Project Description
Parsons, in a joint venture with HSSI and Halcrow, was the Consulting Engineer for the light rail transit (LRT) system that was built for the Government of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The joint venture was appointed to advise on the technical aspects, to specify and oversee the systems works, and to design the facilities. Parsons was also the Delegated Engineer responsible for supervising the construction of the facilities.
With the award in 1992 of hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Government of Malaysia embarked on implementing a number of “Super Projects” to be completed by September of 1998. These projects included two light rail transit systems. These two transportation systems were awarded to the private sector to design, build, and operate under a 60-year concession agreement.
In 1994 the Government of Malaysia Ministry of Transport awarded the design, build, operate, and turnover concession for the LRT System 2 to the Renong Group subsidiary company, Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik Sdn Bhd (PUTRA), as operating company and owner for the 60-year period. The system was constructed and placed in service in two sections: Section 1 between Subang Depot (close to the old Kuala Lumpur Airport west of the city) to Central Market, and Section 2 from Central Market to Gombak to the north. PUTRA hired Parsons and another member of the joint venture to be the Consultant and Delegated Engineer.
The LRT system is based on the Bombardier Skytrain fully automatic driverless train system, with an initial capacity of 10,000 passengers per direction per hour (ppdph) expandable to 30,000 ppdph with the addition of extra vehicles. The system infrastructure (with the exception of depot vehicle storage and traction power supplies) is sized for the ultimate capacity.
The system route consists of a fully segregated guideway, which is elevated for the outer suburban sections of the route and tunneled under the city centre. The system is currently the longest automated driverless light railway in the world operating over a total length of 29 km, including the fully automated depot at Lembah Subang and automated storage tracks at the northern Gombak terminal. The system has 5 underground stations and 19 other stations.
Parsons and the Joint Venture as the Consulting Engineer also became responsible for a large group of local architectural and engineering consultants undertaking the detail design of the facilities works. Apart from providing the detail design, these consultants provided the second staff for the relevant site supervision work and dealt with the local authorities for approval of the works. At the peak of the design and construction, there was in excess of 150 staff members employed.
This project is just one example of Parsons vast experience in design build projects.
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