Double-decker public buses to hit Penang streets on Wednesday

Part of the new double-decker buses parked at the Rapid Penang depot in George Town. — Photo: GARY CHEN/The Star

A NEW fleet of Rapid Penang double-decker buses is set to hit the streets here starting from Wednesday.

Penangites got a glimpse the buses doing a test-run along the roads near Esplanade yesterday morning.

When contacted, Rapid Penang group communications and strategic marketing head Rafidah Abdul Karim declined to comment and said all the details including the routes would be revealed during the official launch by the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas on Wednesday.

However, it is believed that more test runs on the buses would be carried out today and tomorrow.

Prasarana Malaysia Bhd had said lastyear that it was studying the suitabilityof introducing double-decker buses in Penang after the implementation of the services in Kuala Lumpur.

The company had also said that it would analyse the 46 Rapid Penang bus routes throughout the state before making any decision on the matter.

It was reported that the double-decker buses are designed to carry an additional 40% more passengers than the ordinary buses. Each double-decker bus can take about 120 passengers.

A total of 8,000 passengers used the Rapid Penang services daily with a total number of 31 million passengers recorded.