The final segment of the new Putrajaya line commenced operations on March 16, bringing the full 57.7-km MRT line into service.

The MRT Putrajaya Line has been officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the line’s depot in Serdang. The PM also announced free rides till March 31 on Klang Valley’s second MRT line, which opened to the public at 3pm yesterday (March 16).

Feeder buses serving the new line will also be free of charge during the introductory period.

The MRT Putrajaya Line (curiously abbreviated as ‘PYL’) is a 57.7-km line with 36 stations. It starts at Kwasa Damansara station (a new township next to Kota Damansara and Sungai Buloh), a station which has been operating since December 2016 as part of the MRT Kajang Line, and ends at Putrajaya Sentral. The new full-line service now gives Greater KL two completed MRT lines.

Yesterday marked the commencement of the full PYL line operation with the opening of the 38.7 km section Phase 2. According to reports at PaulTan.org, the first phase of PYL from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu (along Jalan Ipoh) has been running since June 2022. Of the 57.7 km, 44.2 km is elevated, while 13.5 km of the alignment – in the city centre – is underground.

The Putrajaya Mass Rail Transit (MRT) line that was launched today, is expected to attract 80,000 to 100,000 commuters this year.

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Amir Hamdan said the number of commuters will see a drastic increase when school reopens on March 19 and 20, and due to the free rides offered until March 31.

“Normally we can see the number of commuters increase day by day after those who use the service start sharing their experiences on social media and by word of mouth, especially so since the Putrajaya line is a new experience,” he said.

He added that the Putrajaya line is the longest route in the MRT line, covering a distance of 57.7 km and is expected to reduce traffic congestion, especially routes leading to Putrajaya.

Amir further noted that 118 buses had been deployed for the Putrajaya service and will cover 44 routes that involve 23 stations, offering shuttle service every 15 minutes.

The Putrajaya line is expected to benefit a defined corridor in the Greater KL area with a population of about two million.

The next big MRT project is arguably the most important, the Circle Line. Current train lines link the suburbs to the city centre, but the 50.8-km Circle Line, the third MRT line, will be aligned in a loop to link all of the “spokes” together, linking up stations and places that are currently underserved or not served at all – including the densely populated Mont Kiara and Sri Hartamas areas, along with underserved parts of Ampang and Cheras, too.

Interchange stations, as shown below, will include Setiawangsa (with LRT Kelana Jaya Line), Pandan Indah (with LRT Ampang Line), Taman Midah (with MRT Kajang Line), Salak Selatan (with LRT Sri Petaling Line), and Kuchai (with MRT Putrajaya Line).

Though works are not yet underway, the MRT Circle Line is currently expected to be fully operational by 2030.