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Kuching Urban Transportation System

The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) is an under-construction Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system network that serves Greater Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian. It is the first ART system network to be built outside of China and also the first metro rail system in the state of Sarawak which was touted as one of the methods to ease traffic congestion in the city of Kuching.[2] The project is currently constructed by Sarawak Metro using state funds provided by the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS).[2][3][4] The ART lines will connect Kuching to Samarahan and Serian as well as future lines to other parts of Greater Kuching.[5]

Initial LRT proposal

The proposed construction of a RM10.8 billion Kuching light rapid transit (LRT) project was expected to commence by 2019 and was scheduled to be operational by 2024.[6] It was proposed that the LRT will use hydrogen fuel cell rolling-stock with a travel speed of 70–140km/h.[7]

The hydrogen fuel cell trains were in line with the state government’s vision to develop a hydrogen economy, as part of its green initiative. Aside from hydrogen-powered trains, Kuching will also be the first city in the country to have hydrogen-powered buses.[8]

Planned routes

On 29 March 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak released the routes and stations of three of the six lines with 155.2 kilometers of track[9] to be completed in 2024, while the remaining three lines to be implemented at a later stage.[6] A government-linked company (GLC) called Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd[10] had been registered to manage the LRT system.[9]

Proposed route for the Kuching Urban Transportation System in 2018.[11]
Blue: Samarahan Line
Red: Serian Line

Samarahan Line (Line 1)

Serian Line (Line 2)

Shelving

However, on 1 September 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak announced that the project has been placed on hold, citing that the funds allocated to the project will instead be used to build basic amenities for Sarawak's rural areas.[12] Eventually, in July 2019, the Chief Minister of Sarawak said that the new LRT project will be built using artificial intelligence (AI) technology which will remove the need for conventional rails and bringing down the cost of the project,[13] which culminated into adopting the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit system from China.

Current ART proposal

A guided bi-articulated buses at Yibin ART T1 line.

In September 2019, the government of Sarawak ultimately decided to go with China's Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system than LRT due to its more affordable cost where the state transport minister said it will be ready by 2022.[14][15] The Premier of Sarawak, Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg had initially promised to build the first Kuching ART soon to avoid rising costs,[16] with Chinese companies offering their expertise to collaborate in the construction.[17] In April 2022, Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg disclosed to the Singaporean English daily newspaper, The Straits Times that the ART system will likely consist of 52.6 km of route and is expected to begin construction in the third quarter of the same year, with a projected operational date of 2025.[18]

A prototype of the Kuching ART (guided bi-articulated bus powered by hydrogen) undergoing an engineering run.

In August 2023, the state received its first hydrogen-powered ART vehicle prototype and went through an engineering run for two months until September, where it then went through a proof-of-concept testing in November.[19] Besides ART vehicles, Sarawak Metro will procure an additional 55 hydrogen buses which will serve as part of the first and last mile connectivity for the system which are still currently in trial operation since January 2020.[20] As of April 2024, the overall progress of Phase 1 of the Kuching Urban Transportation System is now at 20.65% which includes consultation works, studies and physical works.[21]

Planned routes for Phase 1

On 16 December 2022, the Premier of Sarawak released the Phase 1 integrated transit map of the KUTS project with a 69.9-kilometer route consisting of 3 initial rail lines and a total of 31 stations (with 5 provisional stations) to be completed in stages, with Phase 1 of the Blue Line scheduled to be completed in 2025 while the remaining lines are to be constructed at a later date.[22] Currently, the Green Line has since increased the number of stations from 10 to 14 stations bringing the total number of stations across the Kuching Urban Transportation System to 35 stations.[23] However, they are under halt station status and it is currently unknown whether these will be built alongside the opening of the Green Line in 2027.

Notes

  1. Bold text denotes that the particular landmark is near the area proposed to be a train depot station.

Blue Line alignment

Red Line alignment

Green Line alignment

Operation facts

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sarawak Metro speeds up rail contract awards".
  2. ^ a b Samuel Aubrey (19 March 2017). "CM: Kuching – Serian LRT under study". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Sarawak unveils plan for public transport link from Kuching to Serian". Borneo Bulletin. 19 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  4. ^ vernonchancom (31 March 2018). "Kuching LRT ready by 2024, will use hydrogen fuel cell trains". VERNONCHAN.COM. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Sarawak Could Have LRT System Up and Running by 2020". New Straits Times. Property Hunter. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b Rintos Mail (29 March 2018). "LRT lines connecting Kuching, Samarahan and Serian to be operational by 2024". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Sarawak's LRT to use hydrogen fuel cell trains". The Star. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  8. ^ vernonchancom (31 March 2018). "Kuching LRT ready by 2024, will use hydrogen fuel cell trains". VERNONCHAN.COM. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b "The Kuching LRT". Kuching Borneo. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ Chan, Vernon (31 March 2018). "Kuching LRT ready by 2024, will use hydrogen fuel cell trains". vernonchan.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  11. ^ "KUTS EIA 2021" (PDF). 2021.
  12. ^ Sulok Tawie (1 September 2018). "No LRT for Sarawak for time being, CM confirms". Malay Mail. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  13. ^ "LRT project may use new AI tech to 'read' tracks — CM". The Borneo Post. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  14. ^ Samuel Aubrey (21 September 2019). "CM: Sarawak decides on ART to improve public transport". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  15. ^ Rintos Mail (24 September 2019). "Sarawak's ART public transport system ready for action in 2022, says transport minister". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  16. ^ Sharon Ling (29 April 2017). "Kuching to have LRT – 'We don't want to be like KL'". The Star. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  17. ^ Lim How Pim (30 April 2017). "China offers expertise in building Sarawak's future LRT system". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  18. ^ Julia Chan (29 April 2022). "Report: Sarawak premier defends Kuching LRT project as key economic building block". Malay Mail. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. ^ Chief Chapree (24 August 2023). "Sarawak tests the world's first hydrogen-powered Smart Tram in Kuching". SoyaCincau. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  20. ^ Wong, Jack (8 July 2024). "Hydrogen buses to power Sarawak Metro's KUTS project". The Star. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  21. ^ Umpang, Matthew (13 May 2024). "Lee: Overall progress of KUTS Phase 1 at 20.65 pct as of April 2024". The Borneo Post.
  22. ^ Mail, Rintos (16 December 2022). "Premier launches Phase 1 of Kuching Urban Transportation System". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Sarawak Metro: First phase of Kuching Urban Transportation System to be operational by end-2027". Malay Mail. 16 May 2024.