The report said that for MRT1, the average daily ridership percentage against the projected targets ranged from 10.8% to 37.4% between 2017, when the service became fully operational, and 2023.
The figure of 37.4% was achieved in 2019, when the average daily ridership was 175,213 against the target of 469,000.
Meanwhile, in 2021, only 10.8% was achieved with an average daily ridership of 53,624 against the target of 495,000.
In 2023, MRT1 recorded an average daily ridership of 182,196 or 35% of the 520,000 target.
The report also found that the frequency of MRT1 trains during peak hours was off-mark, with only 32 trains operating at a frequency of every five minutes in 2023. The target set was 48 trains with a frequency of every three minutes.
“As of December 2023, out of the 58 trains procured for MRT1, 36 trains (62.1%) were operable, 19 (32.8%) were awaiting wheel changes, two (3.4%) were undergoing wheel changes, and one was fully inoperable due to damage,” the report said.
As for MRT2, which began operations in 2022, the daily ridership percentage reached 45.6% in 2023. The target set for that year was 196,000 while the actual average daily ridership achieved was 89,409.
In its first year of operation, the percentage of daily ridership stood at 20% with actual average daily ridership at 20,842 against the target of 104,000.
The number of MRT2 trains increased from 14 in 2022 to 37 in 2023, against the annual target of 45 for each year.
The frequency of MRT2 trains during peak hours, however, fell from every four minutes in 2022 to every five minutes in 2023.
As of January, out of the 49 trains for MRT2, 42 (85.7%) were in operation, two (4.1%) were only deployed during peak hours due to a faulty smoke detector unit, four (8.2%) were not used due to vibration issues and cable failures, and one was not in operation due to damage.
The report revealed that Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd, in its response to the findings, said that factors such as targeted fuel subsidies, the introduction of congestion charges and the rise in parking fees in the capital city could help improve ridership for MRT1 and MRT2.
“The number of passengers not reaching targets due to train usage after the Covid-19 pandemic recovery was moderate,” it added.
It also said that the number of trains in operation did not meet the target due to a mismatch in their profile and the wheels to be used for changing.
The wheel reprofiling process is underway and is expected to be fully completed by November.
MRT Corp’s financial status less stable due to reliance on govt funding
The report stated that MRT Corp’s financial position remains less stable due to reliance on government funding for the construction of rail infrastructure.
The government had fully funded the construction of rail infrastructure for MRT1 and MRT2, spending RM3.54 billion in 2021, RM914.28 million in 2022, and RM201.14 million in 2023.
The report also said the company recorded a downward trend in its pre-taxed losses: RM3.67 billion in 2021, RM0.857 billion in 2022, and RM181.5 million in 2023.
“However, the annual losses incurred in 2023 increased the cumulative losses to RM57.7 billion, a rise of RM85.4 million compared to 2022,” it said.
It said the government was also paying for these cumulative losses in the form of funding towards the construction costs of rail assets.
“MRT Corp recorded receiving funding from the government of over RM59.2 billion in 2023,” it said.