PETALING JAYA: The secondary depot for the Mutiara Line (Penang LRT) is being proposed mainly for train stabling and day-to-day operational readiness, says Malaysia Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).
It said all major maintenance work will be carried out at the primary depot at Silicon Island, currently under reclamation off the southern coast of Penang island.
Responding to a report in The Star yesterday on various feedback since the revised Penang LRT railway scheme went on public display, including that the light maintenance depot at Sungai Dua on the island be shifted to Penang Sentral in Butterworth, it said several possible sites for the secondary depot were being explored.
“This is something we approached carefully, taking into account operational needs, land availability, as well as how the surrounding areas are planned to develop over time.
“Across all the sites we looked at, we took into consideration both current use and the broader future development plans of relevant stakeholders and authorities as part of our overall assessment,” MRT Corp said in a statement yesterday.
A contractor who proposed moving the secondary depot to the mainland said this would free up land on the island for other purposes, while also enabling the rejuvenation of the Butterworth waterfront.
The contractor’s representative stated that having a depot in an area where there could be future developments was not ideal, considering potential noise pollution when train maintenance was being carried out, especially in the late hours when trains are taken off service.
A train depot and stabling yard are often part of the same facility, with the former being a comprehensive maintenance facility for cleaning, repairs and servicing, while a stabling yard acts as a parking lot for trains not in service.
MRT Corp said in its planning for the expansion of the Mutiara Line from the island to Penang Sentral, it explored a number of possible sites for the secondary depot.
Spanning 29.5km from Silicon Island to Komtar on the island side, and extending to Butterworth on the mainline side, the Mutiara Line is expected to be completed by the end of 2031.
