In Memory: KLIA Aerotrain Bombardier CX-100 (27 June 1998-1 March 2023)

The KLIA Aerotrain is the backbone of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA T1) especially for international flights. KLIA T1 comprises of 3 main buildings, namely the Main Terminal Building, Contact Pier, and Satellite Building. International flights, especially for widebody aircraft, tend to use the Satellite Building, and is also where the main restaurants and lounges are located at. The only way to travel between the Contact Pier and Satellite Building was by the Aerotrain.

The KLIA Aerotrain has been plagued with problems since 2010, requiring track modification, a new depot, and a third train set to improve reliability, and finally ran for the last time on 1 March 2023 with 2 simultaneous breakdowns involving a broken down train with 114 passengers, and the subsequent breakdown of the rescue train, leaving KLIA with no more Aerotrains, and services were suspended till further notice.

KLIA Aerotrain Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100

The KLIA Aerotrain uses a fleet of 9 cars of Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100. The first 4 cars were in operation since 27 June 1998 operating as 2 sets of 2-car trains, each on its own independent bi-directional single track. A third train car was added to each set some time after 2003.

With set reliability issues and to provide better maintenance possibilities, the KLIA Aerotrain was suspended between 1 November 2010 and 15 March 2011 for track modifications to install a switch to enable trains to change tracks, to add a new maintenance facility on the apron, and to add a third 3-car train set, allowing 1 set to be kept as a spare and to keep 2 sets operating at other times. This 2011 modification brings up the fleet of the KLIA Aerotrain Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100 to 9 cars, forming 3 sets of 3-car trains.

Hence, it is weird that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood was quoted by The Star saying that “this was because the existing trains were constantly breaking down given that the assets are 25 years old”, as the third train set has only operated for 12 years.

Towards the accidental end of its service life, only 1 Aerotrain set was in operation at selected times of the day, supplemented by buses during periods when the Aerotrain is not in operation.

Notice the distance between the Contact Pier and Satellite Building. I’m glad that KLIA didn’t actually convert the train line to a SkyBridge a la KLIA T2.

Shuttle buses were on standby at the bus terminal to run in times when the Aerotrain was not in operation.

The simple white livery with an orange stripe is the latest livery the KLIA Aerotrain has. This was rarely seen during good times when advertisements used to consistently wrap around Aerotrains. Perhaps all the advertisers left during bad times since the advertisements consistently appear during breakdowns.

KLIA Aerotrain Exterior

Another train set still bears the original Aerotrain livery of a white background with blue ang green stripes. This is the same livery as when the Aerotrain was launched in 1998. Ironically, I caught this set stabling in maintenance mode at the Satellite Building station, which is where the former integrated platform and maintenance facility used to be.

A closer look at the 2 liveries, though through platform screen doors.

The deteriorated Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Pan Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur International Airport logos can still be seen on this train set in 2022. Pan Pacific Hotel KLIA closed in 2012, with MAHB taking over the management and operations and rebranded it to Sama-Sama Hotel KL International Airport.

KLIA Aerotrain Interior

The interior of the is sparse to cater for high amounts of passengers for a quick 1-station ride. The sparse interior also allows for better access with luggage, trolleys, and mobility devices.

Grab poles and handrails are installed in the middle standing area.

The Bombardier logo is present on the door track in the train cars.

A builder sticker (?) is also present to ensure you know the train is made by Bombardier.

The end of the train car has 1 side for standees, along with a pair of proper seats and a hatch which doubles up as seats.

This hatch was once carpeted, but is now replaced with a metal sheet. Nevertheless, it still can be sat on.

Cushioned seats are available at the ends of the car, with 4 proper seats in total per train car.

The Aerotrain route map is complemented with the shapes of the terminal and gate numbers for better navigation.

The KLIA Aerotrain adopts the Spanish Solution at both stations. Doors open for exit first before the other set of doors open for boarding. Lit signs are posted above the train doors to show the direction of entry and exit. I’ve previously had an issue with this.

In case of breakdown, call the Engineering Control Centre or tell MAHB via Twitter or Facebook.

The last emergency opening of the train doors on 1 March 2023 and subsequent detrainment marked the end of the KLIA Aerotrain Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100’s life.

Surely this is not in Malaysia… pic.twitter.com/MZRgXhUN6R

— khalid karim ARISE MALAYSIA (@khalidkarim) March 2, 2023

KLIA Aerotrain Contact Pier Station (Gates A, B, G, H, Arrival & Transfer)

Contact Pier Station is the Aerotrain station after Malaysia departure immigration for passengers to continue on to the Satellite Building. On the flip side, Contact Pier Station is also used by arriving passengers travelling from the Satellite Building to Malaysia arrival immigration just after, 1 floor down from the station.

Only 1 platform was in use before the Aerotrain’s demise.

The route map of the KLIA Aerotrain on the platform screen doors.

The KLIA Aerotrain operates with the Spanish Solution with the island platform for boarding passengers and the side platforms for alighting passengers. The escalators ahead also correspond to this arrangement as the escalators down to immigration for arriving passengers are also located there.

Contact Pier Bus Station

Contact Pier Bus Station is located after the island platform of KLIA Aerotrain Contact Pier Station, where buses depart for the Satellite Building now 24 hours a day with no Aerotrain in service.

During the Aerotrain problematic period, notices were already displayed for passengers to use the bus as an alternative.

KLIA Aerotrain Satellite Building Station (Gates C1-C37)

KLIA Aerotrain Satellite Building Station is the main access point for international flights, whether for departures or arrivals. For international passengers accessing a wider variety of shops, restaurants, and lounges, the Satellite Building also provides them.

A similar Spanish Solution layout is provided here.

Only 1 platform was in use before the Aerotrain’s demise.

To pretty much go anywhere else aside from your C gate, you need the Aerotrain.

Doors were marked in numbers, and during peak periods, announcements were made for passengers to move up to doors 5 and 6 for more available space, instead of just crowding around the front part of the platform.

The KLIA Aerotrain operates with the Spanish Solution with the island platform for boarding passengers and the side platforms for alighting passengers.

Satellite Building Bus Station

Satellite Building Bus Station is located after the island platform of KLIA Aerotrain Satellite Building Station.

However, this was not in operation during my visit on 21 July 2022.

Satellite Building Bus Station was closed, with no buses seen on the CCTV either.

Gate C5 Bus Lounge

Instead, passengers were directed to Gate C5 Bus Lounge to access the bus, which is a far walk.

Perhaps Gate C5 Bus Lounge is still inconveniently in use today, as Minister of Transport YB Anthony Loke mentioned that people are unhappy as they have to walk quite a bit.

As for now, the Aerotrain is not in service.

KLIA T1 Airside Shuttle Bus Service

As a replacement to the Aerotrain, frequent airside shuttle bus services are provided 24 hours a day between the Contact Pier and Satellite Building using the airside roads parallel to the Aerotrain tracks.

To supplement the frequency, Rapid KL MRT Shuttle Buses operating in the Klang Valley have been roped in to provide this airside shuttle bus service.

There is a high number of buses available for this airside shuttle bus service so passengers won’t have to wait too long to be shuttled across.

MRT Shuttle Buses form the main fleet of the airside shuttle bus service between the Contact Pier and Satellite Building

MAHB’s own buses supplement the airside shuttle bus service frequency, though not at great fleet numbers.

New COBUS 3000 apron buses have also been procured to provide the replacement airside shuttle bus services.

4. It will also be equipped with WiFi connectivity and digital displays.

MAHB MD Iskandar Mizal Mahmood says the airport buses will be on par with, if not better than the buses being used at other major international airports globally. pic.twitter.com/r5JEixM9MU

— BFM News (@NewsBFM) September 5, 2022

KLIA Aerotrain Future

The KLIA Aerotrain will be replaced by Alstom Innovia APM 300R trains, with the project awarded to PESTECH Technology Sdn Bhd. Alstom has acquired Bombardier Transportation on 29 January 2021.

While originally scheduled to complete by March 2025, Minister of Transport YB Anthony Loke has insisted to speed up the KLIA Aerotrain Alstom Innovia APM 300R project, and the first new train will be in service latest by July 2024.

Reserve space for another Aerotrain line is maintained for Satellite B, if ever built. Satellite B would be the mirror image of the current Satellite Building.