CRRC wins contract for 26 new light rail trains in Malaysia.

According to a news report from the rail transport exhibition, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has officially awarded the contract to CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation ) for 26 new light rail trains for the Kelana Jaya Line in the Klang Valley through a public tender process . Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook disclosed this information to the media yesterday after attending Prasarana's release of its "2025 Infrastructure Performance Report and 2026 Planning Scheme".

Luckin Coffee stated that Malaysia is currently maintaining close cooperation with China in the procurement of rail vehicles, and the Kelana Jaya line train project was awarded to CRRC after a rigorous bidding process. The first train is expected to be delivered in September 2028 .

As the busiest line in the Prasarana system , the Kelana Jaya Line has experienced service disruptions on several occasions in recent years. In response, the Malaysian government allocated RM1 billion in its 2026 budget specifically for the replacement of 26 light rail trains on this line.

Currently, the Kelana Jaya Line is undergoing both Level 4 and Level 5 deep maintenance works , covering key systems such as rolling stock, signaling, communications, and track infrastructure. A total of 13 specialized maintenance programs are planned and implemented until the project is fully completed. Ongoing system upgrades include wireless communication systems, signaling systems, and tunnel ventilation systems ; new upgrades involve automatic platform gates, passenger information systems, and public address systems .

In addition to rail transport, the Malaysian government has also approved RM1.1 billion in development expenditure under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) Phase 1 (RP1) to support the next phase of bus fleet expansion. Of this, RM851 million will be used to purchase 645 electric buses , including 258 large electric buses and 387 medium and small electric buses , which will be deployed to Rapid KL (480 buses) and Rapid Penang (165 buses) respectively .

The award letter for the relevant project is expected to be issued in March 2027 , and the vehicle delivery period will continue until December 2028 .

In addition, Prasarana has been approved to purchase 300 electric vans (worth approximately RM158 million ) and 100 Rapid Mobility vans (worth approximately RM37 million ) to enhance on-demand mobility and "last mile/first mile" shuttle services in Rapid KL and Rapid Penang . Deliveries of the vans are expected to begin in December 2026 and be completed by 2028.

However, Anthony Loke pointed out that the currently approved development budget does not fully cover the charging infrastructure needed for the new electric vehicle fleet . Therefore, Prasarana will seek alternative financing channels and study the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities at light rail and subway stations to support long-term operational needs.

Looking ahead to 2026, Anthony Loke stated that Prasarana's core focus will be on improving the stability, safety, and user-friendliness of public transport services , encompassing the rail and bus operations of Rapid KL and Rapid Penang. He pointed out that public transport is becoming the preferred choice for an increasing number of people, helping to shorten commuting time and reduce the cost of living .

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