Cableway & Technology, Specials
Penang Hill cable car celebrates groundbreaking
The exceptional landscape, breathtaking views and unique flora and fauna attract many visitors to Penang Hill in Malaysia each year. On June 29, 2024, the groundbreaking of a new attraction, Penang Hill Cable Car, took place.
The prestigious ropeway project has been awarded to Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian pioneer in the local rail industry through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) on a design, finance, build, operation, and transfer basis. They are partnering with DOPPELMAYR, who will be providing the ropeway technology.
The Austrian company is experienced in building their solutions in various challenging locations, including 86 ropeways located in UNESCO Heritage, Geopark, and Biosphere sites as well as National Parks of various countries around the world. The Penang Hill Cable Car is planned to be completed by 2026.
Penang Hill Cable Car
On June 29, 2024, the groundbreaking of the new attraction took place
Attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony:
• Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim
• Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow
• Minister of Tourism, Arts And Culture, Dato‘ Sri Tiong King Sing
• Hartasuma Executive Director, Tan Sri Ravindran Menon
• Head of the Austrian Mission to Malaysia, Ambassador Andreas Launer
Photo from left: Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato‘ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, and Hartasuma Executive Director, Tan Sri Ravindran Menon
About the project
The Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve was designated under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and now features not only the timeless forests of Penang Hill but also encompasses the State’s Forest Reserves, the historic Penang Botanic Gardens, Penang National Park, and coastal and marine ecosystems.
“Penang Hill is not only a natural treasure, but also a vital green lung for our state. This cable car project is a transformative project that exemplifies our commitment to responsible tourism that balances infrastructure modernization with respect for the environment – an essential stance to preserve the economic value of Penang Hill. This will also provide a much-needed boost for the Penang Botanic Gardens as a destination“, said YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang during the groundbreaking celebration.
Mountain Station
will be architecturally outstanding.
© Hartasuma
About the Penang Hill Cable Car
The ropeway takes a crucial part in improving the mobility at Penang Hill, especially in peak times. The 2.7 kilometres long D-Line gondola lift will be located mainly in the transition area of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, starting close to the Penang Botanic Gardens.
It takes its passengers up to the about 720 metres high top station, passing by an intermediate station. Passengers will enjoy a safe and comfortable less than a ten-minute ride, flying over the spectacular forest.
It will be another attractive and fast alternative complementing the existing funicular, which was overhauled by the ropeway manufacturer GARAVENTA in 2010 – a company of the DOPPELMAYR Group.
The bottom station
will serve as the gateway to Penang Hill.
Up to 1,000 passengers per hour and direction will travel in 50 modern 8-seater cabins up the hill at a speed of 6 m/s.
“It is an honour to once again provide an eco-friendly mobility solution to Penang Hill and contribute to enhancing the infrastructure and experience for the visitors and residents in this area”, said Thomas Pichler, Member of the Executive Board of the DOPPELMAYR GROUP.
“This project will not only create another iconic tourist attraction and spur more economic activities but also solve many of the challenges confronting the funicular system and the Penang Botanic Gardens area,” said YB Zairil Khir Johari, Penang State Exco for Infrastructure and Transport, who is also the Co-Chairman of the Cable Car Project Steering Committee.
About the Penang Hill Corporation
Penang Hill Corporation was established in 2009 through an enactment passed by the Penang State Legislative Assembly. Its main focus is to manage the funicular system, undertake the development of socio-economy and infrastructure in Penang Hill and promote the Hill as a major ecotourism destination, in its vision to make Penang Hill the Hill Resort of Choice in Malaysia and the region.
About Hartasuma Sdn Bhd
Hartasuma is a leading integrated rolling stock and rail services company. Its core competencies lie in the areas of systems integration, overhaul, refurbishment & rehabilitation, assembly, and supply of rolling stock.
Hartasuma delivered Malaysia‘s first locally assembled passenger coaches to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad and Light Rail Transit vehicles to Prasarana Malaysia Berhad. To date, Hartasuma has delivered more than 500 rail cars catering to Malaysia‘s public transportation needs.
Technical data:
8-MGD Penang Hill
| Length | 2,7 km |
| Transport capacity | 1,000 p/h |
| Speed | 6 m/s |
| Cabin capacity | 8 |
| Number of cabins | 50 |
| Travel time | approx. 10 min |
| Towers | 15 |
| Stations | 3 |
| Groundbreaking | 2024 |
| Completion | 2026 |
About DOPPELMAYR Group
The DOPPELMAYR Group notably represents quality, technology and market leadership in the construction of ropeways for passenger and material transport as well as high-tech intralogistics solutions.
The company looks back on 130 years of corporate history and a century of experience in the planning, development, design, production, and construction of cable cars.
This proven technology and its reliability helped to make ropeways a popular and high-performance mobility solution in skiing and recreation regions, as well as in cities worldwide.
