Rapid Penang (stylised as rapidPenang) is a public bus brand operating within the George Town Conurbation in Malaysia. Established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia, it serves as the main public transport system within the state of Penang, with routes extending into neighbouring towns in Kedah and Perak. Rapid Penang forms part of Rapid Bus, which also operates public bus services across the Klang Valley.

, Rapid Penang's fleet comprises 350 buses operating on a total of 47 routes throughout the conurbation. Additionally, since 2024, Rapid Penang has been expanding its demand-responsive transport (DRT) service, with a fleet of 17 vans to address last mile connectivity at specific locations within Penang.

History Prior to the introduction of Rapid Penang in 2007, public bus services in Penang had been run by several competing private operators. The operators were plagued by fragmented zoning, inadequate asset maintenance and financial mismanagement.

In 2004, the Yellow Bus Company, one of the largest public bus operators in the state, abruptly ceased operations due to a price war and financial losses. The continued deterioration of Penang's bus operators prompted the state government to intervene. Under Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon, the state government in 2006 attempted to revive the public bus system by rezoning routes to designated operators. This proved unsuccessful, forcing Koh to seek assistance from the Malaysian federal government.

In 2007, Prasarana Malaysia, a government-owned company, launched Rapid Penang. While some quarters within Penang voiced their objections to the federal takeover of the state's public transportation, Koh's administration defended the move, arguing that federal expertise and financial resources were necessary to improve the public bus system. Rapid Penang initially began its services on 31 July that year with a fleet of 150 buses. Of the 150 buses, 110 were allocated to George Town to service five corridors, while the remaining 40 buses were assigned to Seberang Perai 's three corridors. In 2013, Rapid Penang, along with Rapid KL and Rapid Kuantan, was merged into Rapid Bus. While the Rapid Penang brand is retained, its assets and staff were transferred to the newer entity.

, Rapid Penang 's fleet consists of 350 buses operating on a total of 47 routes across the George Town Conurbation. In 2024, a demand-responsive transport (DRT) service was introduced in George Town. This service adopts a ridesharing model akin to Grab, aimed at improving last mile connectivity at areas not accessible by conventional buses. A total of 17 vans were originally deployed at selected suburbs. Rapid Penang has plans to further expand the DRT, with an addition of 21 vans scheduled by June 2025.

Routes

, Rapid Penang operates 47 routes across the George Town Conurbation, with some extending into neighbouring Kedah and Perak. Of the 47 routes, 26 are within George Town and 15 are in Seberang Perai. There are two cross-strait routes connecting the two cities. The remaining four routes are interstate services that link Seberang Perai with nearby towns in Kedah and Perak.

Since 2024, Rapid Penang has been expanding its DRT service by deploying vans to address last mile connectivity at specific areas of George Town, such as Ayer Itam, Paya Terubong, Tanjong Tokong, Tanjong Bungah, Bayan Lepas, Jelutong and the city centre. In 2025, the service was extended to the mainland, covering Butterworth and Seberang Jaya.

+ List of Rapid Penang Bus Routes Route Number Origin Destination Service Type First Trip Last Trip Frequency Notes Penang Island Routes CAT Weld Quay Komtar Free Shuttle 06:00 23:45 10 - 15 mins Free shuttle service within George Town heritage zone. 11 Batu Lanchang Trunk 05:40 21:35 30 - 40 mins 12 Bandar Sri Pinang 06:00 19:30 40 - 50 mins 13 Paya Terubong Lotus's Penang E-Gate 06:20 21:40 35 - 70 mins 101 Weld Quay Teluk Bahang 05:30 23:30 10 - 12 mins Via Batu Ferringhi. 102 Airport 06:00 23:35 75 mins Long-haul route connecting Airport and Teluk Bahang. 103 Komtar Pulau Tikus 05:40 21:30 15 - 20 mins 104 Tanjung Bungah 06:30 21:10 80 mins 201 Weld Quay Paya Terubong (via Air Itam) 05:30 18:20 10 - 15 mins 202 Paya Terubong (via Farlim) 05:50 23:30 10 - 12 mins 203 Pekan Air Itam (via Farlim) 06:20 21:10 90 mins 204 Penang Hill 05:30 23:30 35 - 45 mins Connects to Penang Hill Funicular. 206 Lotus's Penang E-Gate 06:00 22:30 100 mins 301 Relau 05:45 23:30 15 mins 302 Batu Maung 05:30 23:30 20 - 30 mins Via Jalan Bukit Gambir. 303 Bukit Gedung 06:00 22:35 40 - 45 mins 304 Gurney Drive Bukit Gedung 05:30 22:35 45 - 60 mins 306 Airport Penang General Hospital 05:30 22:35 40 mins 308 Sungai Nibong Gertak Sanggul 06:00 22:30 80 mins T310 Universiti Sains Malaysia Queensbay Mall 06:00 22:30 20 - 30 mins Feeder route. 401 Weld Quay Teluk Kumbar 05:55 22:30 60 mins 401E Balik Pulau Terminal 05:45 23:30 20 mins Express service via Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway & Queensbay. 502 Pekan Genting, Balik Pulau 05:30 23:30 30 - 40 mins 403 Balik Pulau Terminal Pulau Betong 06:00 19:00 90 - 120 mins 404 Pantai Acheh 06:00 19:15 105 - 120 mins CT13 Terminal Bas Bayan Baru Seberang Jaya Free Shuttle 06:00 20:20 60 - 65 mins Known as "CAT Bridge", cross-strait service via Penang Bridge. Operates during peak hours only. CT14 Komtar Bukit Mertajam 06:00 19:00 30 minsCT15KomtarHospital Pulau PinangFree Shuttle06:0020:0020 minsKnown as "CAT Hospital", this service loops from Komtar to Hospital Pulau Pinang to Komtar. Seberang Perai Routes (Mainland) 601 Penang Sentral Kepala Batas Trunk 06:00 22:30 30 - 40 mins 603 Kuala Muda 07:10 22:30 80 - 90 mins 604 Taman Desa Murni 07:10 18:20 140 - 180 mins 605 Teluk Air Tawar 06:15 20:00 60 - 70 mins 613 Padang Serai 06:20 22:30 70 - 80 mins 701 Bukit Mertajam 06:15 22:30 15 - 25 mins 606 Bukit Mertajam Kepala Batas 08:00 17:15 180 mins 610 Kepala Batas Tasek Gelugor 06:00 - - One trip only. Loop service. 702 Penang Sentral Bukit Mertajam 06:00 22:30 45 mins Via Jalan Permatang Pauh. 703 Seberang Jaya 06:00 22:30 25 - 50 mins Serves Bandar Sunway 706 Taman Pelangi 07:30 17:25 150 mins 707 Bukit Mertajam Taman Pelangi 07:30 20:00 180 mins 708 Junjung 07:30 18:15 155 - 160 mins 709 Penang Sentral Machang Bubok 06:00 19:50 110 - 130 mins 801 Nibong Tebal 05:40 22:30 40 - 50 mins EB60 Sungai Petani 06:30 22:30 30 - 45 mins Intercity route to Kedah. EB80 Parit Buntar 07:10 22:30 60 mins Intercity route to Perak. 802 Bukit Mertajam Nibong Tebal Trunk 06:00 22:00 60 mins 803 Nibong Tebal Sungai Acheh 06:00 14:00 - Two trips only.

Fleet , Rapid Penang's fleet consists of 350 buses. As with other Prasarana brands such as Rapid KL, Rapid Penang's bus fleet is managed by Rapid Bus. Model Image Year Introduced Bodywork Unit Introduced Notes/Comments Dong Feng 2007 Scomi Coach (Formerly MTrans) 3 Retired Higer 2007 SKS Bus, BadanBas, Pioneer 40 Retired Higer KLQ6886G 2026 Go Automobile Manufacturing Sdn Bhd ? 75 of these buses to be delivered to Rapid Penang to replace the ageing vehicles King Long 2007 DRB-Hicom Defense Technology 40 Retired Scania K270UB 2009 DRB-Hicom Defense Technology 30 (12m)170 (10.5m) Scania K250UB 2013 DRB-Hicom Defense Technology, Gemilang Coachworks 120Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC2016, 20223 (with an additional 30 to be added by 2017)"Due to operational reasons, RapidPenang's fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMCs have been transferred to RapidKL's fleet" Was used for routes 101, 102 and 301 on Penang Island

Reintroduced in February 2022 for routes 301 and 302.Alexander Dennis Enviro2002017?Transferred to RapidKL's fleetHino Poncho2021Transferred to RapidKL's fleetCAM Placer-X A42024In service as part of the DRT (Rapid On-Demand) fleetFoton AUV C12 BJ6129EVCA2026?Part of the new EV fleet expansion: Expected to begin service by the end of 2026Golden Dragon2026?Part of the new EV fleet expansion: Expected to begin service by the end of 2026

See also Penang Hop-On Hop-Off Prasarana Malaysia Berhad Rapid Ferry Sdn Bhd Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd Rapid KL BRT Sunway Line BRT Federal Line Rapid Kuantan

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