KTM Class 82
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. Each unit consists of two driving motor cars and a trailer cars. All were retired by 2012 after being replaced by the Class 92.
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. Route direction is indicated on the front of the train within a confined fluorescent lighted box using a lightly transparent plastic. The Class 82 have two double-leaf pressure plug doors per side of each coach. The cab head is designed to be bottom heavy with the bulk of the power transformers and motors located beneath the coach, allowing saloon space to be maximised. The front outer frame is made of heavy carbonized steel which is capable of sustaining high impact. An ARR coupling system is used, which is compatible with all of KTMB's modern rolling stock. 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.Description
22 three car sets were built and delivered by Union Carriage & Wagon of South Africa from 1996 to 1997. The Class 82 sets were deployed in stages, with the final set coming into service in December 1998.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 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 on each door, along with emergency stop levers.
The Class 82 has a top speed of, which was similar to the top speed of the other EMU classes but significantly faster than the railbuses that were in use at the time. During normal operation, was the typical top speed with the average speed being around. The Class 82 was said to have better energy efficiency when compared to the Class 81. This was due to the GEC Alstom regenerative braking system being used which gave better acceleration during runs.
Overhauls & refurbishment
Over its operational life, the KTM Class 82 has seen its life extended through numerous schemes of overhauling and refurbishment. However, the closure of Union Carriage & Wagons' international rail business saw an end to any future replacement parts for the Class 82. Tropical weather proved more than taxing for the Class 82 with the premature failure of many irreplaceable parts. Although there have 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 cannibalizing the parts of older sets in order to keep the remaining fleet in operation.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 2010 to 2012, all 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 while it got electricity from an attached commercial generator wagon. Since the transformers and power pick-ups could not be replaced, the company dubbed these as KTM "Hybrid" trains, serviced at both the Batu Caves-Klang and Kajang-Rawang routes.
Despite its young age, the arrival of the KTM Class 92 in 2012 resulted in the total retirement of the entire KTM Class 82 fleet, with many being cannibalized for parts, while others are being retired due to accidents and incidents. There are no more working sets available for use, adding to the complexity of not being able to source any more parts from the factory. This marks the end of the entire KTM Class 82's short history. 6 Class 82 sets have been abandoned at Ipoh Rail Yard. The whereabouts of the other sets are currently unknown.