11 months ago
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The Kuching urban transport system will use tram-like vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which will operate autonomously along dedicated road lanes. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Sarawak Metro, the state’s urban transit company, has awarded a tender valued at nearly RM570 million to build infrastructure for a 15km-long autonomous rapid transit line involving tram-like electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel.
The project, part of the Kuching urban transport system initiative, has been awarded to a joint venture company between Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd, China Railway Engineering Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, and Nanyang Tunnel Engineering Sdn Bhd.
The joint venture will construct infrastructure for the Blue Line between a depot in Rembus, Kota Samarahan, and Stutong in Kuching.
The route will run alongside the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway. Seven stations and a bridge across Sungai Kuap will be built, Sarawak Metro said according to a Borneo Post report.
Two other lines will be built in Phase 1 of the Kuching transport system: a Red Line (from Kuching Sentral to Pending) and a Green Line (from Pending to Damai Central).
Sarawak Metro said in August that Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
The autonomous rapid transit line will involve the use of articulated electric vehicles operating autonomously on dedicated road lanes. Powered by hydrogen fuel cells for zero emissions, the vehicles, running on rubber tyres, are expected to carry 300 passengers at speeds of up to 70km/h.
The new transit services will be complemented by a network of hydrogen-powered feeder buses.
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