Penang Hill

The Penang Hill Railway is a one section funicular railway which climbs Penang Hill from Air Itam, near George Town on the island of Penang in Malaysia.

The first railway was constructed in 1901 and completed in 1905 but was rendered useless, due to technical faults. A second railway was commissioned in 1909, and works for the second line started in 1914 with a budget of 1.5 million Straits Dollars. On 1st January 1924, the 2,007m long funicular railway was officially opened by then Governor of Straits Settlement, Sir L.N.Guillemard. The construction again takes place in 1977 before a complete overhaul of the system in 2010.

Start From February 2010 until April 25, 2011 the railway was closed while being upgraded and for new cars to be purchased to increase the passenger capacity and the speed of the train. The new RM73mil system replaces the 87-year-old funicular railway.

The new train unlike the railway before 2010 does not require passengers to change trains halfway up. Passengers have non-stop service in air conditioned cars. The blue, air-conditioned Swiss-made coaches, capable of ferrying up to 100 passengers at one go, with journey time only takes about 10 to 15 minutes & open from 6.30am to 9pm daily.

View From Penang Hill

View From Penang Hill

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