Wednesday, May 23 2012
Save the Penang Hill Railway - A priceless legacy
Friday, 08 May 2009 15:26

Press statement by Penang Heritage Trust.

THE reported plan to replace the century-old Penang Hill Railway with a modern system at a cost of RM40 million is difficult to understand.  The destruction of one of Penang’s most famous heritage landmarks and tourist attractions is not only unnecessary but also irresponsible.  Penang’s funicular Hill Railway is an engineering classic that has been in operation since 1923. It draws thousands of visitors from Malaysia and around the world to experience the thrill of travelling on a form of heritage transport comparable to the trams of San Francisco while witnessing the panoramic views of George Town, Penang harbour and the mainland unfold beyond.

The main justification for destroying the old funicular railway seems to be that it takes too long for passengers to reach the top of Penang Hill because of the necessity of changing trains at Middle Station.  This makes no sense as nobody takes the train up Penang Hill because they want to get to the top in a hurry.  Replacing the present double system with a single system that would do away with Middle Station would reduce the current half-hour travel time by only about ten minutes while denying passengers the chance to pause at Middle Station to admire the view and marvel at close hand as to how the funicular works.

It is also argued that the old system needs to be replaced because it breaks down from time to time – twice in the past four years.  These breakdowns have been caused by worn or broken cables that have taken months to replace – at great inconvenience to Hill residents and at the opportunity cost of lost tourism revenues.  The problem of breakdowns, however, will not be resolved by building a new railway.  What is required is proper planned maintenance of the tracks, cables and support structures (e.g., viaducts) and prompt attention to any faults that are identified.  This would cost far less than the projected cost of RM40 million to build a new railway.

Finally, to announce plans for the destruction of the Penang Hill Railway less than a year after George Town’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site betrays a lack of appreciation of the importance of the funicular to the overall integrity of the Heritage Site.  After the establishment of George Town as a trading port in the Straits of Malacca, the first recreational hill station to be established in South and Southeast Asia was Penang Hill.  The Hill and its early 20th century funicular railway are integral to the heritage of George Town.  The Penang Heritage Trust urges the Malaysian Federal and Penang State authorities to protect and maintain this cherished legacy of the people of Penang.  To this end the PHT calls for a public forum for consultations on the future of the Penang Hill Railway before any irrevocable action is taken. 

**Penang Heritage Trust is an NGO whose objectives are to promote the conservation of Penang's heritage and to foster cultural education about the history of the state.

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