The long–delayed, oft–disrupted new aerotrains at KLIA are set to undergo an independent assessment following a failure that grounded services for nearly an hour on Wednesday, according to Bernama. The incident occurred within the defect liability period, leading airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB) to seek rectification work from the project’s contractors.
“An urgent technical meeting was convened with project contractors Alstom and the IJM–Pestech Joint Venture (IPJV), which is also responsible for the design and installation of the power distribution system,” the company said in a statement. “The root cause of the disruption is currently under investigation, with the contractor expected to issue a separate detailed technical report.”
In the meantime, MAHB has implemented additional measures such as thermographic scanning and diagnostic tests to verify the system’s safety and integrity. It will also appoint an independent assessor to conduct a comprehensive review of the power supply design and installation quality, it said.
The disruption occurred around 8:30pm and prompted MAHB to activate contingency measures to prevent any missed flights. “Shuttle buses were deployed immediately to ensure uninterrupted passenger transfers between the main terminal and satellite building,” MAHB added. “We can confirm that no passengers missed their flights during this period, affirming the efficiency of our contingency plans.”
By 9:27pm, one of the trains was back in operation, and once multiple rounds of safety and operational testing had been completed, service was resumed for both trains.
The company expressed its dismay at the disruption, saying: “This latest incident is particularly disappointing given that the aerotrain system had undergone a stringent testing, commissioning and certification process prior to its launch. This process involved independent consultants, safety professionals and regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with all safety and performance standards.”
It added that it would closely monitor the rectification work being performed by the contractors. “Malaysia Airports remains fully committed to ensuring that the KLIA aerotrain system is safe, reliable and capable of delivering the high standards of service that our passengers expect and deserve,”
The post KLIA aerotrain to undergo independent assessment of power supply following hour-long disruption appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
