The Penang Hill Railway is a one-section funicular railway that climbs Penang Hill from Air Itam, on the outskirts of the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. The railway first opened in 1923 as a two-section railway, and the system was overhauled in 2010.
The total journey time can take between five and twenty minutes. The funicular train coach travels directly from the lower station to the top but may stop at other intermediate stations upon request.
Visitors can enter the funicular railway at the Lower Station at Air Itam, and the final stop of the ride is the Upper Station at the top of Penang Hill. There are a number of stations along the railway between the Upper and Lower stations - the Middle Station (which is currently open only to residents), as well as the Claremont, Moniot Road, Viaduct, and the Lower and Upper Tunnel stations. Since the 2010 upgrade, the train normally proceeds directly to the top without stopping at the Middle Station. It is however possible to stop at some of the intermediate stations by arrangement with the driver.
Until 2010, the Penang Hills Funicular Railway had two independent sections due to the difference in gradient between the lower and upper sections, and passengers were required to change trains at the middle station. The upper and lower sections each had two counterbalanced 40-passenger cars, and each section had a passing loop in the middle and intermediate stops.[4] The cars were pulled by steel cable electrically driven with a 500-volt power supply. The railway has a tunnel that measures 79 m (258 feet) long and is the steepest tunnel in the world.[9] It took 30 minutes to go up the hill on the funicular service with a change of train in the middle station.
The Upper Station has been upgraded with the construction of an extended viewing platform named Skywalk, an elevated walkway leading to a food court, as well as a lift, a cafe and a museum gallery. The Lower Station at Air Itam has been improved with a new building with a retractable roof and a new multi-storey car park for visitors travelling by car. Visitors can also reach the station on the 204 Rapid Penang bus from George Town, Penang.
For Malaysian citizens, the fare for a return ticket is RM12 per adult and RM6 per child aged between three and 12. Senior citizens will enjoy cheaper fares at RM6 per person. For non-Malaysians, the fare is RM30 for adults and RM15 for children. The ride remains free of charge for disabled persons holding the OKU card. Also unchanged are the fares for Penang Hill residents, licensed traders hawkers and workers, who can purchase a monthly season pass at RM24.
Address: Penang Hill, Bukit Bendera, 11300 Bukit Bendera, Penang
Phone: 04-828 8880
Locale: Penang Hill, Penang
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