00:04Imagine crossing the Penang Strait in just eight minutes. That's the promise of the revised Penang
00:10LRT Mutiara Line, introducing a direct rail link across the channel. The updated alignment now
00:17stretches nearly 30 kilometers to Sebrang Perai, transforming the project from an island-only route
00:22into a fully cross-channel metro system connecting communities on both sides of Penang.
00:30Traveling there, when there's no jam, it's like 17 minutes. When there's jam, it's like two hours.
00:37For thousands who rely on the bridges daily, that unpredictability shapes work schedules,
00:42study routines, and family time. Something of fixed rail connection aims to make more certain.
01:00On the mainland, Penang Central will anchor the connection, integrating the LRT with ferry services,
01:07KTMB rail and buses, alongside about 1,000 additional parking bays to support park-and-ride commuters.
01:17Transport analyst Wan-Agil Wan-Hasan calls the extension a long-overdue fix to the island-mainland
01:23divide, saying infrastructure of this scale should serve both sides of the state. But he stresses
01:29that rail alone isn't enough. Trains must run frequently, feeder buses must connect smoothly,
01:35and transfers must be seamless, especially on the mainland, where most residents don't live within
01:40walking distance of stations. With the plans now open for a three-month public inspection at Comtar,
01:46Penang Central, Butterworth KTM Station, and online, Penangites can review the details and share feedback,
01:52helping shape a more connected and reliable transport future.
01:56Danish Roger Reza, FMT
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