KTM Class 82

Class 82
A Class 82 EMU Komuter train.
In service	1996-2012
Manufacturer	Union Carriage and Wagon
Number built	66 cars (22 sets)
Formation	3 per trainset
Capacity	462 (212 seats)
Operator(s)	Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Depot(s)	Batu Gajah Rail Depot Sentul Komuter Depot
Line(s) served	Batu Caves-Port Klang Route Rawang-Seremban Route
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Train length	68.4 m
Car length	22.2 m (end cars) 23.2 m (intermediate cars)
Width	2 750 mm
Height	3 855 mm
Floor height	1 100 mm
Doors	2 double-leaf plug sliding doors per side
Articulated sections	none
Maximum speed	160 km/h (Design) 120 km/h (Service)
Weight	130 t
Traction system	GTO-VVVF (GEC Alsthom)
Transmission	Electric
Electric system(s)	25 kV, 50 Hz overhead line
Current collection method	Double-arm Z-shaped Pantograph
Braking system(s)	single-pipe regenerative break system
Track gauge	1 000 mm

The Class 82 was a type of sub-urban rail electric multiple unit that once operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu on its KTM Komuter services. In 1996-1997, 22 sets, for a total of 66 cars were built and delivered by Union Carriage & Wagon of South Africa. The class 82 sets were deployed in stages, with the final batch, being operational as late as December 1998. The class 82 similar to its sister classes, operated in three-car formations. It was only during the height of KTM Kommuter 1999-2001 that, the KTM class 8x family saw three-plus-three formations.

The KTM class 82 three-car formation consists of two motor cabs at either end of the set and a single trailer car in between, the trailer car in between is equipped with a double-arm Z shaped pantograph for 25KV AC electric pick up. Narrow gangways integrate the three-car sets, allowing full walking from cab to cab. Each car features two double-leaf electric plug doors at either side. Printed route maps are displayed each doors, along with emergency stop levers.

Overhauls & Refurbishment

Over its operational life, the KTM class 82 has seen its life extended through, numerous schemes of overhauling and refurbishment. However, due to closure of Union carriage & Wagons’s international rail business saw an end to any future replacement parts for the class 82. Tropical weather which the class 82 proved more that than taxing for the class 82 with the premature failure of many irreplaceable parts. Although, there has been attempts to substitute parts with those of a different make, the economics and technological expertise were not on the side of the class 82, and the class 82 soon found itself in the precarious state of having to resort to cannibalize the parts of older sets in order to keep the remaining fleet in operation.

In 2012, an attempt of fresh refurbishments has seen a mixture of traverse and longitudinal seating being introduced with a heavy emphasis on longitudinal seating, in acknowledgement of the classes' main role being in an intra-city commuter. Although, this was a good attempt at making increasing the overall capacity, it failed to addressed a key fundamental problem, the sets were running without replacement parts and off the shelf replacement parts from other makes are incompatible with this class.

2012 also saw the introduction of the special hybrid train service, where diesel locomotives were made to pull these decrepit class 82 bodies with functional doors, lighting and AC. Since the power transformers and power pick up systems could not be replaced, the company elected the use of additional diesel generators affixed on hopper wagons to power up the EMU. In effect, it reduced the role of these sets to nothing more than unpowered passenger coaches, but its use still had better convenience than compared to KTMB’s traditional unpowered coaches, which typically tend to be those specifically designed for long-distance intercity use, i.e. the doors were narrow and few, with limited standing space while having an open emphasis on comfortable seating. As mentioned the class 82 is not like that, and was design specifically to meet its role as a sub-urban commuter and gracefully step up to its role as a commuter rail wagon.

Design

The class 82 was designed with a streamlined sloped head with two high beam lamps concentrated at the center top with two standard headlights at either sides. An ARR coupling system is used, and this is compatible with all of KTMB’s modern rolling stock. Route direction is indicated on the front of the train within a confined fluorescent lighted box using a lightly transparent plastic. The drivers cab features a dedicated access to outside on top of the door access to the passenger area. The class 82 cab head is designed to be bottom heavy with the bulk of the power transformers located beneath the coach with full use of the top for passenger use, power traction motors are contained within the bogey itself. In terms of safety, the front outer frame is made of heavy carbonized steel, that is capable of sustaining high impact. Unlike the latter class 92, the class 82 like its sister classes are endowed with multi-layered tempered glass that is of a higher degree of impact resistance. The class 82 has a top speed of 140kph, at the time of launch this was similar to the top speed of the other classes but significantly faster than the railbuses that were in use at the time. During normal operation, 120kph was the typical top speed with the average speed being around 45kph. Compared to the other classes, the class 82 was found to be the give better energy efficiency when compared to the class 81, this is due to the superior GEC Alstom regenerative breaking system being used and gave better acceleration during runs.

Service History

The class 82 used to operate in a fixed 3-car formation for its regular service. During the 1995-1999 period it used to operate at peak hours in a 3+3 car formation. But this configuration was soon discontinued.

Briefly from 2009-2010, some of the train sets of this class were used in a hybrid diesel pull configuration in which an unpowered EMU would be towed by a diesel locomotive and while it gets electricity from an attached generator wagon. Dubbed the KTM "Hybrid" trains it serviced both KLS-Rawang and Kajang-Rawang routes.

Despite its young age, the arrival of the KTM Class 92 in 2012 resulted in total retirement of the entire KTM class 82 fleet, with the many cannibalised for parts, while others are being retired due to accidents and incidents, there are no more working sets available for use, added to complexity of having not able to source any more parts from factory. This marks the end of KTM class 82's short history.

Formation

Set Designation	Car Number			Status
	Car 1	Car 2	Car 3
EMU 41	C8201	T8201	C8202	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 42	C8203	T8202	C8204	Abandoned
EMU 43	C8205	T8203	C8206	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 44	C8207	T8204	C8208	Abandoned
EMU 45	C8209	T8205	C8210	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 46	C8211	T8206	C8212	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 47	C8213	T8207	C8214	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 48	C8215	T8208	C8216	Abandoned
EMU 49	C8217	T8209	C8218	Abandoned
EMU 50	C8219	T8210	C8220	Abandoned
EMU 51	C8221	T8211	C8222	Abandoned
EMU 52	C8223	T8212	C8224	Abandoned
EMU 53	C8225	T8213	C8226	Abandoned
EMU 54	C8227	T8214	C8228	Abandoned
EMU 55	C8229	T8215	C8230	Abandoned
EMU 56	C8231	T8216	C8232	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 57	C8233	T8217	C8234	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 58	C8235	T8218	C8236	Abandoned
EMU 59	C8237	T8219	C8238	Retired from Hybrid Service
EMU 60	C8239	T8220	C8240	Abandoned
EMU 61	C8241	T8221	C8242	Abandoned
EMU 62	C8243	T8222	C8244	Abandoned

Gallery

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  KTMB CLASS 82 EMU 57 running in Hybrid formation

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  KTMB CLASS 81 EMU 14 & CLASS 82 EMU 42