Rapid Penang On-Demand Adds 3 New Routes Starting March 15

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the operator of Rapid Penang bus services, announced today that it will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand network starting March 15. The expansion will include three new routes covering Gurney and Tanjung Bungah, Sunway and Butterworth, and Paya Terubong.

The service, previously known as Demand Responsive Transit (DRT), will also add two additional vans to the current route, bringing the total number of vans to six for Gurney and Tanjung Bungah, six for Sunway and Butterworth, and one for Paya Terubong.

“These new routes aim to meet public transport demand in densely populated areas and newly developed locations that still lack access to public transportation.

“The routes will also serve as first and last-mile connections to the existing Rapid Penang network, enhancing public transport connectivity in the state,” it said.

Rapid Bus, in response to a growing demand for their services, has announced a plan to gradually introduce 50 vans to their Penang fleet throughout the year. This strategic move, according to acting CEO Ku Jamil Zakaria, is aimed at encouraging a shift away from private vehicles towards a more flexible and efficient public transportation system.

“The existing route, T210B (Farlim and Air Itam), launched on August 1 last year, will also be improved with the addition of two vans, bringing the total to four vans. This aims to accommodate high demand and reduce passenger waiting time from 17 minutes to 10 minutes,” he said.


More than 26,000 riders have used the route in the seven months since it opened, Ku Jamil said, with an average of 137 riders per day, exceeding the initial goal of 100 riders per day. He added that cashless payments will be accepted on the Farlim and Air Itam lines beginning on March 13 and on three additional routes beginning on March 15.