Penang Watch

After promising 200 accessible buses at the beginning of this year RapidPg will for the first time ever allow some users to test the prototype accessible busesthis morning at 9.30am, at its Lorong Kulit HQ. Only a few users are allowed in this quiet test run, after the prototype had been checked by Singaporena's Access Auditors Level Field. There was a 3-day workshop in Penang organised by an NGO here where the buses were said to be displayed to the government representatives-but not to other workshop participants, chiefly the potential users. So we will keep our eyes open on the new buses-which, if approved, will become the model for bulk procurement by RapidKL-to the tune of 1000 buses in near future! The chasis design of the buses are by Scannia, a European supplier, and the assembly is done by gemilang, a local company which took over from Scomi's MTRAN.

The new buses are kept under wrap for a while-and there are concern if the bus design would be presented as a fait accompli /done deal for the local users. So keep your eyes open.