Latest news with #RapidPenang


The Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Free shuttle buses for Unity Week 2025 at Batu Kawan Stadium
GEORGE TOWN: Seven Rapid Penang shuttle buses will provide free transport to Batu Kawan Stadium for the national-level Unity Week 2025 celebration from July 17 to 20. The service, a collaboration between the Ministry of National Unity and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, aims to ease public access to the event. Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana, will operate the shuttle service with two main routes. On the island side, buses will depart from Sungai Nibong Festival Site, running from 9 am to 10.30 pm (July 17-19) and 9 am to 6.30 pm (July 20) at 60-minute intervals. For the mainland route, pick-up points are at Hotel Blanket and Bank Rakyat Perda in Seberang Jaya, with the same operating hours except for a slightly extended schedule until 10.45 pm (July 17-19) and 6.45 pm (July 20). National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang praised Prasarana's initiative, stating, 'The ministry extends its utmost thanks to Prasarana Malaysia Berhad for the initiative in providing free shuttle bus service to the public.' Rapid Bus acting CEO Ku Jamil Zakaria reaffirmed the company's commitment to public convenience, ensuring smooth transport for attendees. The four-day event will feature 35 activities, including cultural exhibitions like Rumah KAMI, Kadazan Dusun and Orang Asli Ethnic Village, and the Malaysia Tanah Airku showcase.


New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Rapid Bus to add 200 mini diesel buses to KL, Penang fleets in Q3
KUALA LUMPUR: Rapid Bus will introduce a fleet of mini diesel buses in the third quarter of the year to improve access to high-density areas and neighbourhoods. "They are designed to improve first and last mile connection, allowing access to residential areas and narrow routes that are not suitable for regular-sized buses," Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today during a press conference after a ceremony to unveil 310 Euro 5 diesel buses for Rapid KL and Rapid Penang. He said 200 of the new diesel buses are compact buses measuring 8.9m long. He said 70 of these mini buses would be sent to Penang to support the Rapid Penang network. "These buses feature Euro 5 engines, which reduce carbon emissions by up to 24 per cent and are more environmentally friendly. "However, they will be the last batch of diesel-powered buses purchased by Rapid Bus." He said the government had closed the tender for electric buses, with a contractor expected to be appointed soon. On speculation that the Rapid KL On-Demand van service would replace buses, Loke said the van service was designed to complement the bus service. "I have seen comments questioning whether the on-demand vans will replace buses. The answer is no. These vans are meant to enhance the public transport system, not replace it. "Buses will continue to be added, as we are doing now. The van service helps ferry passengers from residential areas to transport hubs, such as MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Rail Transit) stations or main bus terminals." He said the goal was to create a more integrated and accessible public transport network across the country.


New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Electric Rapid Buses on Malaysian roads by 2026
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is expected to roll out electric-powered Rapid Buses starting from the second quarter of next year, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said the tender had already been called and the awarding of the contract would be made soon. "The tender has closed. The appointment of the contractor will be made soon. It will take around 12 months to complete. "Our condition is that these buses must be built locally. Even though the technology may come from other countries, the assembly must be done in our country so that we can benefit from technology transfer and provide opportunities to local companies," he said after the unveiling ceremony of new diesel-powered Rapid Buses for Rapid KL and Rapid Penang. Loke added that Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) would receive the buses in phases, possibly starting from the second quarter after it has received all the diesel-powered buses. It would be the last diesel-powered buses to be received by Prasarana. Prasarana is the owner and operator of Rapid Bus. In March, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the ministry allocated RM1.9 billion to Prasarana to purchase 1,660 new diesel and electric buses in stages over a period of three years. He said 310 of the buses would be diesel-engine units, the last batch to use that engine type, while the remaining units would be electric vehicles.


New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Loke: KTMB yet to achieve profitability
KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has yet to achieve profitability, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said although the government-linked company (GLC) does not profit from its commuter services, it is generating revenue from its cargo operations. "KTMB is a GLC. It's a company that receives a funding gap allocation from the government to cover operational expenses. "There is indeed a shortfall in operational spending. In terms of operations, we have not yet reached profitability or the break-even point. "But the point is, we must ensure KTMB's operations improve, especially commuter services, ETS (Electric Train Service) and on the cargo side, where we do make a profit," he said at a press conference after a ceremony to unveil new diesel-powered buses for Rapid KL and Rapid Penang. Loke was responding to questions about when KTMB would become profitable. He said KTMB operates within a cross-subsidy framework, where earnings from the cargo and ETS services are used to subsidise the commuter services. "The commuter side runs at a loss because of the low fares. "However, KTMB, as mentioned, is a GLC and it has a social responsibility. Profit is not the main focus. "Of course, we hope that it can be financially sustainable. But that is not our immediate consideration. "We do hope that over time it becomes more efficient and our funding gap can be reduced." The Auditor General's Report 2018 Series 2 revealed that KTMB's accumulated losses up to Dec 31, 2018 had reached RM2.83 billion. According to industry observers, KTMB needs additional train sets to operate at full capacity and boost revenue.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- 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