THE recent suspension of the hydrogen-powered tram line in Foshan, China, does not directly impact the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project in Sarawak.
Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said that the primary reason cited for the suspension in China is low ridership and demand due to competition from other means of public transport services such as railway, metro, buses, as well as e-hailing.
“The lack of ‘first mile and last-mile connectivity’, such as not having feeder buses or any form of services to take passengers to and from the nearest stations, could have also been contributing factors,” he said.
He was replying to Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (GPS-Bawang Assan) during question-and-answer session today.
Earlier, Wong had asked how the hydrogen tram line that has been suspended in China is going to impact the implementation of the state’s ART.
Dr Jerip explained that in the Sarawak context, the ART project is a pioneering initiative, set to be the first reliable mass urban public transportation system in the state which has its own dedicated lanes.
“This greatly reduces the travel time for the commuters in the Kuching city-Samarahan route which is currently experiencing severe traffic congestion especially during peak hours.
“The ART is designed to be powered by green hydrogen, a clean and sustainable energy source that can be produced locally, leveraging Sarawak’s abundant water resources.
“This strategic approach also aligns with Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
He added the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) will be served with 55 hydrogen feeder buses, which will serve as the first and last mile connectivity within a 3 kilometre (km) radius of each
station.
