Kuching's rapid transit system prototype to arrive in August

State Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin (second right) being briefed on the progress of the ART track construction in Samarahan.

KUCHING: The prototype for Kuching's autonomous rapid transit (ART) system is expected to arrive here next month for an engineering run and proof of concept (POC) exercise, says Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.

He said the vehicle would undergo a two-month engineering run at the Isthmus here in September and October in preparation for the November POC exercise.

"Stage One of the POC exercise was conducted in China in February.

"Through collaboration with the Sarawak Public Works Department, the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project will expedite the construction of part of the alignment for the Blue Line.

"This will enable Stage Two of the POC exercise for the ART to take place along a short stretch of the Blue Line in November," he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 12).

Lee said the 27.6km Blue Line, which connects Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in Kuching's city centre, was part of Phase One of the KUTS project.

He said the first phase also includes the development of the 12.3km Red Line from Kuching Sentral to Pending and the 30km Green Line from Pending to Damai Central.

"The ART operations under Phase One are scheduled to commence in stages from the fourth quarter of 2025 up to the fourth quarter of 2027," he said.

Lee, who inspected the progress of the ART track construction in Samarahan on Tuesday (July 11), said he was confident that Phase One would be completed as scheduled.

He said the primary goal of the KUTS project was to alleviate traffic congestion in the Greater Kuching area and provide reliable and efficient public transport services to the people.

"Central to the project is the implementation of a zero-emission public transport system, with the ART fleet powered by green hydrogen.

"Complementing the ART service will be a hydrogen-powered feeder bus network, ensuring convenient first- and last-mile connectivity for commuters," he added.