COLLEGE OF COMPUTING, INFORMATICS AND MEDIA

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

INFRASTRUCTURE (ICT554)

GROUP PROJECT REPORT

TITLE :
ARAU ROYAL RAILWAY STATION

Prepared by :

NAME MATRIC NO

ADAM SYAZWAN BIN CHE SHUKERI 2023103443

AMMAR IRFAN BIN IBRAHIM 2023503081

MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN MOHD RAFI 2023149239

YAHYA NAIM BIN MD ROFIEE 2023115911

Prepared for :
DR NADIA BINTI ABDUL WAHAB

Date of Submission :
3 DECEMBER 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. -- INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3

2. -- GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY/ORGANIZATION ...... 4 - 5

3. -- IT INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS ……………………………………........6 - 8

4. -- STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS …………………………………….................... 9 - 10

5. -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT …………………………..….. 11 - 13

6. -- CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………..…........... 14

7. -- APPENDICES ……………………………………………….…………….….......... 15 - 17

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INTRODUCTION

The discussion, brainstorming, and meetings led us to choose Arau Royal

Railway Station. As known by the public, this station is in the town of Arau, Perlis.
The visit was made twice because of an unexpected situation. The first visit was done
on 30 November 2023 at 10 a.m (Figure 1.0). Upon our arrival, the station looks quite
hectic with a lot of visitors and passengers. At the help desk or counter, the 4 of us
were greeted by female staff who worked there (Figure 1.1). After asking some
questions, the staff informed us that the manager is currently absent due to an
unforeseen situation and cannot meet during the promised time. Despite the incident, a
quick tour was given and guided by the other staff (Figure1.2) to look around the
station and was asked to come again at night for more throughout the visit and
exploration. The contact information of the said female staff was given to us and we
were told that her name is Aina, and she worked as a clerk there. In addition, her
phone number has also been given, which is 011-10212820, to contact her for further
guidance if needed. Next, the second visit was done at night exactly at 8 p.m as
promised. The manager who was on duty at that time is someone who seems
responsible, professional, and dedicated to his job. His name is Mr. Khairul Johari,
and his position is as a manager at this station. For easier reach and communication,
his contact information was also given to us, which is 017- 5446054. A thorough
observation and tour were given and thus inquired about our interest in this business.
Following that, Mr. Khairul invited us to manager office where we can do our
interview session in a comfortable and undisturbed state (Figure 1.3).

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The interview with the manager of the Arau Royal Railway Station concluded
that this organization mostly and mainly provides a service, which is a transportation
service. They provide a lot of trains and ETS that are divided by their schedule while
giving the best service to the passengers while traveling using their service.
Furthermore, the visit was mostly done in the management department where they
manage the train and ETS in the control room and provide several services for the
passengers or visitors. To provide the best service and to ensure everything runs
smoothly, this station has a total of 7 workers including the Manager, followed by 2
P.A., and 4 clerks. Every staff member has their responsibility and plays a crucial role
in maintaining the service provided while ensuring the comfortability of the
passengers. Although this station is a branch station, the headquarters also has its staff
to work and support the other branch stations to ensure no delays or changes in the
schedule, thus becoming one of the best transportation methods available for the
community. The image below shows the organization chart from the headquarters and
this station, including the details that state their name and position with a profile
picture.

Figure 1.4: Headquarters’ Organisation Chart.

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Figure 1.5: Arau Royal Railway Station’s Organisation Chart.

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IT INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS

1. Computer Hardware Platform

The first computer hardware platform that we identified at Arau Royal Railway
Station is the travel schedule monitor in Figure 2.0. The monitor shows the
information about train number, destination, and departure time. This monitor is
intended to serve as a reminder to make it easier for passengers to plan their trip. The
second computer hardware that can be identified at this railway station is their
automated control gate (ACG) like in Figure 2.1. ACG serves as a separator between
the arrival section and the waiting section of the station. To get in and out of the
section, passengers need to scan their ticket at the ACG as it was equipped with a
ticket scanner. What is amazing about this machine is that before, you could only scan
your ticket that you bought at the counter or online and your Touch and Go (TnG)
card. But it had been upgraded so that passengers could use their debit card as a
replacement for the tickets. However, it can only be used for the KTM train service
and not the ETS train service. Now, passengers do not have to buy KTM tickets to use
the service and it is more convenient for the users. After that, we identified a machine
or computer hardware platform which we think is a special hardware as it is not
available at any station like bus station or airport. We can find it only at any train
station. The hardware itself is a ticket vending machine (TVM) as in Figure 2.2. This
hardware helps passengers buy their tickets, which is more convenient as they can
check the schedule, choose their seats, and compare prices before proceeding to buy it.
Moreover, in these few years, KTMB had followed new norms recommended by the
government to reduce physical contact, so they stopped the service to buy tickets at
the counter. The counter only functions as an information counter and to buy tickets
for the elderly and disabled. And finally, is the parking ticket machine like in Figure
2.3. The hardware is the only hardware that we identified at the outside section of the
railway station. It is located at the parking lot section which is next to the railway
station. It functions as a payment counter for safer parking services. Users can pay
using a debit card or TnG card.

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 2. Operating System Platform

According to Mr. Khairul, the most important system that has been used at Arau Royal
Railway Station is the route relay interlocking system or RRI. In Figure 2.4, Mr.
Khairul shows how he uses the RRI. The RRI functions as a control panel system
where he controls and manages the path for trains that come to the station and go out
from the station. He and the Bukit Mertajam station’s manager are responsible and can
know what happens to every train that passes on the northern sector commuter
services route starting on Bukit Mertajam station until the Padang Besar station using
the RRI. Then he told us that TVM and ACG machines use Linux OS to operate. Then
we ask whether the train uses any operating system to operate because how can the
train move so fast and precisely to its destination with the best speed? Unfortunately,
he said that all trains have a driver, and the driver is responsible for where to go and
how speed the train can go.

3. Data Management and Storage

As for data management and storage, Arau Royal Railway Station uses Info-Tech
Cloud HR, Figure 2.5, as their data management to manage their employees’
information and data such as time attendance, payroll, leave, and expense claims.
Info-Tech Cloud HR portal is a cloud-based HR software that provides features like
the above that help manage an organization’s HR matters. Other than that, the data
management that has been used by the station is a Personal Information System (PIS).
It can be seen when passengers are going through the ticket purchase process. When
passengers want to buy ETS service tickets, they need to insert their information to
avoid abuse of ETS services. For example, the buyer's name and the passenger’s name
are not the same person.

4. Networking/Telecommunication Platform

The last IT infrastructure that we identified that is available at Arau Royal Railway
Station is the telecommunication platform. During the interview with Mr. Khairul, we
asked him how he could contact the other station or KTM HQ if something

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undesirable happened like a total blackout at the station and the main computer being
shut down and he could not manage the trains through the RRI. Then he answered that
they use a direct line phone by TM Malaysia which, only KTM staff can use by
calling a specific number for a specific station. The communication line will never be
interrupted by other lines. And for the train management, the other station will take
control for a moment until the problem gets fixed.

5. Internet Platforms.

One of the IT infrastructures that was available in this station was internet platforms.
Following the rapid development of technology in the current era, internet platforms
are the most popular medium that is used by the majority of organizations in the
world. Internet platforms are not only useful for a contactless approach but also play a
big role in spreading the availability of the provided services to reach more people
worldwide. Arau Royal Railway Station prepared a ticket vending machine while
developing an application called “KTMB Mobile.” The application is installed with a
feature called KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS), Figure 2.6, which enables
passengers to purchase tickets using credit and debit cards, the new KTMB Wallet,
and other types of payment methods. This has made the process of purchasing tickets
much easier and efficient. Furthermore, with the development of their application,
passengers can experience more features and services available through their fingertip,
thus saving time, money, and effort, then being able to plan a more productive travel
plan more efficiently and carefully.

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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS:
1. Efficiency:
Information technology streamlines operations, improving ticketing,
scheduling, and passenger information systems, resulting in smoother
operations at Royal Arau Railway Station.

2. Real-time Updates:
Provides real-time updates to passengers regarding train schedules, delays,
platform changes, and other relevant information, enhancing customer
experience.

3. Safety & Security:

IT components can enhance security measures through surveillance systems,
access controls, and emergency communication protocols, ensuring passenger
safety.

4. Data Analytics:
Enables the collection and analysis of passenger data, aiding in better
decision-making for service improvements and resource allocation.

5. Automated Systems:
Automation of various processes such as ticketing and boarding, reduces
human errors and enhances overall efficiency.

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WEAKNESSES:
1. Reliability Issues:
IT systems can face downtime due to technical glitches, maintenance, or
cyber-attacks, leading to disruptions in services.

2. Dependency on Infrastructure:
IT components rely heavily on a robust infrastructure, including stable power
supply and network connectivity, which might not always be consistent in all
locations.

3. Complexity:
Integrating different IT systems can be complex, leading to compatibility issues
and difficulties in seamless operation.

4. Cybersecurity Risks:
Vulnerabilities in IT systems pose threats such as data breaches, hacking, and
cyber threats, compromising sensitive information and operations.

5. Training and Adaptation:

Staff training and adaptation to new technologies might be challenging,
impacting the efficient utilization of IT systems.

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IMPROVEMENTS OF IT INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS

Here are some recommendations for improvement of IT infrastructure components at

Arau Royal Railway Station:

1. Computer Hardware Platform

The first computer hardware platform that we recommended for improvement at Arau
Royal Railway Station is the travel schedule monitor. They must upgrade the monitors
displaying travel schedules to larger, high-resolution displays for better visibility to
ensure that the information displayed is clear, accurate, and easily readable from a
distance. The second computer hardware that can be improved at this railway station
is their automated control gate (ACG). They need to be aware of this software because
they have to constantly update the ACG software to ensure compatibility with various
ticket options. Then, they are recommended provide clear instructions for passengers
on how to use different ticketing options, including debit cards. The next computer
hardware that can be improved is Ticket Vending Machine (TVM). To avoid
congestion when buying tickets at the counter, they have to upgrade the TVM
software to offer more user-friendly interfaces, providing a seamless ticket purchasing
experience to ensure that the TVM system is integrated with the latest train schedules
and pricing information.

2. Operating System Platform

Based on the Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) and Automated Control Gate (ACG)
machines at Arau Royal Railway Station use Linux OS, it's important to focus on the
improvement of the overall operating system platform, especially considering the
critical role of the Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) system. We can recommended
some suggestions for enhancing the operating system platform. Firstly, ensure that the
Linux operating system and associated software are regularly updated with the latest
security patches. This helps protect against vulnerabilities and potential security

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threats. For System Stability, they have to conduct a thorough review of the Linux
distribution and kernel version being used. Choose for a stable and well-supported
version to ensure the reliability of the operating system platform. They need to
implement redundancy in the operating system platform to ensure continuous
operation in case of hardware or software failures. This can involve setting up failover
systems and regularly testing their effectiveness.

3. Data Management and Storage

By implementing the improvements, Arau Royal Railway Station can significantly

improve its data management and storage with establish a routine schedule for
backing up data from both Info-Tech Cloud HR and the Personal Information System
(PIS). Regular backups help in preventing data loss due to unexpected events such as
hardware failures, cyberattacks, or accidental deletions. They have to ensure that the
Info-Tech Cloud HR and the Personal Information System (PIS) comply with relevant
data protection regulations. Implement encryption, access controls, and other security
measures to safeguard sensitive employee and passenger data. For data retention
policies, they have to define and implement clear data retention policies for both
employee and passenger data. Regularly review and purge outdated information to
reduce storage costs and minimize the risk associated with retaining unnecessary data.

4. Networking/Telecommunication Platform

On telecommunication platform at Arau Royal Railway Station, which relies on a

direct line phone by TM Malaysia for communication between stations and KTM HQ,
we can recommended some suggestions for improvement to ensure effective
communication during both normal operations and emergency situations. The first one
is they can consider for implementing redundant communication channels, such as
backup phone lines or alternative communication technologies (e.g., digital radios,
mobile messaging apps). This ensures that in case the primary line experiences issues,
there is a backup method for essential communications. Then, they need to establish

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clear and well-documented emergency communication protocols. Train station staff
should be familiar with these protocols to quickly and effectively communicate in case
of emergencies or disruptions in the primary communication system.

5. Internet Platforms

Following the importance of internet platforms, particularly the KTMB Mobile

application and the KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS), at Arau Royal
Railway Station, we can suggest some ideas for improving the internet platform is to
enhance security measures with strengthen the security of the internet platforms,
especially for the KTMB Mobile application and KITS. Implement advanced
encryption protocols, secure payment gateways, and regularly update security features
to protect user data and financial transactions. Next they have to ensure that the
KTMB Mobile application and KITS are regularly updated to incorporate the latest
features, security patches, and improvements. Regular updates can enhance the user
experience and address any vulnerabilities. Last but not least, they are advised to
implement a user feedback mechanism in the KTMB Mobile application. Collect
feedback from passengers to identify areas for improvement and address any issues
related to app usability or functionality.

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CONCLUSION

In summary, Arau Royal Railway Station has effectively incorporated technology to

enhance its operations. The strengths include improved efficiency in ticketing and
scheduling, real-time updates for passengers, and a focus on safety through surveillance
systems. The station also benefits from data analytics and automated processes, reducing
errors.
However, there are some weaknesses to consider. The station may face reliability issues
and is dependent on stable infrastructure. Integrating different IT systems can be complex,
and there's a need to address cybersecurity risks. Staff training for new technologies could
also be a challenge.
In conclusion, while the station has made significant strides in using technology to
improve services, there's room for improvement in addressing reliability concerns,
enhancing cybersecurity, and ensuring staff are well-trained for technology adoption.
Overall, the station's commitment to leveraging technology for efficiency and passenger
satisfaction is a positive direction for its future development.

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APPENDICES

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