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
2024
Ibraco forms JV with China Railway units for Sarawak’s urban transport system – [04/01/24
Sarawak Metro speeds up rail contract awards – [01/01/24]
“Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has accelerated the award of contracts for the construction of Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, handing out a third contract worth RM943mil to another Malaysia-China joint venture (JV) company.”
2023
JV company clinches contract for Rembus Depot construction – [22/12/23]
“Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has awarded the contract for the Rembus Depot construction to a joint venture company, comprising Azam Sehasrat Sdn Bhd, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd and Unique Deco Sdn Bhd.”
S’wak Transport Minister: Severe penalties for traffic rule offenders along ART route – [06/12/23]
Sarawak’s first ART line to be completed end of 2025, says state transport minister – [06/12/23]
Lee: Current ART vehicle not final version for KUTS, just a prototype – [25/11/23]
Proof-of-concept exercise for ART prototype at Kuching-Samarahan Expressway starts today – [20/11/23]
“The Proof-of-Concept (POC) exercise for the prototype Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicle at Kuching-Samarahan Expressway has officially commenced effective today.”
Sarawak awards RM570mil tender for first rapid transit line – [12/11/23]
“A joint venture with China Railway Engineering Corporation will begin work on a 15km-long route for the trackless autonomous rapid transit project.”
Ibraco and China partners to set up JV after securing RM568.61mil contract from Sarawak Metro – [10/11/23]
EU ambassador to M’sia takes test ride on S’wak’s ART hydrogen vehicle – [14/10/23]
“European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas and a high-level delegation experienced a test ride on Sarawak’s groundbreaking Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicle prototype during their visit to the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) on Thursday.”
Sarawak Metro: ART vehicles to operate on dedicated road-level, elevated lanes (Video) – [03/10/23]
Delegates of BIMP-EAGA Transport Cluster take ride on ART – [13/09/23]
ART engineering run, Stage 2 proof-of-concept exercise begins at Kuching Isthmus – [06/09/23]
“The downpour this afternoon did not stop Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg from having a feel of the hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle during a test ride of the prototype today.”
Sarawak to order 38 more autonomous coaches – [06/09/23]
Smart tram ‘Bulan’ makes first journey on Kuching street ahead of engineering run (VIDEO) – [22/08/23]
Autonomous Rapid Transit tram prototype to start test run in Kuching from September 4 to October 31, says state minister – [21/08/23]
Sarawak Metro: Autonomous Rapid Transit prototype unit arrives in Kuching – [05/08/23]
“Sarawak is a step closer towards its drive in modernising its public transportation with the arrival of the prototype unity of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicle today.”
ART: World’s first hydrogen-powered smart tram begins journey to Sarawak (Video) – [20/07/23]
BPMB, UOB, CCB to finance autonomous rapid transit in Kuching – [20/07/23]
Kuching ART prototype on the way to Kuching – [18/07/23]
First ART route in Samarahan expected to be complete in Oct, says deputy premier – [15/07/23]
Sarawak to get Autonomous Rapid Transit prototype in August – [12/07/23]
Ministry: ART prototype to arrive next month, trials in Samarahan to begin in November – [12/07/23]
Sarawak Metro receives award for innovative public transport solutions – [17/06/23]
Phase 1 of KUTS project 8.25 per cent completed, says Lee – [23/05/23]
“Phase 1 of Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, which involves the design, construction and commissioning of the three Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) lines, was 8.25 per cent completed as of the first quarter of this year, said Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.”
Lee expects ART to undergo POC exercise in Sarawak by third quarter of this year – [20/03/23]
Sarawak Metro: ART to be delivered to Kuching by middle of this year – [16/03/23]
Sarawak’s ART vehicle completed, undergoing proof-of-concept in Zhuzhou – [08/03/23]
“The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Project achieved another major milestone recently with the completion of the manufacturing and assembly of the prototype hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle in Zhuzhou, China.”
Advanced works for ART depot in Rembus progressing steadily, says Sarawak Metro – [03/03/23]
MOTS, Sarawak Metro aims to emulate Japan for Kuching Urban Transportation System – [23/02/23]
“The Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) and Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) are looking at the possibility of emulating Japan’s public transportation system for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.”
Even critics now acknowledge Kuching ART project as good, says Abg Jo – [15/01/23]
Sarawak Metro set to reach more milestones for KUTS project this year – [11/01/23]
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.”
Phase 1 of Sarawak’s ART has been revised to 3 lines, blue, red and green (green line being awarded by May 2024). The new maps are now available on the official website alongside proposed lines for Phase 2.
The interchange in Phase 1 will only be at Simpang Tiga Station (red-blue), and Pending Station (green-red).
Cheers!