By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Dec 14: The Sarawak government has initiated a detailed study on the proposed Kuching-Kota Samarahan Light Rail Transit (LRT) public transportation.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said due to the high demand from people travelling between Kuching and Kota Samarahan for the LRT project to be implemented, his administration felt compelled to take a relook at the shelved LRT project and, maybe, partially implement it for the Kuching-Kota Samarahan route.
“We are looking into it. Scaled down (from the original plan that was shelved). The rest depends on demand. Because that one (Kuching-Kota Samarahan) was asked by the Kota Samarahan folks, so we have to look into it … where to lay the rails as well as the type of train to be used,” he told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building here today.
Abang Johari said the initial feasibility study had been done when the project was first mooted earlier this year. However, another study needed to be done for the Kuching-Kota Samarahan portion, and the study had started.
In the initial plan that was shelved in September this year, the distance of the LRT route between Kuching and Kota Samarahan was about 34km. The train to be used then would use hydrogen fuel cell rolling-stock and have a speed of 70-140kph. — DayakDaily
