Hitachi Rail and Malaysia’s public transport operator Prasarana are advancing their long-term cooperation through a new Industrial Collaboration Program linked to the Kelana Jaya Line automatic signalling project. The programme is designed to support technology transfer, local industry development and workforce skills growth in Malaysia’s rail sector, in line with national industrial collaboration policy.
The cooperation builds on more than 30 years of partnership between the companies. Since the late 1990s, Hitachi Rail has supported the development of Malaysia’s urban rail network, including the introduction of communications-based train control (CBTC) technology on the Kelana Jaya LRT line and signalling upgrades across the monorail, Ampang and Kelana Jaya networks. More recent projects include the commissioning of an integrated control centre managing multiple urban rail lines and safety upgrades on the Ampang Line.
The new programme focuses on practical capability building, including knowledge transfer in data analytics, specialist training with signalling and CBTC experts, development of a signalling testing and simulation centre and localisation cooperation with Malaysian industry partners. Two initial initiatives have already been completed, including data analytics training at Hitachi Rail’s digital competence centre and technical placements at its signalling competence centre.
“This Industrial Collaboration Program underscores Hitachi’s long-term commitment to localization in Malaysia and further strengthens our strategic relationship with Prasarana Malaysia Berhad,” said Cyrille Bataille, Head of APAC Market at Hitachi Rail.
The initiative reflects broader trends across Southeast Asia, where rail modernisation programmes increasingly combine infrastructure upgrades with local capability development and long-term technology partnerships.