Monday, May 21 2012
Adieu to Penang Hill funicular train system
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:48

THE PENANG Hill Funicular Railway, built in 1923 and whose service had been plagued by a number of problems recently, was closed for upgrading from Sunday, Feb 21. The works are expected to cost RM63mil and take seven months.

The original system which required passengers to change trains at the middle station, will be replaced with one that takes passengers straight up the hill, non-stop.  It will ferry up to 80 people per trip in about 10 minutes compared to the original which carried 60 people on 30-minute trips. Read here and here

Penang Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the railway had taken several million tourists to the summit of the 830-metre Penang Hill in its 87-year existence. “It's sad that we have to call it a day for the old funicular but the two kilometres of tracks are very worn out and so are the coaches...They all need replacing.” Read here. One of the old coaches would be placed at the middle station as a museum piece. “The state government will decide where to place the three other coaches.” Read here

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this injection of funds would spark a revival of the hill as the state’s premier tourist attraction. He also stressed that the contractor would preserve historic elements of the present track such as the tunnel and arched bridge. Read here

Read here for an observation of the day the old funicular trains did their final rounds.

Previously, iGeorgeTown had carried many opinions and features discussing the merits and demerits of introducing a new railway system at Penang Hill:

On the ongoing feud on Malay-Muslim matters and politics that featured in last week's roundup (read here), please read updates as below:

  • Prophet Muhammad Birthday procession: The group that first raised the purported cancellation of the state Maulidur Rasul procession on Feb 26 will not be taking part in the procession organised by the state government. Read here
  • Malay petty traders: Several DAP municipal councillors have responded to the allegations of Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMPP) president Rizal Faris Mohideen, stating that he hardly did justice to his appointment as a municipal councillor from May 2008 until February 2009. Read here. There was also a challenge for a public debate by the state Pakatan Rakyat Youth Secretariat to Rizal and his supporters. Read here and here. Meanwhile, Rizal Faris is being investigated by the police for criminal intimidation following a police report lodged against him by national Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM) secretary-general Datuk Ab. Rahim Abu Bakar. Read here
  • Zahrain: CM Lim Guan Eng said that Bayan Baru MP Zahrain could have ruined Penang’s “perfect record” in stamping out corruption. Read here

Read here also for an opinion piece by former state exco Datuk Toh Kin Woon, expressing that the BN has been on a relentless campaign to demonise PR leaders that has resulted in many damaging allegations hurled at the Penang state government.

Other news

  • Patahiyah Appointed MPPP President: Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) secretary Patahiyah Ismail has been appointed as the president of the council. Her appointment is effective March 1. Read here
  • Chinese New Year Cultural & Heritage Celebration 2010: Photos by yihan. View here
  • Occupancy rates at Penang hotels up: Most resort and city hotels on Penang island enjoyed about 65% occupancy rate last month compared with 55% in the same period in 2009. Read here
  • Penang denies lying over Islamic development funds: The Penang state government denied that it had lied about allocating RM24.3 million for the development of Muslim affairs in 2009. Read here
  • Orchestra forging ahead for 2010: The new Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (PESSOC) administration will depend less on foreign musicians and more on strategic partnerships with relevant organisations. Read here
  • Penang mulls incentives to stem water wastage: Penang is considering discounts for those who save water and penalties for those who waste it, starting in March. Read here

For more news on Penang from February 15 to 21, 2010 , please click here

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