Latest news with #RapidPenangOn-Demand
The Star
11-06-2025
- The Star
Loke: LRT project in Penang to start within two months
GEORGE TOWN: With outstanding issues concerning the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project now resolved, physical construction is set to begin within the next two months, says Anthony Loke. The Transport Minister said the resolved matters included the issuance of consent letters from the state government and other technical issues that had previously delayed the project's implementation. He said the project's main contractor has already awarded preliminary works to sub-contractors in preparation for on-site activities. 'I personally chaired a meeting with the Penang Chief Minister last month and resolved all issues related to the project. 'We can expect physical works to begin within one or two months,' he told reporters after inspecting the Rapid Penang On-Demand (ROD) service yesterday. The 29.5km Mutiara Line LRT project, which includes 21 stations, aims to improve connectivity between the island and the mainland, while also reducing road congestion and enhancing accessibility. On the ROD service, Loke said it has been operating with 50 vans, covering 13 zones in Penang (seven on the island and the rest on the mainland) since its introduction in August last year. He said the average number of daily passengers on weekdays has shown an increase since the addition of zones in March this year. 'An average of 492 passengers per day was recorded in March compared to 159 passengers in February. 'In May, the average daily ridership exceeded the target of 1,944. 'The figure has contributed 4.1% of the total daily average of 47,000 passengers using Rapid Penang services,' he said. Loke also said the Gurney-Tanjong Bungah route is currently the most popular with 522 passengers daily.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Mutiara Line LRT issues resolved, work starts soon
GEORGE TOWN: All outstanding issues between the federal government and the Penang government regarding the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) have been resolved amicably. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he had chaired the meeting with Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow at his ministry in Putrajaya last month and resolved outstanding issues, including the release letter from the state government. 'Physical work will begin shortly, in one or two months. So we ask them (the state government) to ensure there is a traffic diversion plan when piling work and construction begins to ensure the project doesn't have a negative impact on road congestion,' he said during a media conference after ending his one-day working visit to Penang today. On Rapid Penang On-Demand service by Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus), he said that the service, which began in phases from August 2024, was running smoothly with 50 vans covering 13 zones in Penang - seven on the island and six in Seberang Perai. 'The average daily users stand at 1,944 people, with an average of 39 passengers per van daily and an average travel time of 16 minutes and a waiting time of 19 minutes,' he said. He added that there were 150 additional drivers to handle the vans to ensure smooth operations and that passengers would enjoy a fare of RM1 per trip.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Mutiara Line LRT issues settled, physical work to begin in two months
GEORGE TOWN: All outstanding issues between the federal government and the Penang government regarding the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) have been resolved amicably. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he had chaired the meeting with Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow at his ministry in Putrajaya last month and resolved outstanding issues, including the release letter from the state government. 'Physical work will begin shortly, in one or two months. So we ask them (the state government) to ensure there is a traffic diversion plan when piling work and construction begins to ensure the project doesn't have a negative impact on road congestion,' he said during a media conference after ending his one-day working visit to Penang today. On Rapid Penang On-Demand service by Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus), he said that the service, which began in phases from August 2024, was running smoothly with 50 vans covering 13 zones in Penang - seven on the island and six in Seberang Perai. 'The average daily users stand at 1,944 people, with an average of 39 passengers per van daily and an average travel time of 16 minutes and a waiting time of 19 minutes,' he said. He added that there were 150 additional drivers to handle the vans to ensure smooth operations and that passengers would enjoy a fare of RM1 per trip.
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.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang Rapid On-Demand expands van-bus service in seven zones
GEORGE TOWN: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand service through a three-month Proof of Concept (POC) phase starting May 31, involving seven zones. Prasarana Malaysia Bhd group chief operating officer (operations) Amir Hamdan said his party identified the seven zones based on local demand, population density and the need to improve connectivity with existing bus route service coverage. He said the first zone, the Alma zone, will be equipped with four vans to connect passengers with existing bus routes such as (No.) 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 801 (Penang Sentral – Nibong Tebal) and 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal). "Next, the BM (Bukit Mertajam) City zone will operate with three vans in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) town centre, which provides a solution for first and last mile access as well as through better interconnection with the existing bus network. "This involves routes 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas), 701 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 702 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 707 (Bukit Mertajam – Taman Pelangi), 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 709 (Penang Sentral – Machang Bubuk), 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal) and CT14 (Bukit Mertajam – Komtar)," he said in a statement today. Amir said the Bayan Baru zone would involve three vans to provide access to existing bus services including routes 301 (Weld Quay – Relau), 302 (Weld Quay – Batu Maung), 303 (Weld Quay – Bukit Gedung), 304 (Gurney Promenade – Bukit Gedung), 306 (Hospital – Penang International Airport), 308 (Sungai Nibong – Gertak Sanggul), 401 (Weld Quay – Teluk Kumbar), 401E (Weld Quay – Balik Pulau) and CT13 (Bayan Baru – Seberang Jaya). In addition, he said two vans for the Bertam zone would connect commuters with routes 601 (Penang Sentral – Kepala Batas), 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas) and 610 (Kepala Batas – Tasek Gelugor) to reduce waiting times for these routes. "The Balik Pulau zone will also have two vans for the first and last mile access with existing bus routes, namely routes 401E (Balik Pulau – Weld Quay), 403 (Balik Pulau – Pulau Betong), 404 (Balik Pulau – Pantai Acheh) and 502 (Genting Town, Balik Pulau – Weld Quay). "The Transkrian or Nibong Tebal zone also involves two vans that will operate specifically in the Transkrian area to connect communities with the Rapid Penang bus service network, while three vans will be for the Batu Kawan zone, which is an industrial, commercial and new residential hub that does not yet have a public transport network around it," he said. Amir said throughout the POC period, Rapid Bus will monitor demand and usage patterns to ensure that the service is relevant to meet needs while implementing improvements based on evaluation results and passenger feedback. As of mid-May, the service had been operating in six zones involving 31 vans with an average daily rate of 1,828 people, thus showing good acceptance among commuters. – Bernama
