George Town - Butterworth LRT

The **George Town** **- Butterworth LRT Line**, under the Penang Transport Master Plan, is a proposed 18 kilometre cross-strait LRT line linking George Town and the town of Butterworth on mainland Malay Peninsula. It is slated to be one of the eventual five links that will connect Penang Island and Seberang Perai on the mainland.

A total of eight stations have been mooted along the 18 kilometre cross-strait route stretching from the George Town suburb of Gelugor to Butterworth, via the Perai Industrial Estate south of Butterworth. The route is expected to be aligned with the Penang Bridge and will follow the height of the bridge to ensure that the Penang Channel remains open for shipping.

Construction of the George Town - Butterworth LRT Line is expected to begin by 2026.

## Rationale

The George Town - Butterworth LRT Line has been mooted as one of the eventual five links connecting Penang Island and Seberang Perai, Penang's mainland territory. Other than the present Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge, the other three links are proposed under the Penang Transport Master Plan - the Penang Undersea Tunnel, the Sky Cab and the George Town - Butterworth LRT.

This LRT line is expected to serve Penangites who work on or travel to either side of the Penang Channel. It will also benefit Malaysian and foreign tourists travelling between Penang Island and mainland Malay Peninsula.

Furthermore, it is said that the LRT line, like the Sky Cab, will afford commuters a panoramic view of the Penang Channel separating Penang Island and mainland Malay Peninsula.

The LRT service was mooted in the wake of worsening traffic congestion along the Penang Bridge. Traffic jams along the bridge are particularly acute during the morning and evening rush hours, as well as around major holidays and festivals. Although the Second Penang Bridge, opened in 2014, was intended to relieve traffic congestion along the Penang Bridge, it is located far to the south, whereas the Penang Bridge, due to its closer proximity to the urban population centres of George Town and Butterworth, remains heavily used by Penangites. In addition, higher toll rates imposed on users of the Second Penang Bridge have reduced the second bridge's popularity.

According to SRS Consortium Sdn. Bhd. project director, Szeto Wai Loong, the LRT line will be narrower than the Penang Bridge and will be built following the bridge's height to ensure that the Penang Channel remains open for ships.

## Alignment

As of April 2016, eight stations have been identified along the 18 kilometre route between Penang Island and Seberang Perai. Seven of the stations will be within Seberang Perai, while Gelugor, the southernmost suburb of George Town, has been selected as the Penang Island terminus.

The cross-strait LRT Line is expected to be aligned in parallel with the Penang Bridge. Therefore, the first two stations in Seberang Perai after the Penang Channel have been located within the Perai Industrial Estate. Both stations are expected to serve workers and employees within the industrial zone.

From west to east :

* The Light (Gelugor)
* Perai South (Seberang Perai)
* Perai North (Seberang Perai)
* Taman Supreme (Seberang Perai)
* Taman Perai Utama (Seberang Perai)
* Penang Sentral (Butterworth, Seberang Perai)
* Chain Ferry (Butterworth, Seberang Perai)
* Sungai Nyiur (Butterworth, Seberang Perai)

The Light LRT Station in Gelugor will also serve as an interchange, connecting both the George Town - Butterworth LRT and Bayan Lepas LRT lines. This will enable a seamless transition for commuters coming from the mainland who wish to travel elsewhere on Penang Island.

Within Butterworth, Penang Sentral, the future transportation hub for the State of Penang, is expected to serve as an interchange, linking the cross-strait LRT line with the Bur Rapid Transit (BRT) service between Permatang Tinggi to the east and Batu Kawan to the south.

In addition, the Butterworth terminus of the LRT line at Sungai Nyiur is also slated to serve as an interchange for commuters switching between the LRT line and the Raja Uda - Bukit Mertajam Monorail Line.

## Current Status

Construction of the George Town - Butterworth LRT Line is expected to commence by 2026.

Meanwhile, the Penang state government has been organising free public briefings across Penang to explain to the citizens of Penang about the proposed line and to obtain public feedback.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/12/17/lrt-across-the-sea-to-mainland-in-the-works/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://pgmasterplan.penang.gov.my/index.php/en/pengangkutan-awam/lrt/george-town-butterworth-line#george-town-–-butterworth-line
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.penangpropertytalk.com/2016/04/penang-george-town-butterworth-lrt-line/
4. ↑ http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/495155-guan-eng-slams-toll-rate-for-cars-on-second-penang-bridge.html
5. ↑ http://en.selangorku.com/13416/2nd-penang-bridge-fails-to-overcome-congestion-high-toll-rates/
6. ↑ http://paultan.org/2016/03/04/penang-public-transport-plan-revealed-lrt-brt-monorail-and-trams-to-connect-island-to-mainland/
7. ↑ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/12/17/penang-plans-for-lrt-track-across-the-sea/