SYNOPSIS

On  22 Dec 2014 heavy flood has caused massive damages to KTMB’s infrastructure in the East Coast Line. The sector between Kemubu and Tumpat was badly affected. The bridge at Kemubu (Sg.Galas) collapsed causing the railway line to be divided into two sections with no through railway connection. Subsequently, SPAD had instructed KTMB to suspend the train services until the infrastructure is fully repaired. KTMB had sought Government assistance to provide allocations required to repair the infrastructure. The repair work is on-going and skeletal services had been restored on certain sections specific for the school children. With the closure of train services in the East Coast Line, SPAD had looked at alternative short-term and long term options for the East Coast Line.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Mr Yuslizar B. Daud, a Chartered Engineer, graduated in Electrical Engineering from University of Aberdeen. He is currently pursuing a MSc. in Railway System Engineering and Integration at University of Birmingham. He has been in the railway industry for 25 years and has developed a field of interest in railway safety, project implementation, feasibility studies, assets renewal and operations including assets maintenance.
He started his career in railway as a graduate at British Railways Board in London in 1990 where he was involved in several projects including the Channel Tunnel power supply reinforcement, Redhill-Tonbridge Line and West London Line electrification. In 1995, he returned to Malaysia to join STAR LRT project until its completion. Two years later, Mr Yuslizar joined Express Rail Link project and was later part of the initial team responsible to set up the ERL Maintenance Support [E-MAS], the operation and maintenance company of the ERL Systems. He returned to the UK in 2005 and was attached to Network Rail where he was involved in a number of traction power supply assets renewal projects such as the renewal of the HV switchgear, high speed DC switchgear, power transformers and rectifiers. In year 2007, Mr Yuslizar joined Transport for London and was attached to the East London Line Project. Upon the completion of the project in 2010, he returned to Malaysia and was attached to KTMB until May 2011. In June 2011, Mr Yuslizar joined Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat [S.P.A.D] as the Head of Rail. His roles include providing the Regulatory Oversight of the MRT Line 1 and 2 projects, LRT Line Extension Projects, LRT3 Project, new rolling stocks & systems, railway operation and assets maintenance. His current passion is to develop Malaysia’s own railway standards. The project is on-going and is expected to be rolled out in not too distant future.