GEORGE TOWN - More than 150 passengers were stranded when the funicular train were on broke down midway to Penang Hill at 2.30pm today.
Rescue efforts were hampered by weather conditions, and firemen had to use four-wheel drive jeeps to reach passengers, said Paya Terubong fire and rescue department officer Noor Zahidi Ahad.
There were no injuries reported, and all passengers were successfully escorted down by the rescue officers.
The hill which sits at 833m above sea level is one of the top attractions in Penang.
In 2010, the train service was revamped to be fitted with modern coaches and technology but breakdowns continue to occur regularly.
In December 2019, 150 tourists and hill residents, as well as workers were stranded hours after a similar breakdown.
Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said that the service disruption was caused by faulty brakes due to leakage.
He said the train service has been restored, and assured that the management will take the necessary measures to prevent further breakdowns in the future. – The Vibes, October 3, 2020.
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