Kuala lumpur: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) is aiming for a significant improvement in its On-Time Performance (OTP) as its key short-term target to strengthen public confidence in the nation's rail services.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, KTMB Group chief executive officer Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri stated that the main challenges affecting train punctuality are no longer solely due to the condition of its assets. Increasingly, cable theft and third-party interference have also become major factors. Additionally, floods, fallen trees, and utility works near railway tracks contribute to service delays and impact the overall reliability of the rail network.
As a preventive measure, KTMB plans to continue strengthening asset monitoring, enhancing cooperation with relevant authorities, and tightening control over third-party activities near railway tracks. The company will also focus on asset renewal, enhance operational preparedness, and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders to ensure safer, more reliable, and punctual services.
Azlan Shah shared these insights after a Meet the Editor session, attended by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. Besides improving OTP, KTMB is focusing on increasing ridership, enhancing service quality, and ensuring its train services become the preferred mode of transport that passengers can truly rely on.
KTMB remains committed to providing the best travel experience for the public through various improvements, including enhancing the quality of food and beverages on its Electric Train Service (ETS). Azlan Shah noted a strategic collaboration with Santan Restaurant, which has successfully introduced new menu options that have received positive feedback from passengers.
To further expand its food and beverage offerings, KTMB is now collaborating with Kluang Coffee to offer beverages to passengers. The first phase of its partnership with Oriental Coffee is also underway, with plans to introduce the brand's beverages on board the ETS.
In a separate development, KTMB is placing strong emphasis on increasing its non-fare income (NFI) as part of its strategy to strengthen the company's financial sustainability. Non-fare income currently accounts for less than 10 percent of KTMB's total revenue, but the company aims to increase this figure to more than 20 percent. Engineering services, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), facilities management, and overhaul works are among the sources expected to drive growth in non-fare income and generate added value for the company.