Prototype vehicle for Kuching’s ART to start test run from Sept 4-Oct 31

KUCHING: The prototype hydrogen vehicle for Kuching's autonomous rapid transit (ART) system will commence its engineering run at the Isthmus here from Sept 4 to Oct 31, says state Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.

He said the prototype, which was developed by China's CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co Ltd, had been fully assembled over a two-week period after arriving at Senari Terminal here on Aug 5 from Shanghai Port.

"The purpose of the engineering run is to identify any potential issues before the start of the proof of concept (POC) exercise in Samarahan.

"The test run will be carried out along the loop of Jalan Keruing passing Menara LCDA, Menara SEDC, Menara Sarawak Energy and Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)," he said in a statement on Monday (Aug 21).

Lee said works to close certain sections of the road for the test run would start on Wednesday (Aug 23).

He said the prototype vehicle would be parked at the Kuching Port Authority's Pending Terminal until the end of the engineering run in October.

"Refuelling of the prototype vehicle will be done at Pending Terminal via a mobile hydrogen refuelling station that will be based there," he said.

In November, the prototype vehicle will be moved to Kota Samarahan for a month-long POC exercise on a 3km permanent dedicated lane along a section of the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway.

Lee said the exercise is aimed at gathering data to evaluate the feasibility of the prototype for the final design of the ART to accommodate a maximum capacity of passengers.

He said the engineering run and POC exercise would not be open to the public, although selected stakeholders would be invited to ride on the prototype vehicle.

"The main reason we are not opening this up to the public to ride on the ART is due to the fact that this is still a prototype vehicle and the aim is to test its performance here in Sarawak," he added.