GEORGE TOWN, Feb 1 — Funicular train tickets to Penang Hill will be increased by RM2 for adults and RM1 for children and senior citizens from April 1 onwards.
Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) Chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the new pricing scheme applies for normal lane tickets for those with MyKad, MyKid and valid resident ID holders.
Under the new pricing scheme, normal lane tickets for adults will be RM12 for a two-way journey and RM6 for children (between 4 and 12 years), senior citizens (above 60 years) and one-way tickets for adults.
“PHC will continue to provide free rides for disabled persons and the rates for sunrise or sunset times are still at RM3 for MyKad and MyKid holders during off-peak seasons,” the chief minister said during a press conference at his office today.
Chow said the monthly passes for residents, workers, general public and all fares in other categories will remain unchanged.
He said the new pricing scheme is to cover increasing operation and maintenance costs of the funicular system and stations.
It will also cover the upkeep of public infrastructure and facilities on the hill summit.
“The increase in cost is also attributable to the weaker ringgit and inflation,” he said.
PHC general manager Cheok Lay Leng said it had to revise the sunrise and sunset hours.
“The sunrise hours were mostly for hikers who go up very early but now we realise there are busloads of visitors coming very early in the morning, so we have to adjust the sunrise hours. It is the same for the sunset hours too,” he said.
Visitors (with MyKad and MyKid) can purchase tickets for only RM3 during sunrise hours of between 6.30am and 8am and sunset hours of between 7.30pm and 9.45pm from April 1 onwards.
Previously, the sunrise hours were from 6.30am to 9am and sunset hours were from 7pm to 10.30pm.
The sunrise and sunset rates are not available during long weekend holidays, festive seasons, school holidays and peak seasons.
Cheok said the last time PHC adjusted the ticket pricing for the normal lane tickets was in 2015, which saw the fare for adults with MyKad or valid resident ID increased from RM8 to RM10.
In 2017, PHC adjusted the fast lane ticket prices for non-Malaysian and non-resident adults from RM60 to RM80 and from RM30 to RM40 for adults with MyKad and valid resident IDs.
Cheok said PHC conducts two major maintenance works every year and most of the spare parts of the funicular system are imported from Europe.
Penang Hill receives about two million visitors, including local residents every year through the funicular train, jeep track and hiking trails.
