If you commute on Rabbit KL’s LRT lines frequently, you probably know there are some unhappiness brewing among the commuters.

Yes, they said we are going to have integration… Or that’s how they called it. For example, Star and Putra lines have been renamed Ampang, Sri Petaling and Kelana Jaya lines.

There’s nothing physical. The interchange is still as user-unfriendly as possible. Of course the respective elevated and underground structures had been built and nobody is expecting any miracle to happen. But the proper covered walkway connexion /linkage (sound so Singlish laa, covered walkway…) between the two Masjid Jamek stations, elevated and underground, is still absent. You still get soaked if you change trains when it’s raining (or flooding, which is not that rare in KL, after all). But for the VIPigs VIPs in Rapid KL, it’s a non-issue, so far.

The newly introduced integration also comes in another aspect, which is pricing. Previously, the Monthly Travel Card (MTC, which allows unlimited travel on one of the lines during that month) for each of Putra and Star line was RM 70, while the MTC for both lines were priced at RM 110. Now, these are replaced by an integrated MTC, which allows unlimited travel on both lines, to be only RM 90.

For many who do not need to use both lines, that is obviously a hefty price hike of 28.57%, from RM 70 to RM 90. Of course it could be a suprised discount for those who used to pay RM 110 for the combined MTC, but… Shouldn’t those who just travel on one line be given a cheaper option ?

Had it been the case of SMRT’s North-South line and East-West line in $ingapore, which do integrate seamlessly, few would argue for a separate pricing. Apparently the stupidity on the part of Barisan Nasional which allows the design of totally separated lines is to be blamed. Nobody will see Putra and Star as one for many years to come, I dare say.

In a way, the new integrated MTC makes sense too. For example, assuming that distance between stations are similar, shouldn’t the fare for everyone travelling for 2 stations be the same ? Logically yes. But the separate pricing scheme of Putra and Star makes it impossible.

For Central Market to Dang Wangi on Putra line or Bandaraya to Plaza Rakyat on Star line, it’s a distance of 2 stations. But what about from Central Market to Bandaraya ? You gotta fork out almost double, eventhough it’s still a distance of 2 stations. How could the government let this happen ?

So, should fares still be calculated independently in an integrated network ?

While I argue for an integrated fare structure, I can’t close my eyes to the ridiculous fare hike of 28.57%. However, why do we need MTC in the first place ? Why don’t these people pay for each and every trip they travel like in almost every other city in the world ? Not all of them are school kids or senior citizens, I suppose ?

My two cents :-)

* pics taken by Nazrey and Sze Hoong respectively, first appeared in Skyscrapercity Forums