Today was just like any day, I got to the station, ready to endure another 24 stops of hell that it takes me to get to the office. I scan my card through the entry gate, take a right and go down the stairs to see there were people waiting until halfway up them. This wasn’t normal, and I knew what was about to go down. A minute later and lo and behold, they announced that the trains were facing ‘technical difficulties’. This wasn’t the normal morning congestion, and you can tell. The problem arose on the Kelana Jaya Line.
Hai, there was a door issue with one of the trains. Service resumes normal now. However, it will take some time to regulate the other train's movement.
— AskRapidKL (@AskRapidKL) February 28, 2020
Hi, terdapat door issue, tren di bawa secara manual dan perlu di keluarkan dari servis.
— AskRapidKL (@AskRapidKL) February 28, 2020
The problem apparently, was one of the train’s had a door malfunction which caused a backup on the train speeds. The train was then taken out of service, but this caused slowdown for other trains as they mention that “it will take some time to regulate the other train’s movement.”
Thing is, this isn’t something out of the ordinary, and in my opinion, one of the milder cases of train delay/overcrowding I’ve seen. But even then, it’s indicative of a bigger problem which essentially boils down to communication. Hundreds, if not thousands of people take the train daily and commutes via public transport. However, we’ve seen very little innovation in terms of making the lives of said commuters, easier.
An app which updates users on delays, live-tracking on trains/buses, and estimated times of arrival is sorely missing. When we’re on the go, it’s a hassle to have to check their Twitter, webpage, or Facebook to find out the problem. This isn’t the solution. Apps that show you live-tracking and commutes are an integral part of many a digitised, modern society, but it seems to be missing in Malaysia.
And I’m not the only one who thinks so:
https://twitter.com/arthyrah/status/1233150404482879489?s=20
MRT stop lama. Kenapa? Takde announcement pun?
— FATIN NABILAH SYAZA (@syaza_hassan) February 28, 2020
Update mana update, jalankan tugas anda team!!!!!
— adda.sharer (@adda_sharer) February 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/nadzapires/status/1233185327444971520?s=20
https://twitter.com/faizal7678/status/1233192207110332418?s=20
Can u update any delays to your train here as well? Its not fun going to one of station and finding out about the delay only at the station itself. By then it is too late for us to plan our next course of action. For example, your Kelana Jaya line is having delays. Update us. Tq.
— Aiman Tarmizi (@AimanTarmizi3) February 28, 2020
Nobody has the time to go to the station, realise there’s a problem, and then find an alternative to get to work/wherever you gotta go. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a Grab straight to my office, but not everyone has that privilege (though it did cost a pretty penny). They had announced a bus app from RapidKL, but we haven’t seen a release or any further news on it. It’s something that’s in demand, so why isn’t it being prioritised?
What’s the deal here? What actually is the problem? I can’t tell, but if it’s already 2020 we don’t see an app like this made to the public, then what else is there to say? We’re just commuters right? Who cares if we’re a little later than usual.
