KUCHING, Oct 5: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his entourage, who are on a working visit to Sarawak, have had the opportunity to test ride the prototype Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicle here, this afternoon.
According to a Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) press release issued today, during the test ride along the engineering run route at Jalan Keruing at the Isthmus, Chow also had the opportunity to see first-hand the autonomous operations of the ART.
“Chow and his delegation were also briefed on the technological components and functions of the zero-emissions vehicle during the test ride.
“Prior to the ride, the delegates visited Sarawak Energy Bhd’s (Sarawak Energy) hydrogen refuelling plant, where they took Sarawak Metro’s hydrogen buses to Menara SEDC for the ART test ride.
“The zero-emission ART vehicle is the backbone of the KUTS Project, aimed to modernise the public transport system as well as to ease traffic congestion into Greater Kuching.”
As per the press release, the KUTS Project will be developed in phases, with Phase 1 seeing the development of three lines: the Blue Line, the Red Line, and the Green Line.
“Phase 1 of the KUTS Project is scheduled to start operation in stages, from the fourth quarter of 2025.
“The Blue Line, covering a distance of 27.5km, is from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Kuching city centre; the Red Line (12.3km) is from Kuching Sentral to Pending; and the Green Line (30km) from Pending to Damai Central.”
Sarawak Metro continued, “The ART vehicles will be operated on dedicated lanes and will not share the road with other road users.
“The lanes will either be at-grade (road level) or elevated. The ART vehicles run on rubber tyres and hence the dedicated lanes will be trackless.
“The ART operation will be supported by a feeder bus network, which will also use hydrogen-powered vehicles to offer the ‘first mile and last mile’ connectivity for commuters. The move to use hydrogen is in support of the Sarawak government’s aspirations to advance the hydrogen economy and to decarbonise public transport in Sarawak.”
Accompanying the delegation were Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy State Secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee, and other senior Sarawak government officials. — DayakDaily
