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By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 19: The world’s first hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) prototype vehicle has left its manufacturing base in Zhuzhou, Central China’s Hunan last Friday (July 14), setting a course for Kuching, Sarawak.
Developed by CRRC Urban Traffic Co. Ltd, this trackless “tram-like” marvel represents the first batch of China-made ART to be exported and operational in South East Asia, as highlighted in a news video clip by China News.
The departure of the carrier trailer, carefully loaded with the state-of-the-art ART carriages bound for Sarawak, was marked with a display of fireworks, celebrating this remarkable feat in transportation innovation.
On July 12, the Ministry of Transport Sarawak revealed that the ART vehicle is set to arrive in Kuching by August, where it will undergo a two-month engineering run at The Isthmus in September and October to prepare for the proof-of-concept (POC) trial run along a short stretch of the Blue Line on Kuching-Samarahan Expressway in November.
For the deployment to Sarawak, China News reported that the ART system underwent a comprehensive upgrade to align with the region’s and Malaysia’s zero-carbon initiative, setting a new standard for eco-conscious urban mobility.
This cutting-edge vehicle is expected to have impressive mileage capacity, allowing it to travel longer distances on a single hydrogen refilling. Moreover, the hydrogen refilling process itself promises to be much quicker and would also significantly reduces carbon emissions.
The ART system is an innovative urban transport system comprising multiple carriages, fitted with advanced sensors capable of dynamically sensing the road dimensions, all without the need for conventional rail tracks. This remarkable feature not only ensures flexibility in route planning but also enhances adaptability to various urban settings.
To ensure the successful implementation of the November trial run, Sarawak Metro, which implements the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), along with Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak as well as other departments and agencies is working diligently to expedite the construction of part of the ART alignment of the Blue Line (Kuching-Kota Samarahan Expressway).
The broader KUTS project encompasses multiple phases, including the construction of the 27.6km Blue Line connecting Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in Kuching city centre.
Additionally, the development of the 12.3km Red Line (from Kuching Sentral to Pending) and the 30km Green Line (from Pending to Damai Central) are also part of Phase 1. The ART operations under Phase 1 are scheduled to commence in stages from the fourth quarter of 2025 up to the fourth quarter of 2027.
The primary goal of the KUTS project is to alleviate traffic congestion in the Greater Kuching area and provide a reliable, efficient, and modern public transport service for the people.
Central to the project is the implementation of a zero-emission public transport system, with the ART fleet powered by green hydrogen. Complementing the ART service will be a hydrogen-powered feeder bus network, ensuring convenient “first- and last-mile connectivity” for commuters. — DayakDaily
