Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is expanding its Rapid Penang On-Demand service starting May 31 with a three-month Proof of Concept (POC) trial. The expansion will cover seven new zones, selected based on community needs, population size and gaps in current bus coverage.
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad’s Group COO (Operations), Amir Hamdan, explained that the goal is to improve connections to existing bus routes and make commuting more convenient, especially for first and last mile travel.
Below is the breakdown of the new zones:
Alma Zone
Four vans will be available to help riders connect to bus routes 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 801 (Penang Sentral – Nibong Tebal), and 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal)
Bukit Mertajam (BM) City Zone
Three vans will serve the town centre of Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT), linking passengers to major routes including 606, 701, 702, 707, 708, 709, 802, and CT14
Bayan Baru Zone
Three vans will operate here, improving access to buses such as 301, 302, 303, 304, 306, 308, 401, 401E, and CT13
Bertam Zone
Two vans will serve this area, connecting to routes 601, 606, and 610, aiming to cut down wait times for these buses
Balik Pulau Zone
Two vans will help residents connect to buses 401E, 403, 404, and 502, making travel in and out of Balik Pulau easier
Transkrian (Nibong Tebal) Zone
Two vans will be dedicated to the Transkrian area, improving access to Rapid Penang’s main bus services
Batu Kawan Zone
Three vans will service this area, marking the first introduction of public transport in this fast-growing industrial and residential area
Amir said the POC period will help Rapid Bus assess rider demand and travel patterns. The data collected, along with commuter feedback, will be used to fine-tune and improve the service moving forward.
He also noted that, as of mid-May, the existing on-demand service was already operating in six zones with 31 vans and had been serving an average of 1,828 riders per day - a positive sign of strong public interest and support.
Source: BERNAMA
