Rapid Penang

Last updated

Rapid Penang
Rapid Penang Logo.svg
Terminal Bas Pengkalan Weld (Terminal A), George Town 20230306 103115.jpg
Weld Quay Bus Terminal A, George Town, Penang
Parent Prasarana Malaysia Berhad
Founded31 July 2007
Headquarters George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Service area Greater Penang
Service type Public bus
Routes56
Fleet406 [1]
Annual ridership30,309,000 (2014) [2]
Operator Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd
Website Rapid Penang

Rapid Penang (styled as rapidPenang) is a public bus brand in the State of Penang, Malaysia. Formed as a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia in 2007, to date it is the main public transport operator within Penang; its bus network serves commuters within Greater Penang, including the neighbouring towns in Kedah and Perak. [3]

Contents

Rapid Penang was the second public transportation firm established by Prasarana Malaysia, a corporate body owned by the Malaysian federal government to manage urban public transportation. The first was Rapid KL in 2004, which now encompasses public bus, LRT and monorail services within Kuala Lumpur and the greater Klang Valley. Thus, similar to Rapid KL, Rapid Penang's bus fleet is under the management of Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd. [4]

History

Originally, the public bus service in Penang were fragmented and disorganised, with several local public bus operators facing financial difficulties and showing signs of collapse. [5] This situation reached a critical point when the Yellow Bus Company, one of the largest public bus operators in Penang with a 58-year history, suddenly ceased operations in 2004, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. [6] [7] [8]

The Penang state government at the time under the then Chief Minister, Koh Tsu Koon attempted to revamp the state's ailing bus network. Under the revamped routes that were launched in 2006, bigger buses were made to run along trunk routes while minibuses ran feeder routes which branched off the trunk routes. [9] The revamp, however, failed to improve the situation, leading the Penang state government to study the revamp already conducted in Kuala Lumpur and request for federal intervention. [10] [11] It was felt that bringing in Rapid KL, which already had the expertise and know-how, was the better solution than simply purchasing more buses, although Rapid KL at the time chose to focus on its core operations in the Klang Valley. [12]

In 2007, Koh announced that the federal government agreed to operate a bus service in the state. [12] [13] Prasarana Malaysia, which until then had been running Rapid KL services within the Klang Valley, was appointed to implement a similar system for Penang, as well as to handle the procurement of the required assets. To this end, Prasarana set up Rapid Penang, which was registered under Malaysia's Ministry of Finance. Rapid Penang formally commenced operations on 31 July 2007. [3]

Initially, the remaining local public bus operators were allowed to resume their operations to complement Rapid Penang. However, since then, these local companies have ceased operations. Rapid Penang has become the main and only public bus provider in the state.

Routes

Bus routes are being displayed at the Weld Quay Bus Terminal Rapid Penang bus routes at Weld Quay Bus Terminal A (220723).jpg
Bus routes are being displayed at the Weld Quay Bus Terminal

As of 2024, Rapid Penang has a total of 49 routes (inclusive of few shuttle routes) throughout Greater Penang, which also includes routes into neighbouring Kedah and Perak. [1] These routes also include the free-of-charge services within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

30 of these routes are within Penang Island, while 19 are within Seberang Perai, the mainland part of Penang state. Rapid Penang also operates three cross-strait routes between Bayan Lepas on Penang Island and Seberang Perai, also known as BEST (Bridge Express Shuttle Transit) routes, catering specifically to factory workers who commute daily to the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. In addition, Rapid Penang has four cross-border interstate routes from within Seberang Perai into Kedah and Perak.

Fleet

As of 2017, Rapid Penang's fleet consists of 406 buses. [14] As with other Prasarana brands such as Rapid KL and Rapid Kuantan, Rapid Penang's bus fleet is managed under Rapid Bus.

ModelImageYear IntroducedBodyworkUnit IntroducedNotes/Comments
Dong Feng Dongfeng-RapidPenang.JPG 2007Scomi Coach (Formerly MTrans)3Used for training purposes
Higer Higer-RapidPenang.JPG 2007SKS Bus, BadanBas, Pioneer40Partially retired
King Long KingLong-RapidPenang.JPG 2007DRB-Hicom Defense Technology40Partially retired
Scania K270UB Accessibility-directory.svg (MYS-Penang) RapidPenang PJH197 CAT 2024-01-05.jpg 2009DRB-Hicom Defense Technology30 (12m)
170 (10.5m)
Scania K250UB Accessibility-directory.svg (MYS-Penang) RapidPenang PKX3352 304 2024-01-05.jpg 2013DRB-Hicom Defense Technology, Gemilang Coachworks 120 [14]
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (MYS-Penang) RapidPenang PMQ2978 NIS 2024-01-07.jpg 2016, 20223 (with an additional 30 added in 2017) [1] "Due to operational reasons, RapidPenang’s fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMCs have been transferred to RapidKL's fleet"

Was used for routes 101, 102 and 301 on Penang Island

Reintroduced in February 2022 for routes 301 and 302. [15]

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 2017?Transferred to RapidKL's fleet
Hino Poncho RapidPenang Hino Poncho (1).jpg 2021Trialing on route 11 and route 201.
Rapid Penang T210B DRT (VGH 401) at Jalan Ayer Itam (240813).jpg 2024Trialing on DRT route T210B.

Rapid ICIS

Rapid ICIS, an acronym for Rapid Penang Intelligent Commuter Information System, was launched in 2010 to provide passengers with real-time information regarding the arrival times of buses to various destinations. The data, which comes from the GPS tracking devices installed on every bus, is relayed to the Rapid ICIS Displays located at most bus stops.

In addition, this information is relayed via MyRapid PULSE app, a mobile application designed to assist public transport commuters, and the LED screens installed at most bus stops allowing commuters to plan their bus trips while on the move.

The ICIS Centre, which serves as the company's integrated command centre, is located at Rapid Penang's headquarters at Lorong Kulit, George Town.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch 'n Go</span> Malaysian expressway smart card

Touch 'n Go is a contactless smart card system used for electronic payments in Malaysia. The system was introduced in 1997 and is widely used for toll payments on highways, public transportation, parking, and other services. The card is equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that allows users to make payments by simply tapping the card on a reader device. Touch 'n Go cards can be reloaded with funds either online or at designated reload kiosks. The system has become a popular and convenient way for Malaysians to make cashless transactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seberang Perai</span> City in the Malaysian state of Penang

Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi) and had a population of 946,092 as of 2020, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid KL</span> Public transportation system in Malaysia

Rapid KL is a public transportation system owned by Prasarana Malaysia and operated by its subsidiaries Rapid Rail and Rapid Bus. The acronym stands for Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Kuala Lumpur, which translates to Kuala Lumpur Rapid Integrated Transport Network in the Malay language. Rapid KL, with its 204.1 km (126.8 mi) of metro railway and 5.6 km (3.5 mi) of BRT carriageway, is part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System, operating throughout Kuala Lumpur and Selangor's satellite cities in the Klang Valley area.

Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) (English: Malaysian Infrastructure Limited) is a 100% government-owned company which was set up by Ministry of Finance (Malaysia) as a corporate body established under the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 to own the assets of multi-modal public transport operator in Malaysia, under the government's move to restructure the city's public transport system. It is one of the largest public-transport companies in Malaysia other than Konsortium Transnasional Berhad. As a government-owned company since 1998, it operates stage bus and light metro services via several wholly owned subsidiaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North–South Expressway Northern Route</span> Major interstate expressway in Malaysia

The North–South Expressway Northern Route is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The 460-kilometre (290-mile) expressway forms the north section of the North–South Expressway, passing through the northwestern states of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. The expressway begins at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, where the Malaysia–Thailand border lies, and ends at Bukit Lanjan in Selangor state where the expressway interchanges with the New Klang Valley Expressway. The expressway is operated by PLUS Expressways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nibong Tebal</span> Suburb of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Nibong Tebal is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the northern bank of the Kerian River within the Southern Seberang Perai District, it is the southernmost populated place of Penang. Nibong Tebal contained a population of 1,425 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perai</span> Suburb of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seberang Jaya</span> Suburb of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Seberang Jaya is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the southern bank of the Perai River and east of Perai proper, the area was developed in the 1970s. Since then, Seberang Jaya has evolved into a booming area, with various commercial and retail developments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Malaysia</span>

Rail transport in Malaysia has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the country's economic growth and modernization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid Bus</span> Malaysian bus business

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is the largest bus operator in Malaysia operating mainly in urban areas of Klang Valley, Penang & Kuantan. As of February 2023, Rapid KL service brands unit of Rapid Bus, has operates 113 normal routes and also 69 MRT Feeder Bus routes, along with 8 Nadiputra routes in Putrajaya.

Transport in Greater Kuala Lumpur includes a road network, a railway network, airports, and other modes of public transport. Greater Kuala Lumpur is conterminous with the Klang Valley, an urban conglomeration consisting of the city of Kuala Lumpur, as well as surrounding towns and cities in the state of Selangor. The Klang Valley has the country's largest airport, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), as well as the country's largest intermodal transport hub and railway station, Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sungai Buloh station</span> MRT, KTM and ETS integrate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Sungai Buloh station is an integrated railway station serving the suburb of Sungai Buloh in Selangor, Malaysia, which is located to the northwest of Kuala Lumpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Penang</span>

The State of Penang in Malaysia, home to the country's third largest city as well as part of Malaysia's second most populous conurbation, has a relatively well-developed transport infrastructure. The city-state is well-connected by land, air and sea; the Penang International Airport is one of Malaysia's busiest, while the Port of Penang is the main harbour and transshipment hub within northern Malaysia. The North–South Expressway, the main highway along western Peninsular Malaysia, runs through Penang, while the two geographically separate halves of the state are now linked by two bridges and a ferry service.

Konsortium Transnasional Berhad (KTB) (MYX: 4847) is one of the largest public bus operator in Malaysia. The company provides services of stage buses and express buses covering all major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia as well as routes to Singapore. KTB debut on Bursa Malaysia on 15 June 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kajang line</span> Railway line in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

The MRT Kajang Line, previously known as the MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line, is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line servicing the Klang Valley, Malaysia. It is the second fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley region after the LRT Kelana Jaya Line. Owned by MRT Corp and operated as part of the Rapid KL system by Rapid Rail, it forms part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. The line is numbered 9 and coloured green on official transit maps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Penang Conurbation</span> Metropolitan area in Malaysia

The Greater Penang Conurbation, also known as the George Town Conurbation, is the built-up urban or metropolitan area within and around the Malaysian state of Penang. Encompassing all of Penang, and parts of the neighbouring states of Kedah and Perak, the conurbation was home to over 2.84 million people as of 2020, the second largest in the country after the Klang Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klang Valley Integrated Transit System</span> Rail transportation network in the Klang Valley

The Klang Valley Integrated Transit System is an integrated transport network that primarily serves the area of Klang Valley and Greater Kuala Lumpur. The system commenced operations in August 1995 with the introduction of commuter rail service on the existing rail between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. The system have since expanded and currently consists of 11 fully operating rail lines in a radial formation; two commuter rail lines, six rapid transit lines, one bus rapid transit line and two airport rail links to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and one temperarily suspended airport rail link to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. The system encompasses 528.4 kilometres (328.3 mi) of grade-separated railway with 197 operational stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadi Putra</span>

Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd dba Nadi Putra is the city bus operator in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, mainly serving Putrajaya city and nearby resident areas. Originally established as an agency of Putrajaya Corporation under the Ministry of Federal Territories, it was privatised in 2018.

Buses play a major role in the public transport of Malaysia, as well as seeing extensive private use. While rail transport has increased over the recent years due to road congestion, the same does not apply to buses, which have generally been used less in most of the area.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Firm adds 30 more double-decker buses to its fleet - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  2. ↑ kilzacmaster, the. "Press Statement – An accurate portrayal of Penang bus rides". Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Rapid Penang | www.rapidpg.com.my". www.rapidpg.com.my. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Rapid Penang rolls on under Rapid Bus". 1 July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Singh, Sharanjit (20 February 2007), "Rapid KL to manage Penang buses", New Straits Times , p. 22
  6. ↑ Ng, Su-Ann (2 January 2004), "End of the road for Yellow Bus after 58 years", The Star , p. 19
  7. ↑ "Rapid answer to transport woes - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Dielenberg, Priscilla; Tan, Jeremy. "Bring the bus back to the airport Rapid Penang urged to revive abandoned service - Community | The Star Online" . Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  9. ↑ Tan, Emmeline; K, Kasturi Dewi (1 April 2004), "New bus system starts today", The Star (Penang final edition), p. 16
  10. ↑ Yeng, Ai Chun (4 July 2006), "Bus system in a mess", The Star , p. 3
  11. ↑ "KL bus system for Penang", The Star , p. 28, 24 August 2006
  12. 1 2 "RapidPenang – The First Step Towards Integrated Public Transportation System in Penang" (PDF). Penang Economic Monthly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. ↑ Singh, Sharanjit (20 February 2007), "RapidKL to manage Penang buses", New Straits Times , p. 22
  14. 1 2 "Additional 120 buses for Rapid Penang - Prasarana". Bernama. Factiva. 11 November 2013.
  15. ↑ "Rapid Penang Provides Double Decker Bus Service Starting 1 Feb 2022". Penang Foodie. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.