Bayan Lepas LRT line
3
Overview
Status	Proposed
Owner	Penang state government
Locale	Penang Island
Termini	Komtar Phase 1: Permatang Damar Laut Phase 2: Island C3
Stations	27
Website	penanginfra.com
Service
Type	Light rapid transit
Services	George Town – Bayan Lepas
Depot(s)	Island A
History
Planned opening	2028
Opened	2030 (fully operational)
Technical
Line length	26.8 km (16.7 mi)
Character	Elevated and underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map Legend S1 Komtar S2 Macallum Pinang River S3 Bandar Sri Pinang S4 Skycab S5 East Jelutong S6 The Light  4  S7 Gelugor S8 USM S9 Batu Uban S10 Pesta S11 Sungai Nibong S12 Bukit Jambul S13 SPICE S14 Jalan Tengah S15 FIZ North S16 FIZ South S17 Sungai Tiram S18 Penang Int'l Airport S19 Permatang Damar Laut Strait of Malacca LRT Depot Phase 1 Phase 2 S20 Island A1 S21 Island A2 S22 Island A3 S23 Island A4

v t e Bayan Lepas LRT line
Legend
S1 Komtar S2 Macallum Pinang River S3 Bandar Sri Pinang S4 Skycab S5 East Jelutong S6 The Light  4  S7 Gelugor S8 USM S9 Batu Uban S10 Pesta S11 Sungai Nibong S12 Bukit Jambul S13 SPICE S14 Jalan Tengah S15 FIZ North S16 FIZ South S17 Sungai Tiram S18 Penang Int'l Airport S19 Permatang Damar Laut Strait of Malacca LRT Depot Phase 1 Phase 2 S20 Island A1 S21 Island A2 S22 Island A3 S23 Island A4

v t e Butterworth LRT line
Legend
LRT Depot S1 Sungai Nyiur S2 Chain Ferry S3 Penang Sentral Butterworth  ETS   1   2  Perai River to Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur & Gemas S4 Taman Perai Utama S5 Taman Supreme S6 Perai North S7 Perai South Penang Strait Seberang Perai Penang Island S8 The Light  3

The Bayan Lepas LRT line is a proposed light rapid transit (LRT) line in the Malaysian state of Penang. As part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), it will spans 26.8 km (16.7 mi) line within the main underground station of KOMTAR in the city center of George Town with the industrial town of Bayan Lepas to the south.^[1][2]

Nineteen stations are expected to be built along the 22 km (14 mi) stretch. Eight additional stations will also be built on three islets that will be reclaimed off the southern coastline of Penang Island, bringing the overall length of the planned route to 30 km (19 mi).

In 2015, the construction of the LRT line was announced to begin in 2018.^[3] Construction was then expected to start in 2020, but affected by COVID-19. No construction has begun as of 2022. Significant delays in actually constructing the line has been attributed to political feuds for funding between the Penang state government and the federal government of Malaysia.

In 2023, the Federal government was just announced that the construction for the LRT line in Penang is set to begin in early 2024, with an estimated completion period of 5 years for its first phase.^[4][2] Also some of its LRT stations will be underground instead of elevated.^[5] The underground sections proposed would be in the city centre in George Town.^[6] Including one of the underground stations serve as a major interchange for a future undersea train line connecting the island and Seberang Perai.^[7]

Overview

The Bayan Lepas LRT line forms the backbone of the Penang Transportation Master Plan, a comprehensive proposal formulated by the Penang state government to improve transportation within the State of Penang.^[8] Among the components of the plan, the LRT line is being prioritised by the state authorities for implementation, as the line will serve a densely populated urban and industrial corridor along the eastern coast of Penang Island, specifically between George Town proper and Bayan Lepas to the south.^[9][10] In addition, the LRT service would facilitate easier commute for tourists arriving via the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.^[11]

History

SRS Consortium, a joint venture consisting of Gamuda Berhad, Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd and Loh Phoy Yen Holdings, was appointed as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) in 2015.^[3] Within the same year, the first public consultation session on the alignment of the proposed route was held.^[12][13] Following the sessions, the route was finalised and 27 stations identified; the eight southernmost stations will be built on three islets which will be reclaimed to the south of Penang Island.^[14] Much of the line will be elevated to reduce land acquisition and to preclude the relocation of underground utilities.^[15]

As public transportation falls under the purview of the Malaysian federal government, the proposal was submitted to the Federal Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) by April 2016 for approval by the federal authorities.^[16][17] However, a political feud between the Pakatan Harapan-led Penang state government and the federal government at the time, which was dominated by Barisan Nasional, led to delays in securing the required federal approval.^[18]

On 20 June 2020, chairman of the State Works Committee Zairil Khir Johari said that the LRT would continue, with or without the Federal government as it was funded through the land reclamation.^[19]

Pre-qualification exercise for identifying suitable contractors started from Jul 25, 2022 to Aug 19, 2022 and was further extended to Oct 7, 2022. A total of 45 contractor companies registered interested and purchased pre-qualification documents, the State Works Committee received 8 submissions from local and international consortiums as of Oct 7, 2022.^[20] The committee will identify suitable contractors to participate in the request for proposal (RFP) tender process which is expected open in early 2023.^[21] The Penang state government plans to start the construction by end of 2023.^[22]

After the 15th General election, the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the federal government would help fund the project and as result, the PSI reclamation project would be massively scaled back.^[23][24] The depot will also be built on the Penang Island instead of the reclaimed Island A. The initial alignment from the Penang International Airport to Komtar will also be extended to Tanjung Bungah.^[25]

Stations

Komtar

Macallum

Bandar Sri Pinang

Skycab

East Jelutong

The Light

Gelugor

USM

Batu Uban

Pesta

Sungai Nibong

Bukit Jambul

SPICE

Jalan Tengah

FIZ North

FIZ South

Sungai Tiram

Penang Airport

Permatang Damar Laut

Airport

Locations of the stations within the State of Penang (in blue)