KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 17): The target date for the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) line to begin operations has been pushed back to Dec 31, 2025, or later, depending on the outcome of ongoing tests, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

The 37.8km line, also known as the Shah Alam Line, was previously slated to begin operations on Sept 30 this year. Loke said LRT3 is now in the final phase of testing and commissioning (T&C) to ensure the system’s reliability and safety.

“If these T&C activities can be completed as planned, the line may be ready for opening by the end of this year. However, it remains highly dependent on the outcomes of the ongoing tests. In rail services, final testing is among the most critical elements,” he said while winding up the Budget 2026 debate in the Dewan Rakyat.

Loke stressed that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Prasarana are prioritising safety, operational reliability and technical compliance, and the official opening date will only be confirmed once all verification processes are completed.

In recent weeks, the authorities have carried out free-float runs — trial operations without passengers — to ensure no technical disruptions occur once the line opens. Several additional tests are still required to confirm operational readiness across all aspects, including stations, signalling systems and staffing.

Testing and verification work will continue until the end of December, with the final decision on the opening date to be announced once authorities are fully satisfied with the results, he added.

Loke also noted that Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd has recruited 956 personnel in preparation for LRT3 operations and maintenance. The hires cover a wide range of roles, including operations, technical, engineering and support teams, to ensure the service runs smoothly, safely and efficiently once launched.

The LRT3 line, which connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang, was first launched in 2016 during the Barisan Nasional administration with a budget of RM9 billion.

When the Pakatan Harapan government took over in 2018, it revealed that the RM9 billion allocation did not include additional costs such as project delivery partner fees (6%), consultant fees, operational expenses, overheads and interest payments during construction, bringing the total to RM31.7 billion.

The government initially cut costs by shelving five LRT3 stations and cancelling one, lowering the project cost to RM16.63 billion.

Later, during the Budget 2024 presentation in the Dewan Rakyat, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the revival of the five shelved stations — Tropicana, Raja Muda, Temasya, Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik — adding RM5.3 billion to the cost.

This brought the total project cost to RM21.93 billion, with the line expected to accommodate around 67,000 commuters daily.

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