Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he could not guarantee when exactly service between the two stations will resume, as his ministry is waiting for a report from experts before deciding on how long the shutdown will last.

Yesterday, Rapid Rail closed the line between the Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations on the Ampang line.

The closure was due to structural damage to a pillar in the area which caused a kink to the track alignments near the Bandaraya station. The damage was believed to have been caused by some construction work nearby.

Loke said the ministry is waiting for a report from engineers and experts to see how far the crack in the main pillar near the Bandaraya station will have an impact in terms of safety.

“After receiving the report, we will decide on how to mitigate (the issue) and (then) make a more extensive announcement in one or two days.

“Meanwhile, we will give space to the engineers to study the strength of the structure. What matters most is safety and that’s our priority,” he said.

Loke also hoped that commuters will understand that the LRT stations’ closure is unavoidable and not something that anyone wants to do.

“I understand that when one station closes, it will affect many commuters but I also hope that commuters will understand that this (closure) is unavoidable,” he said.

“It’s because we want to ensure the safety of the train and its passengers.”