Latest news with #RapidPenang
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland
Penang's public transport scene is currently dominated by Rapid Penang buses, which cover a wide network across both the island and the mainland. You'll also find convenient alternatives like Grab for e-hailing, trishaws for short trips, and a free city bus called CAT that loops around George Town. But change is on the horizon. Come Aug 2025, Penang will begin building its first-ever metro system — the LRT Mutiara Line. Previously referred to as the Bayan Lepas LRT Project, this upgraded version gets its name from Penang's nickname, 'Pearl of the Orient,' and is all about easing traffic while better connecting the island and beyond. Spanning 29.5km with 21 planned stations, the LRT Mutiara Line will link key destinations across the island and mainland. It'll run between the new Penang South Reclamation Island A (also called Silicon Island) and major spots like KOMTAR and Penang Sentral. Trains will alternate routes, making it easier to get around without adding to road congestion. This LRT will feature Park & Ride options, transit-oriented development (TOD) zones, and smooth last-mile connections to support Penang's growth in a greener, more structured way. It'll even connect to important points like the Penang International Airport and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. Two main depots will support operations once construction of LRT Mutiara Line kicks off. With a maximum capacity of 10.9K passengers per hour in each direction, each train will carry at least 405 people — and select stations will include more than 1K parking spots for both cars and motorcycles. Expect about a 45-minute ride from Silicon Island to KOMTAR, and 49 minutes to Penang Sentral — a small price for skipping traffic and enjoying a more connected, sustainable Penang. While progress might appear slow in the early stages, it's worth noting that the project is scheduled for completion only by 31 Dec 2031 to give it a long but carefully planned timeline while ensuring everything runs smoothly. KL to JB ETS launches Aug 2025 — a new era for Singapore-Malaysia travel The post Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland appeared first on
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mutiara Line LRT physical works to begin in a month or two, says Loke
GEORGE TOWN: Physical works for the Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project are expected to begin in a month or two. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said it would start with piling works. He said all necessary notices, including the Notice to Proceed with the project, had been issued to the relevant parties. "Penang does not need to wait anymore… everything is done. "All issues related to the Penang LRT project, between the federal government — particularly the ministry — and the state government, have been resolved properly. "I held a meeting with the Chief Minister (Chow Kon Yeow) at the ministry last month. All outstanding matters, including letters of release from the state government and other documents, have been settled," he said when met at the Rapid Penang headquarters in Lorong Kulit this afternoon. Elaborating further, Loke said even the main contractor had already awarded packages to subcontractors. "So, construction work will begin soon — in the next one or two months. We will start seeing physical works. "This includes preparatory works such as piling. We have also requested that, once piling and construction works begin, there must be a proper traffic diversion plan in place to avoid major disruptions, especially since traffic is already a challenge in Penang. "As with any construction project, there will be some diversions and an impact on road users. What we need to do is minimise that impact," he added. It was recently reported that Econpile Holdings Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Econpile (M) Sdn Bhd, had secured a RM42.82 million contract from Irama Duta Sdn Bhd to carry out bored piling and related construction works as part of the LRT project.
The Star
10-06-2025
- The Star
Construction of Penang's Mutiara Line LRT project to start soon
GEORGE TOWN: The Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Penang will commence physical construction within the next two months, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. "We have now resolved all issues related to the Penang LRT project. "This includes discussions between the Transport Ministry and the state government. "I have personally chaired a meeting with the Penang Chief Minister at the Transport Ministry last month," he said after inspecting the Rapid Penang On-Demand (ROD) service here on Tuesday (June 10). The 29.5km Mutiara Line LRT project, with its 21 stations, connects the island and mainland of Penang. Loke stated that the issues resolved included obtaining consent letters from the state government and addressing technical problems. He said that the main contractor for the project has already assigned preliminary work to the subcontractors involved, in readiness for on-site activities. "We can expect to see physical works begin in the next one or two months," he said. Meanwhile, since its introduction in phases from August 2024 to May 2025, the ROD service has been operating with 50 vans, covering 13 zones in Penang: seven zones on the island and six zones in Seberang Perai. The average number of daily passengers on weekdays has increased since the addition of zones, which began in March 2025, with an average of 492 passengers per day compared to 159 passengers in February. With an average daily ridership exceeding the target of 1,944 in May, it has contributed approximately 4.1% of the total daily average of 47,000 passengers using Rapid Penang services. Loke The Gurney-Tanjong Bungah route was the most popular, with 522 passengers daily.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Penang bus ridership hits 46,000 daily, more women drivers wanted
Rapid Penang bus was first introduced in Penang on July 31, 2007. — Filepic MORE Penangites are taking public transportation, thanks to the introduction of Rapid Penang's On-Demand (ROD) van service and free bus rides. Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd northern region head Mohd Amir Abdul Halim said Rapid Penang's average daily ridership now stood at 46,333. Rapid Penang currently operates a fleet of 304 buses across Penang, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the island and mainland, he said. 'We provide affordable and reliable public transport for daily commuters, contributing to environmental sustainability by encouraging the use of public transport over private vehicles. 'The network helps reduce traffic congestion in urban areas and offers convenient access to major landmarks and commercial hubs. 'With frequent services and accessible facilities, Rapid Penang accommodates passengers of all ages, including seniors and people with disabilities,' he shared. Mohd Amir said through the Bus Information System (BIS), which enables real-time monitoring of bus positions, and Bus Control Centre (BCC) that manages and tracks the fleet to maintain service efficiency, the operations of buses were further strengthened. Women bus captains bring excellent customer service and a thoughtful approach to their work. — Filepic He also said that the introduction of dedicated bus lanes ensured smoother, faster journeys, while the MyRapid Pulse app kept customers informed, enhancing the overall travel experience. On the most popular route, Mohd Amir said Route 101 (Ferry Terminal to Teluk Bahang) was the most used. It connects George Town to popular tourist destinations like Batu Ferringhi and Escape Theme Park, serving both locals and tourists. 'This route's high ridership is driven by its accessibility to major attractions and residential areas,' he said. Rapid Penang currently has 706 bus captains across Penang. 'Out of this number, 19 are women. 'While the majority of Rapid Penang's workforce is still male, we are committed to encouraging more women to take up the role. 'We are focused on recruiting more female drivers as the company values the important contribution that they make,' he said, noting that women brought excellent customer service and a thoughtful approach to their work. 'Rapid Penang aims to encourage more women to join the team, believing that an increase in female drivers will help improve the overall service and provide a better experience for passengers.' Mohd Amir said Rapid Penang was focused on expanding its level of service, in terms of the number of buses on the road, from 232 to 280, to better meet growing demand for public transportation. Mohd Amir: The Bus Information System enables real-time monitoring of bus positions. 'Additionally, the ROD service will also be expanded with the addition of 50 vans throughout 2025. 'This aims to improve first- and last-mile connectivity and cater to areas with high passenger demand. 'These initiatives reflect Rapid Penang's commitment to providing more flexible and efficient public transportation options to meet the growing needs of commuters,' he said. Rapid Penang is a public bus operator in Penang operating under Prasarana Malaysia Bhd. Established on July 31, 2007, it is part of Rapid Bus, which also operates in the Klang Valley and Kuantan, Pahang. As of this year, Rapid Penang operates 47 routes, with a fleet of 350 buses. Of the 47 routes, 26 are within George Town and 15 are in Seberang Perai. There are two cross-strait routes connecting the two cities. The remaining four routes are interstate services that link Seberang Perai with nearby towns in Kedah and Perak. — By K. KASTURI DEWI
Barnama
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
Rapid Penang On-Demand Service Expanded To Three New Zones Starting April 26
GEORGE TOWN, April 24 (Bernama) -- Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the operator of Rapid Penang bus services, will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand network with three new zones starting April 26. In a statement today, Rapid Bus said these new zones will encompass the George Town city centre as well as the densely populated areas of Jelutong and Bayan Lepas. 'This service will connect passengers from areas with limited access to existing bus routes through a first-mile and last-mile solution, either by linking to current Rapid Penang bus services or directly to the passengers' destinations. 'The introduction of these new zones is expected to encourage more people to opt for public transport over private vehicles,' the statement said. Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said 14 vans will be deployed for operations in the new zones, with an additional 21 vans to be introduced in phases starting from June 2025 to support the next phase of the service. As part of service improvements, Ku Jamil said Rapid Bus will consolidate On-Demand operations in the Paya Terubong and Farlim zones starting in May, which is expected to enhance connectivity between the On-Demand service and existing Rapid Penang routes. He said the service initially began with just two vans in the Farlim zone and recorded an average of 120 passengers daily. However, with expansion to new areas such as Gurney, Sunway and Paya Terubong, the number of vans has increased to 17. 'After this expansion, the Rapid Penang On-Demand service continues to receive encouraging response, with current daily ridership averaging 753 passengers,' he said. The Rapid Penang On-Demand service operates daily from 6 am to 11 pm, offering a promotional fare of RM1 per trip.
