The first two Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicles for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project will be delivered to Kuching by the end of the year, announced Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
In a statement yesterday, Lee said the pre-commissioning and physical inspection of the first unit, known as the “golden train,” took place on Monday (Sept 9) at CRRC Corporation Limited’s manufacturing facility in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China.
“This marks a significant milestone for the KUTS project, and I am pleased with the progress,” Lee said.
Of the 38 ART hydrogen vehicles scheduled to be delivered in stages, five will arrive fully assembled. The remaining units will be semi-assembled and delivered over the next few years.
Lee emphasiSed that the KUTS project has gained attention both locally and regionally. “Our ART project has not only drawn interest from other states in Malaysia but also from our regional neighbors, especially after last year’s proof of concept (POC) exercise,” he said.
He further highlighted that the project is helping to position Sarawak as a leader in clean energy public transport, with a focus on using green hydrogen. “The whole world is watching our efforts in transforming public transport with zero-emission vehicles.”
The new ART vehicles feature several upgrades compared to the prototype used during the POC. These improvements include the ability to climb slopes of up to 10 percent and a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Additionally, the vehicles are now 2.5 tons lighter, making them more energy-efficient.
According to Borneo-Post, the ART vehicles will also be equipped with dedicated areas for luggage, wheelchairs, and foldable bicycles, enhancing their user-friendliness.
Lee reiterated the importance of sustainability for the KUTS project, stating that Sarawak is exploring ways to reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen to support the growing hydrogen economy. “If we find effective solutions, the future of the hydrogen economy will be even brighter,” he added.
Sarawak is one of the pioneers in adopting this zero-emission public transport system outside of China.
Among those attending the pre-commissioning ceremony from Sarawak were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Ministry of Transport permanent secretary Datu Wong Hee Sieng, and Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd CEO Mazli Mustaffa.
Representatives from China included Yibin Municipal Government standing committee member Tao Xuezhou and CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Inc deputy general manager Chen Jian.
