used sets to increase to 36 with 2 to remain in reserve.

Special service

During festivities, the KTM Class 92 is used for special services. Special services typically occur during occasions such as the "homecoming" exodus, saw class 92 sets operating intercity routes, such as the KL Sentral-Ipoh route complementing the ETS train service. In other festivities, such as the festival of Thaipusam, the class 92 also provides service from Ipoh direct to Batu Caves.

Maintenance and Depot

The Class 92 sets is maintained by its manufacturer CSR Zhuzhou. The maintenance facility will be based mainly at KTM’s Sentul Komuter Depot while a minor secondary base is located at Tanjung Malim.
On top of all that, a new special commuter maintenance depot is being built in the vicinity of Seremban station to house the class 92. The depot will have a capacity of stabling 19 six coach Class 92 sets and be able to conduct simultaneous maintenance work on up to 6 sets of commuter trains. The depot will also have up to 15 tracks of 6km each to store and maintain trains. The depot will also stage other Rawang-Seremban line rolling stocks.

Design and Construction

The exterior and interior of the class 92 is fully designed in Germany by Tricon Design for CSR Zhuzhou. The exterior has a Malaysian tiger inspired front motif and tiger fur side coating.
The trains were assembled in CSR Zhuzhou's Electric Plant train factory in China. Whilepower traction units and vehicle control systems were built by Siemens in Germany.

Formation

Set Designation123456Arrival DateStatusLaunch Date
Class 92 SCS 01C9201T9201M9201M9202T9202C9202Arrived Sept 22Operational8 March
Class 92 SCS 02C9203T9203M9203M9204T9204C9204Arrived Oct 19Operational8 March
Class 92 SCS 03C9205T9205M9205M9206T9206C9206Arrived NovOperational8 March
Class 92 SCS 04C9207T9207M9207M9208T9208C9208Arrived NovOperational8 March
Class 92 SCS 05C9209T9209M9209M9210T9210C9210Arrived NovOperational31 March
Class 92 SCS 06C9211T9211M9211M9212T9212C9212Arrived NovCrashed31 March
Class 92 SCS 07C9213T9213M9213M9214T9214C9214Arrived DecOperational31 March
Class 92 SCS 08C9215T9215M9215M9216T9216C9216Arrived DecOperational31 March
Class 92 SCS 09C9217T9217M9217M9218T9218C9218Arrived DecOperational31 March
Class 92 SCS 10C9219T9219M9219M9220T9220C9220Arrived JanOperational31 March
Class 92 SCS 11C9221T9221M9221M9222T9222C9222Arrived JanOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 12C9223T9223M9223M9224T9224C9224Arrived JanOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 13C9225T9225M9225M9226T9226C9226Arrived FebOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 14C9227T9227M9227M9228T9228C9228Arrived FebOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 15C9229T9229M9229M9230T9230C9230Arrived FebOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 16C9231T9231M9231M9232T9232C9232Arrived FebOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 17C9233T9233M9233M9234T9234C9234ArrivedOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 18C9235T9235M9235M9236T9236C9236ArrivedOperationalMay
Class 92 SCS 19C9237T9237M9237M9238T9238C9238ArrivedOperationalJune
Class 92 SCS 20C9239T9239M9239M9240T9240C9240ArrivedWritten offJune
Class 92 SCS 21C9241T9241M9241M9242T9242C9242ArrivedOperationalJune
Class 92 SCS 22C9243T9243M9243M9244T9244C9244ArrivedOperationalJune
Class 92 SCS 23C9245T9245M9245M9246T9246C9246ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 24C9247T9247M9247M9248T9248C9248ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 25C9249T9249M9249M9250T9250C9250ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 26C9251T9251M9251M9252T9252C9252ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 27C9253T9253M9253M9254T9254C9254ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 28C9255T9255M9255M9256T9256C9256ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 29C9257T9257M9257M9258T9258C9258ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 30C9259T9259M9259M9260T9260C9260ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 31C9261T9261M9261M9262T9262C9262ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 32C9263T9263M9263M9264T9264C9264ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 33C9265T9265M9265M9266T9266C9266ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 34C9267T9267M9267M9268T9268C9268ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 35C9269T9269M9269M9270T9270C9270ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 36C9271T9271M9271M9272T9272C9272ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 37C9273T9273M9273M9274T9274C9274ArrivedOperationalJuly
Class 92 SCS 38C9275T9275M9275M9276T9276C9276ArrivedOperationalJuly

Cars 2 and 5 are equipped with a double-arm Z-shaped pantograph.
Cars 3 and 4 are designated women's only car.

Corruption Investigation

The purchase of the KTM class 92 was notably under investigation by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission over its tender process. In 2008, the Chinese railway manufacturer Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd, being the lowest bidder, was originally awarded the tender to build 3 car sets at the cost of RM 13.7 million. This figure later increased to RM 48 million per 6 car set. According to the details revealed to the press about the investigation, the re-negotiation process was held directly with the manufacturer and there was certain irregularities in pricing. The investigation is still on-going.

Operational Issues

There has been a number of issues related to the Class 92. In a comment by KTMB's incumbent president, Elias Kadir has noted that the class 92 is "not up to standard". In other related incidents, in which Class 92 sets malfunctioned was due reportedly to poor maintenance and non-payment to suppliers.
Poor fleet management has led to many KTM Class 92 sets to have gone without routine maintenance, thus leading to a void in manufacturer warranty. According to the Auditor-General’s Report, The sum of RM99.94 million paid by the Railway Assets Corporation to CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Limited to service the six-car Electric Multiple Unit cannot be reimbursed due to KTMB's failure in its part of sending the trains for necessary maintenance.

Vandalism

Immediately, following its launch a number of KTM Class 92 were intentionally damaged, at least 20 side windows are cracked or holed, due a number of stone throwing incidents. This has culminated in a number of media reports. Despite the incidents, KTMB has no intention of upgrading the SCS to shatterproof glass to counter these incident. During the 2018 Malaysian general election, trains plastered with campaign advertising from then ruling party Barisan National had their windows cracked again.

Accidents and Incidents

The premature decay in KTM class 8X circa 2006-2012, led to a public outcry for new commuter rolling stock. Hence, there was a need for a fast-tracked tender of new trains in order to meet the rising rail passenger demand.
Originally the first set was expected to be launched in December 2011, it was later delayed to January and then February 2012. The eventual launch date for Class 92 took place on March 8, 2012.
Reports place the delay as a result of further operational testing, and driver training.

Gallery