Butterworth KTM Station set for major upgrade under RM30mil MOT plan
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will upgrade the Butterworth Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station near here with an allocation of RM30 million in an effort to turn Penang Sentral into the main transport hub in Seberang Perai.
Its Minister, Anthony Loke, said it is a project under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), with the MOT having undertaken assessment and will appoint the contractors next month before beginning construction work soon after.
He added that the Butterworth KTM station would play a key role as it will integrate the KTM, Electric Train Service (ETS) and commuter services with the Penang ferry services, as well as the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) at Penang Sentral, Butterworth.
“All three modes of transportation will be integrated, making Penang Sentral a public transportation hub in Seberang Perai. This is an Integrated Public Transport Terminal concept that connects various modes at one place.
“So, development is not just confined to the island… there is balanced development between the island and Seberang Perai. This will surely turn it into a focal area, and we are confident it can become the pulse of development for the surrounding area,” he told reporters after officiating the Penang DAP Annual Convention on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in addition to expanding the Penang International Airport (LTAPP), Loke said that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), together with the state government, will also carry out expansion projects for the air cargo terminal in Bayan Lepas.
He added that the MAHB, together with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), will develop a bigger logistical site in Batu Maung for international logistics players to expand their operations.
“This will double the air cargo capacity from three aircraft parking bays to six aircraft parking bays,” he said.
Regarding the Mutiara Line LRT project, Loke said the big-scale project would cost about RM16 billion because its alignment is connected until Seberang Perai, as mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, thus becoming a catalyst for the development of Penang’s transportation.
Loke, who is also the DAP secretary-general, said the Federal Government has given its highest commitment to ensuring the project can be implemented, given how the state government would find it difficult to implement the massive project due to previous financial constraints.
He added that the Mutiara Line LRT, the expansion of the LTAPP and air cargo terminal and the upgrading of the Butterworth KTM station would become the pulse of Penang’s development, thus ensuring the Pearl of the Orient continues to be a hub for the industrial sector and the development of the electrical, electronics and semiconductor industries, not only in Malaysia but across the Asia-Pacific region.
Spanning 29.5 kilometres, the Mutiara Line LRT is the first outside the Klang Valley, and will have 21 stations.
I hope the government or mot would like to consider this option :
1. making BM station the main stopover for trains running north – central (KL) line. no need to detour into butterworth station.
2. to complement this, instead have frequent trips between butterworth station to BM station as an interconnect from the ferry & bus terminal to BM station. it also serves to connect butterworth and BM for non rail services as alternative to local bus transport.
reason:
a. a detour to butterworth station have speed limits for the train due to perai river crossing.
b. a frequent butterworth – BM interconnect not only serves rail user but non rail user too which is a good alternative to rapid bus services.
c. being a short distance makes it possible to have small train – 2 or max 3 coach service will be great.
d. the direct alignment of rail from south to north all the way to the border makes more sense in terms of continuity. train are less interrupted by goods train going into north butterworth terminal.
if i lives in south west of penang island, today i have to take a bus to ferry terminal, take ferry across to reach butterworth station to get to KL Sentral
or to drive me across old bridge and drive to butterworth station which is notoriously hidden and with poor parking facility. have to drive to sentral then walk to ktm station… i had horrible experience with this.
so i am more inclined to advice visitor to just get off BM station, and pick them up from there…
so this suggestion is borne out of my own experience with current butterworth ktm station. my guest, whom i pick up, felt frustrated and disappointed at current state of butterworth station. she promised never to consider taking rail service to penang!!!!