MRT just ended its one-month free service this week, where it recorded its first million passengers by the fourth week of operation.
This first phase of the SBK Line (Sungai Buloh-Kajang) involves 21km elevated tracks between Sungai Buloh and Semantan, covering 12 stations: Sungai Buloh, Kampung Selamat, Kwasa Damansara, Kwasa Sentral, Kota Damansara, Surian, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Phileo Damansara, Pusat Bandar Damansara and Semantan.
For now, only the Sungai Buloh station is connected to another rail network, namely KTM Komuter. SBK Line will eventually have seven interchange stations. MRT runs feeder buses from all stations except Kwasa Damansara.
From the city, you can hop on MRT feeder buses from KL Sentral, Menara DBKL, Mid Valley and Desa Sri Hartamas to get to the MRT Pusat Bandar Damansara station.
Currently, all operational stations are elevated. Apart from the sheer size and height – the Pusat Bandar Damansara station being the highest, reaching six storeys tall – the stations are open-sided, making them airy with plenty of natural light, the design inspired by the ‘wakaf', i.e. traditional rest stop pavilion.
Of course, the escalator ride to the platform is an experience in itself. The escalator in Pusat Bandar Damansara reaches 17 meters high, so please hold on tight. Lifts are available for the faint of hearts.
The coaches are driverless four-car sets similar to the LRT trains but more spacious. Each train can accommodate up to 1,200 passengers. Above the doors, interactive displays will show you which station you are at and which door will open when train stops.
A few noticeable improvements from current train system include the upgraded ticket machines that accept Touch N Go (thank you), the interactive screens display timetable for the next three services, and there are automatic safety barriers on platforms.
Popular stops include the Mutiara Damansara station thanks to IKEA and The Curve, Bandar Utama station with One Utama mall crowd and Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Park-n-Ride services are available at selected stations. Sungai Buloh station provides 1236 bays while Kwasa Damansara, Kwasa Sentral, Bandar Utama, and Pusat Bandar Damansara each has 500.
Phase 2 of SBK Line starts operations in July covering the remaining 19 stations, including a 9.5km underground route with stops in Bukit Bintang, Muzium Negara, Pasar Seni and TRX, which will be the largest underground interchange for MRT Lines 1 and 2.
