Sarawak LRT expected to be operational by 2024 – three lines, 155 km-long, to cost RM10.7 billion

Sarawak LRT expected to be operational by 2024 – three lines, 155 km-long, to cost RM10.7 billion

Construction of the Kuching Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is anticipated to begin sometime next year, and the service is scheduled to begin operating sometime in 2024. Sarawak chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said work on the rail project will start once a review – based on the current traffic scenario, demands as well as transit corridors – is concluded, Bernama reports.

Initial details of the RM10.7 billion project were revealed yesterday. The Kuching LRT will consist of three major lines, with a total length of 155.2 km. Line one is a 62.4 km-long stretch from Kota Samarahan to Damai via Sungai Batu. The route – which will have 28 stations – will cover 48% of current travel demands for the city of Kuching.

Line two will be the Serian-Senari route, which will be approximately 82 km in length. The line, which will cover 30% of current travel demand for Kuching, will start in Serian via Siburan and terminate at Senari. It will have 26 stations across the route, with an interchange station for the Kota Samarahan-Damai track being located at the Simpang Tiga roundabout.

Sarawak LRT expected to be operational by 2024 – three lines, 155 km-long, to cost RM10.7 billion

Line three will be a 10.8 km-long City Dispersal Line. Connecting 13 stations, this will be an at-grade tram system. The tram option has been selected for its better ability to navigate urban streets and offer less intrusive stops.

The total construction cost of the Kota Samarahan-Damai route – including that of rolling stock – is estimated to be RM4.5 billion, while the Serian-Senari route will cost RM5.4 billion to build. As for the City Dispersal Line, construction cost is projected to be RM819 million. The trains operating on the service will employ hydrogen fuel cell technology, said to be the first implementation of the type in the region.

Abang Johari said the LRT will increase the levels of efficient mobility in Kuching city. “At the same time, it will help to transform Kuching into a more dynamic and competitive city, as well as creating more jobs. The LRT will create new transit oriented development (TOD), traversing and linking dense residential areas, businesses, industrial areas, tourist hotspots, thus driving the economic development in Kuching,” he said.

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Comments

  • Benard on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Kuching?

    Unless it is politically motivated, there are other cities in malaysia that is more in need of a MRT system than Kuching, Johore Bahru for example.

    Better projects for Sarawak? More Hospitals, more roads, Better jetty complexes for express boats, More frequent and cheaper commuter aircraft services to inland towns.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 72 Thumb down 25
    • kzm (Member) on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      this is LRT not MRT

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 37
      • DUMBsand on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:29 pm

        This is KLRT not LRT. Read. skip.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
        • Pink diamonds Equanimity on Apr 01, 2018 at 5:34 pm

          75mil per km … Sprinkled with gold and diamonds

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • Bruno penan on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:43 pm

        RM10.7 BILLION?!! This princely sum can provide FREE bus service in Kuching for 100years!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 51 Thumb down 10
        • oh.... Yes on Mar 30, 2018 at 8:16 pm

          Sounds better free bus or free grab car services….

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
        • pampered on Mar 31, 2018 at 7:48 am

          Utter waste of money. At that length, better to have a KTM Kommuter service. This will be half the cost.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
        • kzm (Member) on Mar 31, 2018 at 4:52 pm

          RM10.7B for 3 LRT lines that i call a good deal. LRT3 (20-30km)from BU to Klang is bout RM9B Kuching LRT is 155km!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
          • No tunnels, probably a big portion on level ground. The cost is about right. Problem is sarawak contractors as they r struggling to keep up delivery of Pan Borneo.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • NajibStyle on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      No more need for Feasibility study .. Afterall taxpayer pays for capex/ building cost and future generation taxpayers’ descendant pays for interest and keeping it running at a loss

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 5
      • Feasibility study done long time ago. Tunnel feasibility study bila nak siap?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 2
      • pampered on Mar 31, 2018 at 7:59 am

        Poor Sarawak. Go there, you feel like you are in the 60s.

        Pity them. They bring most of Malaysia’s revenue through oil and gas but KL gets developed.

        Go to UK and see. London is Developed. Glasgow also is developed. Leeds also developed. Well, all their cities are fully developed. Wealth is spread out evenly.

        Same with all countries all over the world

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 11
        • Capitol Rex on Apr 02, 2018 at 8:49 am

          60s? Kuching is more well planned than most peninsula capitals

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
          • Thats the problem with Peninsular caveman thinking East MY pipu still lives on trees.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • 12yrsold on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:48 pm

      The population of Sarawak = 2.8 million.
      The size is about 124,451 km² (48,051 sq mi).

      The population of Johor = 3.6 million.
      The Size = 19,210 km² (7,420 sq mi).

      Yes, Johor do need a LRT/MRT but then again, logic & facts does not equate best plan. Malaysia Boleh !!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 38 Thumb down 6
      • Again… its not The population or The size. Its The seat that counts.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 0
      • kzm (Member) on Mar 30, 2018 at 5:31 pm

        It is because Johor govt choose BRT over LRT. Johor govt their own reason why not to choose LRT now.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 38
  • Mahmood Razak on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    This is planning ahead. Instead of waiting for jams to get worse, and cities being too developed, Kuching has decided to build a mass transit system when the city is still manageable.

    One factor that bumped up MRT construction costs in the peninsula is the over-developed cities. This makes acquisition costs much higher. Built-up cities also force mass transit lines to go underground, a much much more expensive option. The stretch from Kuching International Airport into the city is wide enough to allow for the lines to even be at grade (on ground level) instead of elevated if they want to.

    Kudos, Sarawak!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 49 Thumb down 42
    • Alex (Member) on Mar 30, 2018 at 8:49 pm

      Being ahead of time is the worst case of mistiming. Lagging behind time still allows catch up, but being ahead of time means spending unneccesary resources on something which has no current value. In this case it got worse, we are dealing with RM10.2bil setup cost for a system ahead of it’s time!!! Taking into account money depreciation and additional money requred to maintain the white elephant until time catches up, we (the state) could be in serious debt for a long time. The escalation of total cost due to depreciation and maintenance would hamper any improvement/expansion effort as the return from the project would be needed to settle the massive debts.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 38 Thumb down 20
      • Only a fool wud wait for it to turn chronic like in Jakarta, then do something about it. By that time, its too late! Sensible pipu plan ahead, procrastinators plans to fail!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 42 Thumb down 12
      • tansri85 on Apr 01, 2018 at 5:22 pm

        Kuching town is small brother, could be more than15 years behind to get the density size of KL. Just semenanjung have it so sarawakian must need it?? The interest cost for the lrt alone can give free bus service there for years..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
    • tansri85 on Apr 01, 2018 at 5:19 pm

      This is like saying fresh graduate should buy an estima, forward planning to avoid cost escalation

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Hm, what about Penang’s tram? Any progress?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • Ahmadjr on Mar 30, 2018 at 8:34 pm

      Terowong pun tak jalan

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • stastasta on Apr 03, 2018 at 11:52 am

      BN is doing their best to sabotage . arresting and suing LGE, arresting company CEOs, how to jalan ?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Good job Sarawak Gov. I’ve been to Kuching a few time and the traffic is not bad but everytime i went there i can see that the car in the road is increasing. Build before the traffic is becoming like in Penang. BTW does this project fully fund by the state Gov or does the central Gov also help the fund?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 4
  • Petrajaya Hospital Project started 2 years ago but till todate not moving

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
    • IBROE ALLI on Mar 30, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      Hospital Petra Jaya is a federal government project and Kuching LRT project is a state government project.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • Main contractor financial problem. They are very famous for dragging payment

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Low Hat on Mar 30, 2018 at 6:52 pm

    Holy 155 km?
    Good for them! Better lay down the framework before everything starts spiraling like in KL, JB or Penang. At very least, have some development plan that centers around having railways in the future.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
    • Lucky Gong on Mar 31, 2018 at 9:14 am

      Can spare 50km for Penang? At least up down Georgetown n airport…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • burning question is…who gona get the contract

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Rohas on Mar 31, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      Of course cahaya mata

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Turnkey master contractors with significant portions going to sarawak/sabah sub-cons. Got problem with that?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • “The trains operating on the service will employ hydrogen fuel cell technology, said to be the first implementation of the type in the region.”

    Not only in the region, but in the whole world I guess? There are currently only some tests announced in Germany and the UK?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • I do agree that some other states in Malaysia needs this infrastructure more that Sarawak. Do you think Sarawak should channel their $$ to build do this project in those states instead? This is state funded project mind you. What about you transfer your saving to my account and let me manage it for you?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Wan Syaifulaizan on Apr 02, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Agreed, dont think LRT suits Sarawak. Better to provide rail services like KTMKomuter & for sure this is election promise

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Anonymous on Apr 02, 2018 at 11:49 am

    So short distance but so much expensive! Isn’t is over priced???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ARVELLIS on Apr 02, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    im full support for this project but there are something that bother me thoe??…like who is the main contract that will help built it??no offence but look at pan borneo.road totally look a pond hole..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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