Autonomous rail transit (ART) is a proposed two-line hybrid metro forming part of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS).
The project is being developed by the government-owned Sarawak Metro. Phase 1 of the ART consists of 2 lines and 27 stations covering approximately 52 kilometres in distance.

The vehicles are driverless and are powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The vehicles will run on dedicated trackless lanes runing on rubber tyres. Each vehicle can carry up to 300 passengers, with a speed of up to 70 km/hour.
The proposed interchange station for the ART would be near the Kuching City Mosque (Padang Pasir).
The ART replaces the previous proposal of the 3-line Kuching Light Rapid Transit (LRT).
Links And Resources
mysarawakmetro.com – Official website.
@SarawakMetro – Official Twitter.
Kuching Transportation Plan – News and discussion on Skyscraper City Forum.
Maps And Images
[ART station at Jalan Datuk Merican Salleh (via SarawakMetroSdnBhd).]
News Archive
2023
That’s not how you do metro, Kuching – [02/01/23]
“Sarawak Metro is a pipedream that will moves no one.”
2022
Sarawak premier says Autonomous Rapid Transit to start service in Q4 2025 – [16/12/22]
Premier: Sarawak changed from LRT to ART due to lower costs – [16/12/22]
Kuching ART proof-of-concept expected in 2023 – [14/12/22]
HSL lands RM64.3 million contract to build Kuching ART Rembus depot – [30/11/22]
Sarawak’s ART project progressing as planned, says Transport Minister – [29/11/22]
Sarawak Metro awards RM448 mln contract to DOM-EEB JV – [27/11/22]
Premier: Sarawak’s ART expected to reduce Kuching’s carbon footprint by 15 pct – [21/11/22]
Transport Ministry waiting for proof-of-concept report on Kuching’s autonomous rapid transit – [12/08/22]
Kuching ART system routes made clearer – [10/08/22]
Sarawak govt approves ART Santubong line on top of Samarahan-and Serian lines – [20/07/22]
Sarawak Metro awards RM1.425 bln package contract for Kuching Urban Transportation System – [20/07/22]
Naim subsidiary signs MoU with Sarawak Metro on Kuching Urban Transportation System – [19/07/22]
“Naim Group of Companies, through its subsidiary Peranan Makmur Sdn Bhd (PMSB), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd to collaborate on the implementation and management of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) at Kuching Paragon.”
Sarawak Metro: Works on ART Kuching set to kick off in September – [10/07/22]
Consortium awarded contract for Kuts project – [27/06/22]
“A consortium comprising EPR (Kuching) Sdn Bhd, Global Rail Sdn Bhd and Mobilus Sdn Bhd has been awarded the contract for System Package 1 of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (Kuts) project.”
Joint venture company wins contract for System Package 1 KUTS Project to improve mobility in Greater Kuching – [17/06/22]
Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) – [26/05/22]
Politics not in driver’s seat of Kuching’s Autonomous Rapid Transit, says Sarawak transport minister – [25/05/22]
Lee: Three locations identified for proposed Transit Oriented Development – [24/05/22]
Full steam ahead for Sarawak’s ultra-modern transportation system– [07/04/22]
Sarawak Metro: Two joint venture firms in bid to supply rolling stock to Kuching Urban Transportation System – [06/04/22]
Kuching Urban Transportation System first phase construction scheduled to begin Q3’2022 with Samarahan Line – [02/04/22]
2021
Abang Johari: ART system to begin construction in Kuching in third quarter of 2022 – [08/12/21]
Interesting findings from the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) EEIA Report – [29/08/21]
Sarawak Metro seeks vendors for ART vehicle – [11/06/21]
“Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) is now inviting rolling stock suppliers to register as vendors, as part of their initiative to source for the best provider for the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.”
Sarawak Metro starts tendering process for Kuching light metro trains – [09/06/21]
“Sarawak Metro is responsible for implementing a two-line rubber-tyred light metro in Kuching.”
Sarawak: Towards sustainable mobility – [28/02/21]
2020
Sarawak Metro: A mission to create an ultra-modern transportation system – [24/12/20]
Transforming Sarawak’s public transportation system – [25/11/20]
Funding for ART system under 12MP – [01/09/20]
“Funding for the state’s autonomous rail transit (ART) system, which is expected to be in commercial operation by 2025, will be provided under the 12th Malaysia Plan.”
SEDC chairman: ART system to start trial runs in Kuching in 2023, commercial operations by 2025 – [01/09/20]
2019
Sarawak’s ART public transport system ready for action in 2022, says transport minister – [24/09/19]
“Autonomous rail transit (ART), which overtook light rail transit (LRT) as the preferred system to modernise Sarawak’s public transport system, is expected to be operational here in three years’ time, said Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.”
Leave a Reply