GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Hill funicular train broke down twice in two days at the beginning of this week – once last Sunday at 1.50pm and yesterday at 10am despite repairs.
Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng told The Vibes that the funicular train's operations have resumed this morning after the staff worked throughout the night to repair a potential fault that was detected by the train’s safety mechanism.
“There was no technical issue but the reason the funicular train stopped is due to a built-in safety mechanism. It serves to ensure that the funicular service is always working in tip-top condition.
“When the haul rope was touching the drum underneath the track, which is something that happens due to wear and tear, it sends an error message. When that happens, the funicular train will stop.”
During the service disruption, close to 1,000 people lined up at the top of the hill waiting to get down. However, the emergency response service was quickly deployed to get everyone out of the train and down from the hill as soon as possible.
Cheok said that when the funicular service stopped on Sunday, PHC’s first priority was to get everyone out to safety. The funicular then ran at half the load and half the speed.
With 1,000 people waiting to be transported to the foot of the hill, they managed to get 500 to 600 people down by the funicular and 360 by jeep down to the Penang Botanical Gardens. Only four to five people were ferried by jeep per trip and ten busses were on standby to get the passengers to the Penang Hill lower station.
Despite the delays, we did not receive any complaints. I’d like to think that they were pleased with our quick response despite the delay.
“We had to evacuate everyone before we could do a thorough inspection. The coaches had to be parked at the lower station where the tools and space are available to do troubleshooting.”
Cheok said that it has been two years since the last service and admitted that they need to do better but added that maintenance is conducted every week without fail.
The train coaches are now running with replacement insulators. The new and modern ones from the suppliers in Switzerland are on their way and are set to arrive next week.
Cheok said that the ones used previously are a decade old.
The funicular train had been running on light load for the past 18 months.
During the most recent movement control order (MCO) when hikers were permitted to hike up the hill and take the train down, it was only operating at 50% of its full load. When the state borders reopened, it started running at 70% from its full capacity.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said yesterday that Penang Hill hit 7,000 to 8,000 daily visitors during the recent Deepavali holidays, bringing the number to what it was during the pre-pandemic era.
Even before the pandemic, the highest number of visitors the hill has ever accommodated was up to 10,000, and it only happens two times a year, at most. – The Vibes, November 9, 2021
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