Fares on LRT and Monorail services will cost more next year.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — LRT and Monorail fares are expected to go up next year.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is reviewing the fare structure, its chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, said.

“There have not been any increase in the past 10 years or so in the LRT rates and it is due to increase next year,” he said.

With electricity tariffs also to go up on Jan 1, it remains to be seen what the quantum of increase will be.

It is understood that fares for the KTM services will be also be reviewed.

Syed Hamid Albar said the review would be comprehensive and take into account several factors to ensure the increase will not burden the people.

“It has to be a win-win situation between the affordability to the people and the sustainability of the rail industry,” he said.

He said the commission will also monitor the operation and maintenance cost of all rail operators, including cost components and harmonising the industry’s operation and maintenance cost.

“We are aware the increase of fuel and energy cost could cause a negative impact with low ridership and reduced public transport market share,” he said.

“The rail operators would be affected as there could be a reduction in quality and service performance which will affect punctuality, reliability and maintainability.”

Syed Hamid said any decision made will ensure a long-term rail industry sustainability where rail operators will be less reliant on government financial support.

Currently the LRT fares range from 70 sen and RM5.90.

Unlike Malaysia, countries such as Singapore and London experience yearly rail price increases.

Singapore increased its fares by up to 6.6 per cent and had adjusted the fares gradually seven times since 2003.

In India, the rates have gone up twice this year. There was a 20 per cent increase in January and a further two per cent increase in October.

Bangkok’s Skytrain fare is set go up by 25 per cent this year and it would be the first time the price is being reviewed in eight years.

The rail fare in London had increased by 3.9 per cent this year and is expected to increase by another 0.4 per cent next year.

It was reported that rail industry players had requested for an urgent meeting with SPAD in anticipation of the electricity tariffs hike.

The new tariffs would affect the operations of Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad — which operates the LRT systems and KL Monorail service — KTM Berhad and Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd.