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Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Chow leads delegation to Switzerland, Austria for Penang Hill cable car project
An artist's impression of the Penang Hill cable car project. PETALING JAYA : Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow is leading a state delegation to Switzerland and Austria to support the development of the Penang Hill cable car project. In a statement, his office said the seven-day visit, which starts today, is hosted by Austrian ropeway specialist Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH and local rail firm Hartasuma Sdn Bhd. Chow's office said the visit is key to ensuring the project meets international standards for sustainable mobility and safety. The delegation will visit several key suppliers involved in the project, including Doppelmayr in Wolfurt, Austria; Fatzer AG, a cable ropeway supplier in Romanshorn, Switzerland; Garaventa AG, a funicular system expert in Goldau, Switzerland; and CWA Constructions SA, a gondola cabin manufacturer in Olten, Switzerland. The delegation will also meet with the mayor of Bettmeralp and representatives from local cable car operator Aletsch Bahnen AG. Bettmeralp is a well-known car-free village accessible only by cable car and serves as a model for sustainable mountain tourism. The statement added that insights gained from the visit will help guide the long-term development of Penang Hill as a sustainable and accessible destination. 'This visit is vital for understanding the engineering, operations and safety measures behind world-class cable car systems,' the statement said. 'The state government is committed to delivering the Penang Hill cable car project with the highest standards of safety, quality and reliability. This mission reflects that commitment,' it said. The RM245 million Penang Hill cable car project was awarded to Hartasuma under a 30-year public-private partnership using a design-finance-build-operate-transfer model. Doppelmayr has been tapped to supply the cable car technology. The cable car line will span 2.73km from the Penang Botanic Gardens to the top of Bukit Bendera. The project includes three main stations, namely the Garden Station at the base, a mid-route Turn Station and the Hill Station at the summit, as well as a multi-storey car park, commercial plaza opposite the Botanic Gardens department and a dedicated bus parking space.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Penang looks to Alps for lessons on eco-friendly tourism, state leaders on Swiss visit till June 16
GEORGE TOWN, June 10 — The Penang government will be exploring the best practices in mountain tourism and sustainable transport systems based on the car-free village or Bettmeralp in Switzerland. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is leading an official delegation to Switzerland and Austria from today until June 16. He said the visit is hosted by Doppelmayr and Hartasuma. 'It marks a significant step forward in the implementation of one of Penang's key sustainable mobility initiatives,' he said in a statement issued by his office today. He said the delegation will be engaging with the Mayor of Bettmeralp, Raron, Switzerland and Aletsch Bahnen AG, the local cable car company on mountain tourism and sustainable transport systems, as Bettmeralp, a renowned car-free village, is accessible exclusively by cable car. The delegation will also visit key suppliers and industry leaders involved in the cable car project such as Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH - headquarters and manufacturing facility in Wolfurt, Austria, Fatzer AG – cable car ropeway supplier in Romanshorn, Switzerland, Garaventa AG – funicular system supplier in Goldau, Switzerland and CWA Constructions SA – gondola cabin supplier in Olten, Switzerland. Chow said the technical visits are crucial for understanding the advanced engineering, operational procedures, and stringent safety standards of world-class cable car systems for Penang's environmental sustainability. 'The aim is to ensure that Penang Hill's cable car infrastructure is delivered to the highest international benchmarks,' he said. He gave an assurance that his state government is committed to delivering the Penang Hill Cable Car Project while ensuring its safety, quality and service reliability. The tender to build the cable car project was awarded to local rail industry pioneer, Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, in December 2022 through a public private partnership on design, finance, build, operate and transfer. Hartasuma is expected to invest RM245 million in the project and the project is based on a 30-year concession period. The targeted completion date for the cable car is at the end of 2026. It is expected to open for operations by the second quarter of 2027.
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang Hill cable car to cost taxpayers nothing, state agency says as private firm Hartasuma takes on RM245m project
GEORGE TOWN, May 23 — The Penang Hill cable car project will be fully financed and developed by a private concessionaire, with no cost to the state government, the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) said today. In a statement, the state agency said the RM245 million project was awarded to local rail firm Hartasuma Sdn Bhd under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) using a design-finance-build-operate-transfer (DFBOT) model. Ownership will revert to the state once the concession ends, it noted. PHC said the PPP approach was chosen to ease the financial burden on the state, with Hartasuma responsible for funding and operating the system. Austrian ropeway specialist Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH has been tapped to supply the cable car technology. The clarification comes amid local media reports citing political concerns over the project's rising costs and current progress, with construction currently at just seven per cent completion. PHC said the budget was based on estimates from a 2021 request-for-proposal (RFP), during a period marked by COVID-19-related economic uncertainty, inflation, as well as higher labour and material costs. The project design was also adjusted to strengthen long-term viability. Despite the challenges, PHC said Hartasuma remains committed to delivering an international-standard cable car system spanning 2.73 kilometres from the Penang Botanic Gardens to the top of Bukit Bendera. The project includes three main stations namely, the Garden Station at the base, a mid-route Turn Station and the Hill Station at the summit, as well as a multi-storey car park, commercial plaza opposite the Botanic Gardens Department and a dedicated bus parking space. PHC said careful planning was underway to ensure the infrastructure integrates sustainably with the natural environment. Once completed, the cable car is also expected to ease congestion on Penang Hill during peak seasons and reduce chronic traffic around the Botanic Gardens area. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang Hill cable car to be fully funded by private sector
An artist's impression of the Penang Hill cable car project. GEORGE TOWN : The Penang Hill cable car project will be fully financed and developed by a private concessionaire with no cost to the state government, the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) said today. The state agency said the RM245 million project was awarded to local rail firm Hartasuma Sdn Bhd under a 30-year public-private partnership using a design-finance-build-operate-transfer model. Ownership will be handed over to the state once the concession ends, it said in a statement. PHC said a public-private partnership was chosen to ease the financial burden on the state, with Hartasuma responsible for funding and operating the system. Austrian ropeway specialist Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH has been tapped to supply the cable car technology. This follows reports of concerns over the project's rising costs and current progress, with construction currently just 7% completed. PHC said the RM245 million budget was based on estimates from a 2021 request-for-proposal, adding that this was a period marked by related economic uncertainty, inflation as well as higher labour and material costs due to Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns. It said the project design was also adjusted to strengthen long-term viability. PHC said Hartasuma remained committed to delivering an international-standard cable car system spanning 2.73km from the Penang Botanic Gardens to the top of Bukit Bendera. The project includes three main stations, namely the Garden Station at the base, a mid-route Turn Station and the Hill Station at the summit, as well as a multi-storey car park, commercial plaza opposite the Botanic Gardens department and a dedicated bus parking space. PHC said careful planning is under way to ensure the infrastructure integrates sustainably with the natural environment. Once completed, the cable car is also expected to ease congestion on Penang Hill during peak seasons and around the Botanic Gardens area.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Penang Hill cable car project fully funded by private sector, says state agency
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hill cable car project will be fully financed and developed by a private concessionaire, with no cost to the state government, the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) said on Friday (May 23). In a statement, the state agency said the RM245mil project was awarded to local rail firm Hartasuma Sdn Bhd under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) using a design-finance-build-operate-transfer (DFBOT) model. Ownership will revert to the state once the concession ends, it noted. PHC said the PPP approach was chosen to ease the financial burden on the state, with Hartasuma responsible for funding and operating the system. Austrian ropeway specialist Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH has been tapped to supply the cable car technology. The clarification comes amid local media reports citing political concerns over the project's rising costs and current progress, with construction currently at just seven per cent completion. PHC said the budget was based on estimates from a 2021 request-for-proposal (RFP), during a period marked by Covid-19-related economic uncertainty, inflation, as well as higher labour and material costs. The project design was also adjusted to strengthen long-term viability. Despite the challenges, PHC said Hartasuma remains committed to delivering an international-standard cable car system spanning 2.73km from the Penang Botanic Gardens to the top of Bukit Bendera. The project includes three main stations namely, the Garden Station at the base, a mid-route Turn Station and the Hill Station at the summit, as well as a multi-storey car park, commercial plaza opposite the Botanic Gardens Department and a dedicated bus parking space. PHC said careful planning was underway to ensure the infrastructure integrates sustainably with the natural environment. Once completed, the cable car is also expected to ease congestion on Penang Hill during peak seasons and reduce chronic traffic around the Botanic Gardens area. - Bernama
