PENANG Hill Corporation (PHC) should consider stopping the funicular train service temporarily, if necessary, for maintenance works to be done, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow said that the safety of the people is paramount.
“Although this is a holiday season (peak period), stop the train service if necessary. Safety is more important than getting revenues from passengers,” he responded to questions from the media regarding the temporary disruption of the train service yesterday and today (Nov 7 and 8).
PHC, in a its Facebook page, informed the public that the funicular service was temporarily disrupted from 1.50pm yesterday (Nov 7) after the wire rope was detected to be touching the haul rope drum beneath one of the coaches.
“We have transported all the visitors to the Lower Station via the funicular and the last trip was at 2.45pm today (Nov 8),” the statement read.
PHC expected the funicular service to resume tomorrow (Nov 9).
Chow said that the funicular train was not able to undergo major maintenance work this year due to Covid-19. Travel restrictions were imposed during this period.
“Major maintenance work by the engineer team from Switzerland (the supplier) is done once a year before the Covid-19 period. In addition, two to three minor maintenance works are also being held throughout the year to ensure that the train operates without technical problem.
“It was planned (before the opening of state borders) that four minor maintenance works, for the month of November and December, will be conducted on the funicular.
“In view of the recent funicular service disruption, I urge PHC to speed up the major maintenance work by getting the engineer team from Switzerland to come to Penang, while proceeding with the minor maintenance works.
“Public safety is of paramount importance,” he said.
Chow added that it is better to focus on the maintenance works now even if it means to temporarily stopping the train service.
“I will leave it to PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng and his technical team to assess the situation whether the four minor maintenance works in November and December are sufficient to address the problem,” he said.
Chow said that the funicular service recorded 7,298 passengers on Nov 6.
“It is considered as ‘high volume of passengers’.
“The funicular did not operate on maximum load. It operated at 50% earlier, and with the opening of state borders, the passenger load was increase to 70% or 80%.
“Seven thousand passengers are considered as ‘peak’ during pre-Covid.
“With the huge number of passengers, visitors to Penang Hill are expected to wait for two to three hours for the funicular service,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Law Suun Ting