Kuching Urban Transportation System

The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) is an under-construction Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system network in Kuching, Malaysia. It is the first metro rail system to be built in the state of Sarawak which was touted as one of the methods to ease traffic congestion in the city of Kuching. The project is to be constructed using state funds provided by the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS). The proposed ART lines will connect Kuching to Samarahan and Serian as well as future lines to other parts of Greater Kuching. The Premier of Sarawak, Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg had initially promised to build the first Kuching ART soon to avoid rising costs, with Chinese companies offering their expertise to collaborate in the construction.

Initial plan - Light Rapid Transit
The proposed construction of a RM10.8 billion Kuching LRT project was expected to commence by 2019 and was scheduled to be operational by 2024. It was proposed that the LRT will use hydrogen fuel cell rolling-stock with a travel speed of 70–140km/h.

The hydrogen fuel cell trains were in line with the state government’s vision to develop a hydrogen economy, as part of its green initiative. Aside from hydrogen-powered trains, Kuching will also be the first city in the country to have hydrogen-powered buses.

Planned routes
On 29 March 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak released the routes and stations of three of the six lines with 155.2 kilometers of track to be completed in 2024, while the remaining three lines to be implemented at a later stage. A Government-linked company (GLC) called Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has been registered to manage the LRT system.

Shelving
However, on 1 September 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak announced that the project has been placed on hold, citing that the funds allocated to the project will instead be used to build basic amenities for Sarawak's rural areas.

Revised plan - Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART)


In July 2019, the Chief Minister of Sarawak said that the LRT project will be built using artificial intelligence (AI) technology which will remove the need for conventional rails and bringing down the cost of the project.

In September 2019, the government of Sarawak ultimately decided to go with China's Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system than LRT due to its more affordable cost where the state transport minister said it will be ready by 2022. The ART is a type of guided bus running on batteries. In April 2022, Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg disclosed to the Singaporean English daily newspaper, The Straits Times that the ART system will likely consist of 52.6 km of route and is expected to begin construction in the third quarter of the same year, with a projected operational date of 2025. In August 2023, the state received its first hydrogen-powered ART vehicle prototype and went through an engineering run for two months until September, where it then went through a proof-of-concept testing in November. As of April 2024, the overall progress of Phase 1 of the Kuching Urban Transportation System is now at 20.65% which includes consultation works, studies and physical works.

Planned routes
On 16 December 2022, the Premier of Sarawak released the Phase 1 integrated transit map of the KUTS project with a 69.9-kilometer route consisting of 3 initial rail lines and a total of 31 stations (with 5 provisional stations) to be completed in stages, with Phase 1 of the Blue Line scheduled to be completed in 2025 while the remaining lines are to be constructed at a later date. Currently, the Green Line has since increased the number of stations from 10 to 14 stations bringing the total number of stations across the Kuching Urban Transportation System to 35 stations. However, they are under halt station status and it is currently unknown whether these will be built alongside the opening of the Green Line in 2027.

Operation facts

 * Project Proponent: Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd
 * Line Length (km): Line 1 : 28.1 km (67% Elevated), Line 2 : 24.5 km (96% Elevated)
 * Stations: Line 1 : 13 + 1 (provisional), Line 2 : 12
 * Interchange : 1
 * Depot: Line 1 : Rembus Line 2 : Batu 12
 * Operating Speed: Average 35 km/h, Maximum 70 km/h
 * Operating Hours: 6.00 am – 12.00 am
 * Journey Time: Line 1: 38 minutes, Line 2: 40 minutes
 * System: Hydrogen Powered Automated Rapid Transit (ART)
 * Features: Trackless, Runs on rubber tyres. Dedicated lane