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Penang’s public transport scene is currently dominated by Rapid Penang buses, which cover a wide network across both the island and the mainland. You’ll also find convenient alternatives like Grab for e-hailing, trishaws for short trips, and a free city bus called CAT that loops around George Town.
But change is on the horizon. Come Aug 2025, Penang will begin building its first-ever metro system — the LRT Mutiara Line. Previously referred to as the Bayan Lepas LRT Project, this upgraded version gets its name from Penang’s nickname, “Pearl of the Orient,” and is all about easing traffic while better connecting the island and beyond.
Spanning 29.5km with 21 planned stations, the LRT Mutiara Line will link key destinations across the island and mainland.
It’ll run between the new Penang South Reclamation Island A (also called Silicon Island) and major spots like KOMTAR and Penang Sentral. Trains will alternate routes, making it easier to get around without adding to road congestion.
This LRT will feature Park & Ride options, transit-oriented development (TOD) zones, and smooth last-mile connections to support Penang’s growth in a greener, more structured way. It’ll even connect to important points like the Penang International Airport and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal.
Two main depots will support operations once construction of LRT Mutiara Line kicks off. With a maximum capacity of 10.9K passengers per hour in each direction, each train will carry at least 405 people — and select stations will include more than 1K parking spots for both cars and motorcycles.
Expect about a 45-minute ride from Silicon Island to KOMTAR, and 49 minutes to Penang Sentral — a small price for skipping traffic and enjoying a more connected, sustainable Penang.
While progress might appear slow in the early stages, it’s worth noting that the project is scheduled for completion only by 31 Dec 2031 to give it a long but carefully planned timeline while ensuring everything runs smoothly.
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