Latest news with #RapidPenang
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Penang bus ridership hits 46,000 daily, more women drivers wanted
Rapid Penang bus was first introduced in Penang on July 31, 2007. — Filepic MORE Penangites are taking public transportation, thanks to the introduction of Rapid Penang's On-Demand (ROD) van service and free bus rides. Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd northern region head Mohd Amir Abdul Halim said Rapid Penang's average daily ridership now stood at 46,333. Rapid Penang currently operates a fleet of 304 buses across Penang, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the island and mainland, he said. 'We provide affordable and reliable public transport for daily commuters, contributing to environmental sustainability by encouraging the use of public transport over private vehicles. 'The network helps reduce traffic congestion in urban areas and offers convenient access to major landmarks and commercial hubs. 'With frequent services and accessible facilities, Rapid Penang accommodates passengers of all ages, including seniors and people with disabilities,' he shared. Mohd Amir said through the Bus Information System (BIS), which enables real-time monitoring of bus positions, and Bus Control Centre (BCC) that manages and tracks the fleet to maintain service efficiency, the operations of buses were further strengthened. Women bus captains bring excellent customer service and a thoughtful approach to their work. — Filepic He also said that the introduction of dedicated bus lanes ensured smoother, faster journeys, while the MyRapid Pulse app kept customers informed, enhancing the overall travel experience. On the most popular route, Mohd Amir said Route 101 (Ferry Terminal to Teluk Bahang) was the most used. It connects George Town to popular tourist destinations like Batu Ferringhi and Escape Theme Park, serving both locals and tourists. 'This route's high ridership is driven by its accessibility to major attractions and residential areas,' he said. Rapid Penang currently has 706 bus captains across Penang. 'Out of this number, 19 are women. 'While the majority of Rapid Penang's workforce is still male, we are committed to encouraging more women to take up the role. 'We are focused on recruiting more female drivers as the company values the important contribution that they make,' he said, noting that women brought excellent customer service and a thoughtful approach to their work. 'Rapid Penang aims to encourage more women to join the team, believing that an increase in female drivers will help improve the overall service and provide a better experience for passengers.' Mohd Amir said Rapid Penang was focused on expanding its level of service, in terms of the number of buses on the road, from 232 to 280, to better meet growing demand for public transportation. Mohd Amir: The Bus Information System enables real-time monitoring of bus positions. 'Additionally, the ROD service will also be expanded with the addition of 50 vans throughout 2025. 'This aims to improve first- and last-mile connectivity and cater to areas with high passenger demand. 'These initiatives reflect Rapid Penang's commitment to providing more flexible and efficient public transportation options to meet the growing needs of commuters,' he said. Rapid Penang is a public bus operator in Penang operating under Prasarana Malaysia Bhd. Established on July 31, 2007, it is part of Rapid Bus, which also operates in the Klang Valley and Kuantan, Pahang. As of this year, Rapid Penang operates 47 routes, with a fleet of 350 buses. Of the 47 routes, 26 are within George Town and 15 are in Seberang Perai. There are two cross-strait routes connecting the two cities. The remaining four routes are interstate services that link Seberang Perai with nearby towns in Kedah and Perak. — By K. KASTURI DEWI
Barnama
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
Rapid Penang On-Demand Service Expanded To Three New Zones Starting April 26
GEORGE TOWN, April 24 (Bernama) -- Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the operator of Rapid Penang bus services, will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand network with three new zones starting April 26. In a statement today, Rapid Bus said these new zones will encompass the George Town city centre as well as the densely populated areas of Jelutong and Bayan Lepas. 'This service will connect passengers from areas with limited access to existing bus routes through a first-mile and last-mile solution, either by linking to current Rapid Penang bus services or directly to the passengers' destinations. 'The introduction of these new zones is expected to encourage more people to opt for public transport over private vehicles,' the statement said. Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said 14 vans will be deployed for operations in the new zones, with an additional 21 vans to be introduced in phases starting from June 2025 to support the next phase of the service. As part of service improvements, Ku Jamil said Rapid Bus will consolidate On-Demand operations in the Paya Terubong and Farlim zones starting in May, which is expected to enhance connectivity between the On-Demand service and existing Rapid Penang routes. He said the service initially began with just two vans in the Farlim zone and recorded an average of 120 passengers daily. However, with expansion to new areas such as Gurney, Sunway and Paya Terubong, the number of vans has increased to 17. 'After this expansion, the Rapid Penang On-Demand service continues to receive encouraging response, with current daily ridership averaging 753 passengers,' he said. The Rapid Penang On-Demand service operates daily from 6 am to 11 pm, offering a promotional fare of RM1 per trip.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Rapid Penang On-Demand service expands in George Town, Jelutong, and Bayan Lepas starting April 26
GEORGE TOWN: Rapid Penang's On-Demand bus service is expanding into three new zones from April 26, aiming to improve public transport accessibility in George Town, Jelutong, and Bayan Lepas. In a statement, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd said the expanded service will offer first-mile and last-mile connectivity, linking passengers to existing bus routes or directly to their destinations. "The introduction of these new zones is expected to encourage more people to opt for public transport over private vehicles," the statement read. Acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria confirmed that 14 vans would be deployed for the operations, with an additional 21 vans to be introduced gradually starting June 2025 to support further service expansion. Ku Jamil also revealed that On-Demand operations in Paya Terubong and Farlim zones will be consolidated from May, enhancing connections between the service and current Rapid Penang routes. "The service initially started with two vans in the Farlim zone, carrying an average of 120 passengers daily. After extending to areas like Gurney, Sunway, and Paya Terubong, the fleet increased to 17 vans. Following this expansion, daily ridership now averages 753 passengers," he said. The On-Demand service operates daily from 6am to 11pm, offering a promotional fare of RM1 per trip.– BERNAMA
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Rapid Penang rolls out on-demand vans in George Town, Jelutong and Bayan Lepas from this Saturday to tackle congestion
GEORGE TOWN, April 24 — Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has expanded the Rapid Penang On-Demand van services to cover three more areas on Penang island from Saturday onwards. The three new zones will focus on the city centre of George Town and the highly dense urban areas of Jelutong and Bayan Lepas. According to Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria, initially, a total 14 vans will be used for the Rapid Penang On-Demand service for the three new zones. Six will be in George Town, four in Jelutong and four in Bayan Lepas. 'To support the following phases, Rapid Bus will introduce another 21 vans in stages by June,' he said. He said Rapid Bus is committed in expanding access to Rapid Penang On-Demand services in areas with less Rapid Penang bus coverage. 'To improve the operations, we will be combining the Rapid Penang On-Demand services in Paya Terubong and Farlim starting from May,' he said. He said the restructuring of the on-demand services will improve first mile and last mile connectivity for passengers. 'It is hoped that the availability of the services in the new zones will encourage more people to take public transport,' he said. He said this will reduce cars on the road and at the same time resolve parking issues especially around the city centre. The Rapid Penang On-Demand services started with two vans plying the Farlim zone. The service in Farlim recorded an average of 120 passengers per day. The service was expanded to Gurney, Sunway and Paya Terubong with a total 17 vans plying the routes. 'With the earlier expansion, the service was well received with an average of 753 passengers daily,' he said. The Rapid Penang On-Demand operates daily from 6am to 11pm. Passengers will enjoy special promotional rates of RM1. Passengers will need to book the service through the Kummute app and payment can be made through Pas Mutiara My50, Pas OKU Smile, debit or credit card, DuitNow QR or e-wallet. Further details on the service can be found at
