TWENTY five engineers from the Permanent Way Institution, Malaysia visited the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh Depot on 9^th August 2016.

The visit was led by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) General Manager Encik Mohd Ramli Mohd Noh and the group arrived at the Administration Building at 10.30am and stayed on site for about 2 hours.

Upon their arrival, Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) Electrical & Mechanical Systems Director Mr Tarenjit Singh Khella (Tom) briefed the group about the visit that they are about to undertake for the day.

Tom explained to the group that there are 41 trains that are already in the depot undergoing testing. This is more than enough for the First Phase of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line to be operational as it only requires 24 trains. He went on to explain the different features of the depot such as the rolling stock maintenance, infrastructure workshop and Operations Control Centre.

After a brief safety briefing was given by MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd Works Train Safety Operation Manager Encik Johari Yusoff, the visitors then began their walkabout of the depot.

The walkabout of the depot began with a walk to the rolling stock maintenance. Tom and Johari informed the engineers about the modification of trains and maintenance that are ongoing. They both also mentioned that the depot is operational for both the MRT Line 1 and MRT Line 2 projects. Ramli was duly impressed with the size of the depot after it was mentioned that it is the largest train depot in Southeast Asia.

Amongst the features of the rolling stock maintenance was that it has 2 virtual platforms for trains to undergo testing stops and also signalling on the track simulating an underground station.

A visit on board of one MRT train that was recently delivered to the depot was also on the schedule. On the train, Tom explained that the trains have heaters that help condensation of the air. The 88 metre length train has 22 safety cameras installed in the train too.

A geometry machine vehicle was then displayed to the visitors at the infrastructure workshop that acts as a vehicle to check the profile of the rail.

Before ending the visit, the engineers were then brought to the Operations Control Centre where they were briefed about the various navigation methods of the train. With the MRT train being driverless, it is in this Centre, where the train is being controlled, navigated and monitored.

The visit ended with Ramli presenting a memento to Tom as a gesture of their visit to the MRT Depot.