MRT Putrajaya Line (PY Line) Phase 1

MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 between Kwasa Damansara and Kampung Batu has commenced operations on Thursday, 16 June 2022, at 3pm. Here is my exploration of all the stations along MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 during the Rapid KL free rides period.

MRT Putrajaya Line (PY Line) Phase 1 Route Map

The 12 stations in the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 are:

• Kwasa Damansara MRT Station – Interchange with MRT Kajang Line (KG Line)
• Kampung Selamat MRT Station
• Sungai Buloh MRT Station – Interchange with KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector
• Damansara Damai MRT Station
• Sri Damansara Barat MRT Station
• Sri Damansara Sentral MRT Station
• Sri Damansara Timur MRT Station – Interchange with KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector
• Metro Prima MRT Station
• Kepong Baru MRT Station
• Jinjang MRT Station
• Sri Delima MRT Station
• Kampung Batu MRT Station – Interchange with KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector

PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station

PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station is the current eastern or southern terminus of the MRT Putrajaya Line for Phase 1. The MRT line onwards to the city and Putrajaya will open in Phase 2.

PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station is located just beside Kampung Batu Railway Station. This enables an unpaid link or connecting station between the KTM Komuter Central Sector and MRT Putrajaya Line.

Entrance A is the most direct link from Kampung Batu Railway Station to PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station.

As the MRT Putrajaya Line does not serve Kuala Lumpur city directly yet, a bus relay alternative is provided by Rapid KL Bus Service 173. Route information on Rapid KL Bus Service 173 is posted at Entrance A of PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station.

Ticket machines are located beside the fare gates at PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station.

The ticket machines were not in use during my visit as there were free Rapid KL travel on MRT, LRT, BRT, Monorail and Buses from 16 June 2022 for 1 month in conjunction with the opening of MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1.

The fare chart of MRT Putrajaya Line.

Train information is also available at the concourse before entering the fare gates.

The concourse is clean, spacious and airy.

Lifts and escalators are available at MRT Putrajaya Line stations.

I was expecting escalators to only be going upwards with the cost cutting measures for MRT Putrajaya Line, but I’m pleased to see them operating in both directions.

Heading up the escalator to the platform.

My first thought when reaching the platform was that I had mistakenly ended up the depot instead.

Nevertheless, despite the clear rationalisation of budget, the design and roof does the job well to keep passengers sheltered at all times and dry during rain with the side panels.

Platform 1 to Putrajaya is currently the alighting platform for terminating trains at PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station. The train turns back at points near to the future PY14 Kentonmen MRT Station.

Platform 2 to Kwasa Damansara is the boarding platform for trains to PY01 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station.

The off peak frequency of MRT Putrajaya Line is about 7 minutes. 4-car trains operate on the MRT Putrajaya Line manufactured by HAP Consortium formed of Hyundai Rotem, Apex Communications, and POSCO Engineering.

Platform screen doors are installed at all MRT Putrajaya Line stations.

The light bar on top of the train doors shrinks to the middle as as a countdown to the doors closing.

The route map of MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 at Platform 2.

The eastern end of has a nice view of the MRT Putrajaya Line train and Kuala Lumpur city skyline.

MRT Putrajaya Line Hyundai Rotem EMU

The overall interior of the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 Hyundai Rotem train.

Main benches are laid out 7-abreast.

All seats at the ends of each bench are labelled as priority seats, and further emphasised by the yellow colour.

There are 2 seats by the ends of the train. The front-most can be tipped up to allow various hatches on the driving panel area to open.

There are 2 rows of handgrips above the seats and grabpoles in the middle.

The dynamic route map is on a screen allowing for flexibility in information shown.

The screen changes when arriving at stations to indicate the station name and door opening side.

There are also smaller screens in the center of the passenger areas.

The gangway in between train cars.

There are solo priority seats by the gangway.

Wheelchair spaces are also available. A latching belt is provided on a perch seat which can be used by standing passengers when there is no passenger in wheelchair using the wheelchair space.

PY12 Sri Delima MRT Station

Seems like all overground stations have largely the same design. PY12 Sri Delima MRT Station uses an island platform.

PY11 Jinjang MRT Station

PY11 Jinjang MRT Station uses an island platform.

PY10 Kepong Baru MRT Station

PY10 Kepong Baru MRT Station uses an island platform.

PY09 Metro Prima MRT Station

PY09 Metro Prima MRT Station uses an island platform. These sentences are as template as how the actual stations look.

PY08 Sri Damansara Timur MRT Station

PY08 Sri Damansara Timur MRT Station is a connecting station with Kepong Sentral Railway Station via an unpaid link.

However, do note that there are currently extremely limited KTM Komuter Central Sector train services at Kepong Sentral Railway Station, and I do not advise you to change for any KTM Komuter Central Sector train services here.

I’m not sure why PY08 Sri Damansara Timur MRT Station isn’t called Kepong Sentral to keep it consistent with Kepong Sentral Railway Station though. Sungai Buloh and Kampung Batu are the same as their connecting KTM stations.

PY07 Sri Damansara Sentral MRT Station

To add to confusion, the next station is called PY07 Sri Damansara Sentral MRT Station. Unfamiliar passengers might even think Sri Damansara Sentral is Kepong Sentral as they both have the name Sentral and are so close with each other.

PY07 Sri Damansara Sentral MRT Station is slightly different with side platforms, but the design and fittings are similar to all other new MRT Putrajaya Line elevated stations.

PY06 Sri Damansara Barat MRT Station

PY06 Sri Damansara Barat MRT Station uses an island platform.

PY05 Damansara Damai MRT Station

PY05 Damansara Damai MRT Station uses an island platform.

Flying over Jalan Kuala Selangor.

Flying over the KTM tracks.

Approaching PY04 Sungai Buloh MRT Station on former MRT Kajang Line viaducts.

PY04 Sungai Buloh MRT Station

PY04 Sungai Buloh MRT Station was formerly on the MRT Kajang Line. The station is now served by MRT Putrajaya Line.

PY04 Sungai Buloh MRT Station is a connecting station with Sungai Buloh Railway Station via an unpaid link. Change here for KTM Komuter Central Sector train services at Sungai Buloh Railway Station towards Rawang and Tanjung Malim.

Departing PY04 Sungai Buloh MRT Station with a view of a SkyPark Link 83 Class EMU operating on the Sungai Buloh-Tanjung Malim Shuttle.

PY03 Kampung Selamat MRT Station

PY03 Kampung Selamat MRT Station was formerly on the MRT Kajang Line. The station is now served by MRT Putrajaya Line.

Approaching the end of the MRT Putrajaya Line.

Passing by the Sungai Buloh MRT Feeder Bus Depot.

Passing by MRT Sungai Buloh Depot for both MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line.

The access track to the MRT Putrajaya Line side of Sungai Buloh Depot meet the main line here before approaching PY01 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station.

MRT Kajang Line trains use the track towards the MRT Kajang Line side of Sungai Buloh Depot as the turnback siding for train services towards Kajang MRT Station.

Shockingly, the points connecting the MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line (formerly the main line of the MRT Kajang Line) before have been removed. I don’t understand why this would be necessary as now the track layout is less flexible for maintenance and stock transfer across both lines, or even for service recovery during disruptions. The MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line are now disconnected even though they are similar systems.

PY01 KG04 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station

PY01 KG04 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station is an interchange station between the MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line.

A cross-platform transfer is designed in the same direction of travel.

Train frequencies and schedules are not timed with each other though, and a wait may be necessary when changing between the MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line.

The point removal works can be seen at the MRT Kajang Line platform.

The 2 MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line numbers at PY01 KG04 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station.

Heading back to PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station, I headed down to the lower platform.

The lower platform at PY01 KG04 Kwasa Damansara MRT Station is wider due to the viaduct pillars for the upper platform.

The passenger information system uses the existing MRT Kajang Line layout for the MRT Putrajaya Line.

Not going to PY41 Putrajaya MRT Station yet, just PY13 Kampung Batu MRT Station for now.

Conclusion

The MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 between Kwasa Damansara and Kampung Batu enhances connectivity around residential areas north of Kuala Lumpur city such as Sungai Buloh, Damansara Damai, Kepong, and Kampung Batu.

However, the key game-changing part of the MRT Putrajaya Line through the city is not ready yet. For now, passengers from the MRT Putrajaya Line need to change to the MRT Kajang Line at Kwasa Damansara for a long way around to the city, or to the KTM Komuter Central Sector, Rapid KL Bus Service 173, or GoKL Maroon Line at Kampung Batu to continue their journey to the city.

Hopefully, travel patterns will change once MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 2 opens in January 2023.