PETALING JAYA: For many senior residents in Klang and Shah Alam, a easy outing with mates, a medical appointment or a go to to procuring malls within the metropolis centre as soon as required cautious planning.
Despite dwelling not too distant, they usually needed to work round their kids’s schedules or weigh the price of taking an e-hailing trip.
But the newly opened LRT Shah Alam Line (previously LRT3) is altering that.
The 37.8km rail line connecting Klang and Kuala Lumpur is greater than only a public transport community, it’s permitting senior residents to rediscover one thing they thought they’d step by step misplaced – the liberty to journey on their very own phrases.
Retired supervisor Datuk Raja Razman Raja Rome, 75, stated the LRT line has made his journey into the town simpler and fewer worrying.
He now drives about three minutes from his house to the station earlier than boarding the prepare, avoiding the frustration of heavy site visitors and seek for a parking area.
”It offers me peace of thoughts. At my age, driving all the best way to the town may be tiring, particularly with site visitors and parking,” he stated.
More importantly, he stated he now not must depend on his kids every time he needs to journey.
“They have their own work and families to look after. I don’t like troubling them every time I want to go somewhere,” he stated.
Retired manufacturing facility employee Ravee Narayana, 60, stated the LRT Shah Alam Line has given him and his spouse extra alternatives to spend high quality time collectively.
The couple drove from Jambatan Kota to the closest station earlier than boarding the prepare for his or her outings.
“We can now plan a day out. Sometimes we just want to walk around, have a meal and come home. Before this, we would think twice before going because driving was such a hassle,” he stated.
Retired accountant Hoh Chooi Lan, 78, from Taman Sri Andalas, stated the comfort of the general public transport service has inspired her to go to the town extra usually.
“I used to think twice before making a trip there because I didn’t want to drive,” she stated.
She believes retirement shouldn’t imply being confined to the house.
“We’ve worked hard all our lives. Now is the time to enjoy ourselves, visit friends, walk around shopping malls, have coffee and spend time with people,” she stated.
For 85-year-old S. Chandran and his spouse, 79-year-old M. Letchumy, their first journey on the LRT Shah Alam Line marked a brand new chapter of independence.
Their kids dropped them off at Bandar Bukit Tinggi station, however the remainder of the journey was fully on their very own.
“When our children heard we wanted to try the train, they were happy because they knew it would make things easier for everyone.
“They don’t have to take leave from work or spend hours driving us into the city anymore,” Chandran stated.
Letchumy stated the rail service had restored their confidence to journey independently.
“We’re getting older, but that doesn’t mean we should stop going out.
“We still want to visit relatives, meet our friends and enjoy life. The train gives us that opportunity,” she stated.
Retired faculty trainer Noraini Hassan, 68, has additionally embraced the brand new service.
She now frequently makes use of the LRT to fulfill former colleagues and participate in neighborhood actions.
“After retirement, connections become even more important. It’s easy to become isolated if you don’t have any means of transportation,” she stated.