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Malaysian bus business From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is the largest bus operator in Malaysia operating mainly in urban areas of Klang Valley, Penang & Kuantan. As of February 2023, Rapid KL service brands unit of Rapid Bus, has operates 113 normal routes and also 69 MRT Feeder Bus routes, along with 8 Nadiputra routes in Putrajaya. [1]
 | |
| Company type | Private Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public Transport Operator |
| Founded | January 2006 |
| Headquarters | Lot 1499, Jalan KB 2/15 Balakong, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor. |
Area served | Klang Valley, Penang & Kuantan |
Key people | Muhammad Yazurin Sallij Muhammad Yasin (Chief Executive Officer) |
| Services | Bus service |
| Parent | Prasarana Malaysia |
| Website | www.myrapid.com.my |
| Parent | Prasarana Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Routes | 113 + 69 (MRT Feeder Bus) + 8 (Nadi Putra) |
| Website | Rapid Bus |
Rapid Bus routes were previously operated by Intrakota Komposit Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Berhad; and Cityliner Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Park May Berhad. When it took over, there were 179 routes. Since January 2006, Rapid KL has redrawn the entire network.
Rapid Bus is however not the only bus operator in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. Other bus operators such as Selangor Omnibus, MARA Liner and Causeway Link also serve the Klang Valley.
In October 2003, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad bought over Intrakota Komposit and its subsidiaries from DRB-Hicom for RM177mil. It also paid RM14mil cash for the 364 buses belonging to Cityliner. The original companies were appointed interim operators.
Rapid Bus began the first phase of the revamp of its bus network in January 2006 by introducing 15 City Shuttle bus routes which serve major areas in the central business district of Kuala Lumpur. The buses run between four hubs at the edge of the central business district, namely KL Sentral, Titiwangsa, KLCC and Maluri, and Medan Pasar in the city centre. These bus hubs also serve as rail interchanges, with the exception of Medan Pasar, although it is at a walking distance from Masjid Jamek LRT station.
In March 2006, Rapid Bus revamped the bus network serving Kepong, Selayang, Gombak, Batu Caves, Bandar Sri Damansara and Bandar Manjalara areas which it called Area 2. The areas are now service by four Trunk Routes and 35 Local Shuttle routes when fully implemented. The four trunk routes all begin from the Titiwangsa hub where passengers can change to City Shuttles. At the other end, the trunk routes serve regional hubs where Local Shuttles fan out into the residential suburbs.
On 30 April 2006, the bus network in Area 3 covering Setapak, Ulu Kelang, Wangsa Maju, Keramat, Ampang and Pandan was revamped. Three trunk bus routes serve this area, one from Titiwangsa and two from KLCC while 26 local shuttle routes complete the network for this area.
On 1 July 2006, two express services, four trunk lines and 32 local services were introduced in Area 4. It covers areas including Cheras, Serdang, Kajang, Balakong, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Bandar Baru Bangi.
On 23 September 2006, Rapid Bus' revamp of the Klang Valley's bus network became complete with the introduction of new routes in Area Five which covers Subang Jaya, USJ, Puchong, and Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang south of the Federal Highway; and Area Six which covers Damansara, Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara and areas of Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang north of the Federal Highway.
On 21 April 2007, sixteen months after the first step of the first revamp, a second major revamp was undertaken on the entire bus network on grounds of feedback from commuters who wanted the buses to ferry them from their housing estates direct to the city centre, that is with less or without much need to change buses in the middle of their journey.[2]
This revamp saw the routes being adjusted (e.g. B112 [Maluri — KL Sentral], formerly 112, now passes by Jalan Hang Tuah/Pudu/Tun Tan Cheng Lock instead of Jalan Maharajalela/Sultan Sulaiman), extended (T40 [Kajang — Maluri], is now U40 and is extended to Pasar Seni LRT), merged (T41 [Serdang Komuter — Maluri] and 414 [Serdang — Bandar Sungai Long] become U41 [Pasar Seni LRT — Bandar Sungai Long]) or discontinued (route 107 ceased operations on that date).
On 1 December 2015, a third revamp, known as The Bus Network Revamp (BNR) was carried out by SPAD to improve urban public transport in Greater Kuala Lumpur/ Klang Valley. This procedure has caused RapidKL to surrender most of its bus routes to other bus providers such as Causeway Link, Selangor Omnibus, Setara Jaya and Nadi Putra, and also changes to the route numbers.
On 18 June 2020, Rapid Bus released new features on real time locations of bus in Google Maps, via collaboration with Google Transit.[3][4][5][6] Almost 170 RapidKL's bus routes are covered with this real time feature, and were expanded to MRT feeder bus service, Rapid Penang, and Rapid Kuantan.
On 2023, Rapid KL take over the bus service operator from Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd in Putrajaya.
Rapid Bus operates four types of bus services: City Shuttles (Malay: Perkhidmatan bandar), Trunk Buses (Perkhidmatan utama), Local Shuttles (Perkhidmatan tempatan) and point-to-point Express buses (Perkhidmatan ekspres).
City Shuttles have red destination boards, trunk buses have blue boards, local shuttles have green boards and express services have orange boards.
Rapid Bus has also divided up the Klang Valley into six areas:
Route numbers for the local shuttle are prefixed by the letter T (for Tempatan), e.g. T323. Route numbers for the express services are prefixed by the letter E (for Ekspres), e.g. E11A.
There was a prefix for trunk shuttles which is U (for Utama) e.g. U410 and for city shuttles which is B (for Bandar), e.g. B114. Later all the prefix were demolished due to the revamping of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) except the local shuttle T (Tempatan) services.
The Ampang Corridor, Cheras Corridor, Sungai Besi Corridor, Klang Lama Corridor, Lebuhraya Persekutuan Corridor, Damansara Corridor, Jalan Ipoh Corridor, and Jalan Pahang Corridor were revamped under the Bus Network Revamp reorganization.
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has divided up the Klang Valley into 8 stage bus corridors:
The Bus Network Revamp has been implemented by Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) as of 1 December 2015.
Before the implementation of the Bus Network Revamp (BNR) by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), these are the former routes being served by Rapid Bus.
| Previous route number | Destination | New route number under BNR |
|---|---|---|
| U3 | Bandar Baru Selayang – Medan Pasar | Rapid KL (Route 151) Previously served by Setara Jaya (December 2015 – 2022) and MARA Liner (2022 - January 2023) |
| U4 | Desa Aman Puri – Medan Pasar | Selangor Omnibus (Route 104) |
| U5 | Taman Melati LRT station – Lebuh Amapng | Not in service (replaced with route T203 by Rapid Bus; towards Danau Kota / Jalan Genting Klang) |
| U8 | Damansara Damai – Medan Pasar | Selangor Omibus (Route 103) |
| U11 | Taman Sri Sinar – Medan Pasar | Selangor Omnibus (Route 121) Previously served by Setara Jaya (December 2015 – March 2016) and Causeway Link (March 2016 – July 2017) |
| U13 | Taman Ehsan – Medan Pasar | Selangor Omnibus (Route 120) Previously served by Setara Jaya (December 2015 – March 2016) and Causeway Link (March 2016 – July 2017) |
| U21 | Ukay Perdana – Chow Kit | Not in service (replaced with route T222 by Rapid Bus; towards Sri Rampai LRT station) |
| U22 | Sri Nilam – Lebuh Ampang | Not in service (replaced with route 300 by Rapid Bus) |
| U25 | Seksyen 10, Wangsa Maju – Lebuh Ampang | Leng Seng and Rapid Bus (Route 251/252) |
| U42 | Putrajaya Sentral – Serdang railway station | Not in service (replaced with route T 523 by KR Travel & Tours) Previously served by Nadi Putra (December 2015 - March 2020) and KR Travel & Tours (June 2020 - May 2022) |
| U69 | Putra Perdana – Pasar Seni | Causeway Link (Route 601) Previously served by Metrobus (December 2015 – October 2016) |
| U75A | Pantai Dalam Komuter station – Pasar Seni | Not in service |
| U83 | KL Sentral – Solaris Dutamas via Bukit Damansara | Rapid Bus (Route 850) No longer in service as of 1 December 2017, replaced with Route 852, starting from Titiwangsa |
| U84 | Kelana Park View – Pasar Seni | Not in service |
| U85 | Taman Paramount LRT station – Pasar Seni | Not in service (replaced with route T790 by Rapid Bus; towards Mid Valley Megamall) |
| U91 | Klang – Pasar Seni | Not in service (replaced with routes 700 by Seranas, KKBB and 708 by Rapid Bus) 700: Klang – Pasar Seni 708: Klang – Sunway Pyramid via Shah Alam |
| U209 | Taman Selayang Utama – Medan Pasar | MARA Liner (Route 152) Previously served by Setara Jaya (December 2015 – 2022) |
| U222 | Jinjang Utara – Medan Pasar | Selangor Omnibus (Route 120) Previously served by Setara Jaya (December 2015 – March 2016) and Causeway Link (March 2016 – July 2017) |
| T229 | Metro Prima Kepong – Bandar Baru Selayang | Rapid KL MRT (Route T114) |
| U429 | Putrajaya Sentral – Cyberjaya | Currently not in service Previously served by Nadi Putra (December 2015 - March 2020) and Kumpool (from August 2022 onwards) |
| E1 | Putrajaya Sentral – Pasar Seni | Not in service (replaced with route T 523 by KR Travel & Tours) Previously served by Nadi Putra (December 2015 - March 2020) and KR Travel & Tours (June 2020 - May 2022) |
| T515 | Puchong Utama – Pulau Meranti | Causeway Link (Route 608); from IOI Puchong Jaya LRT station Previously served by Metrobus (December 2015 – January 2016) and Nadi Putra (January 2016 – October 2017) |
Rapid Bus new bus system expects users to hop on more than one bus to complete a journey. This is unlike the previous Rapid Bus bus system and that still in use by other bus operators in the Klang Valley, where most bus services begin in the suburbs, follow a trunk route to the city, then perform a sweep in the city centre before terminating.
Instead, Rapid Bus users are expected to use a combination of its four types of services to complete journeys. Local Shuttles take users in the suburbs to hubs, usually bus terminals or LRT stations, where users transfer to LRTs or trunk buses to continue their journeys to the city or elsewhere in the Klang Valley. The city centre is served exclusively by GoKL City Bus.
Effective 1 September 2009, all Rapid Bus buses will be issued a single journey tickets for their city shuttle (BANDAR), local shuttle (TEMPATAN) & express (EKSPRES) bus routes which replaced the daily unlimited ride tickets. As for trunk shuttle (UTAMA) bus route, the tickets will be issued based on the number of zones covered. For example, if a person travels across three zones on the trunk shuttle (UTAMA) bus route, the bus fare is RM 2.50 for single journey. The ticket must be kept while on board for inspection by RapidKL officials failure of which the ticket must be purchased again if the ticket is lost while on board during the inspection.
Spouse and a total of 4 youngsters under 15 years old are allowed to accompany the pass holder free on weekends and public holidays.
Effective 10 April 2019, all RapidKL buses is implementing full cashless journey for all routes by stages, in which the bus only accepts Touch n Go card only for user convenience. The systems were fully implemented by 27 May 2019.[8]
The fares for each zone per single journey is as follows
| Zones | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4/BET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | 1.00 | 1.90 | 2.50 | 3.00 |
| Concessions | 0.50 | 0.90 | 1.20 | 1.50 |
Unlimited journey monthly-pass were also available for Malaysian-citizens, at RM30 per month.
Detailed schedules of bus services are not published, although headway information and operating hours is publicly available.
Headway:
There are scheduled services that are not subject to the above headways.
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The Rapid Bus demand-responsive transit (DRT) service was first introduced as the proof-of-concept service in Wangsa Maju through route T250 from 3 October 2022 to 5 February 2023, followed by Alam Megah through route T757 from 13 February 2023 (now become permanent DRT service replaced the feeder bus service) and Universiti Malaya through route T789 from 15 May 2023 to 14 August 2023.
As of August 2024 where the DRT proof-of-concept service were successful, there are 10 DRT services in operation (9 RapidKL DRT, 1 RapidPenang DRT), with most of the DRT routes replacing the respective feeder bus services. Passengers can book the DRT service through the Kumpool, Mobi or Trek Rides app with flexible timing and more selection of stops.[9] The Rapid DRT services will be expanding to areas without RapidKL bus and rail services as well Seberang Perai area in Penang.[10]
| DRT Route Number | Destination | App |
|---|---|---|
| T203 | Taman Melati LRT station - Danau Kota | Trek Rides |
| T221 | Sri Rampai LRT station - Giant Ulu Kelang | Kummute - Ride-pooling app |
| T582 | Sri Petaling LRT station - Bandar Sri Petaling | Trek Rides |
| T757 | Alam Megah LRT station - Seksyen 27, Shah Alam | Kummute - Ride-pooling app |
| T774 | Glenmarie LRT station - MSU, Stadium Shah Alam | Mobi - Community Mobility |
| T778 | USJ21 LRT station - One City USJ | Mobi - Community Mobility |
| T783 | Taman Bahagia LRT station - SS6 | Kummute - Ride-pooling app |
| T785 | Taman Paramount LRT station - Kampung Baiduri | Kummute - Ride-pooling app |
| T786 | Asia Jaya LRT station - Phileo Damansara MRT station | Mobi - Community Mobility |
| DRT Route Number | Destination | App |
|---|---|---|
| T210 | Farlim - Ayer Itam | Kumpool |
In 2010, SPAD introduced the express transit system in Klang Valley, namely BET, where the buses utilize less congested highways to link between heavily populated areas and city centers in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Penang. Naturally, by using the highways, travel time is reduced as the highways are less congested than the normal routes. The service will have limited stops and rely on feeder buses and park-n-ride facilities to ensure sufficient ridership. With BET, travel time is expected to be reduced by up to 50 percent on certain BETs.
During the introduction of these services, there are 6 routes managed by Rapid KL, and these services are only available on weekdays and during the morning and evening rush hours only. For this initial introductory stage, BET will run at 15 minute intervals during the morning and evening peak hours. Frequency and service periods will be increased at a later stage depending on the demand for each route.
Buses for BET routes are about two to five buses initially and will be reviewed from time to time as the demand grows. BET is more of an enhancement to the current services, whereby the focus is more to shorten the travel time. Fare for single journey on RapidKL is RM3 for adults and RM1.50 for concession, at flat rate.
As the rail system has been extended, most of the BET ridership has declined, resulting in termination of the most BET routes inside Kuala Lumpur district area. The last BET inside Kuala Lumpur district area is the BET7, from Sri Nilam at Bandar Baru Ampang, parallel to 300 service until LRT Ampang, then bypass through Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) until Jalan Tun Razak interchange, then re-merge on 300 at Ampang Park LRT station before terminating at Munshi Abullah bus hub. This route is the most heavily used than any other BET's, and the bus only runs on morning rush hour, 4 trips daily. The fleet used is the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 and Volvo B8L double-decker bus.
As of May 2021, the service has been suspended due to Malaysia's total lockdown. Rapid KL has since discontinued the BET7 service and replaced with the new DS01 direct service.
These two BET services serve the Putrajaya Presint 2 central district for government employees between Selayang, Batu Caves, Melawati and Putrajaya are the only BET route that bypassed Kuala Lumpur district area, and the only BET service operated by Rapid KL. The bus runs 4 trips daily per route, 2 morning trips to Putrajaya and 2 return evening trips. The buses consist of five specially modified King Long XMQ6121G, of which the transverse seatings were displaced from the former Mercedes Benz CBC1725 buses.
On 16 May 2022, a new pilot programme called Skip-Stop-Xpress service are being introduced, on which the service focused on point-to-point, non-stop service in between. The bus runs on weekday morning and evening rush hour with a frequency of 30 minutes to 1 hour per bus. The first route, DS01 were the first to put on trial, starts from LRT Ampang until KLCC bus terminal with one stop at Ampang Park, similar to BET7 bus service.[11] The trial proved successful, and the service were put on permanent service on 17 April 2023 with a fare of RM1.10, replacing the BET7 service.[12]
Below were discontinued routes due to several reasons, such as ineffective route or low demand. This low demand were due to the MRT or LRT services already served the area.
Three routes has been chosen by Rapid KL for the limited stop trial service on 15 February 2021 until 1 April 2021.[13] The service, parallel to the existing route, skips some stops along the way and only stops at major stops with high riderships. Until the end of trial, Rapid KL has decided to discontinue the service due to confusion with passengers and bus shortage.
In early December 2010, RapidKL introduced the very first 'Bas Wanita' services in Malaysia, which a bus will serve exclusively for ladies passengers only during morning and evening rush hours. Like KTM Komuter's Ladies Coach, this service is intended to avoid sexual harassment on the fully loaded normal buses during rush hours.[14] 7 routes were put on trial with addition 8 routes after successful trial, with addition of letter prefix 'W' at the end of route number to distinguish with normal services (e.g. U6W, U80W). Special stickers and signage were placed to make the services more visible. This services were proved successful, but it was later discontinued due to bus shortage.
On 2 August 2015, RapidPenang introduced the very first intercity route from Penang Sentral to Sungai Petani and Parit Buntar. This route uses Scania K250UB (previously Alexander Dennis Enviro500), and the frequency is one hour per bus.
In September 2019, Rapid KL re-introduced the minibus service to improve first-mile connectivity, especially for sharper and narrower routes.[15] T300 is the first trial route to operate minibus service, using SKSBus E98 Midi-bodied Hino XZU high entry midibus leased from Kiffah Travel and Tours for 3 months. Later on 15 September 2019, another route, T304 were put on trial, using Pioneer-bodied Hino XZU high entry midibus leased from Selangor Omnibus for 3 months.[16] One of the fleet were equipped with wheelchair hydraulic lift for wheelchair access.
On 20 October 2019, Rapid KL put another bus on trial using newly imported Hino Poncho minibus leased from Hino Motors Malaysia, which served the T784 service for 3 months.[17] This bus later transferred to Batu Caves for another trial on T201 service.
On 16 November 2020, another trials were implemented, using 2 Toyota Hiace and 1 Hyundai Starex vans on newly-created route T252 for 4 months.[18]
All leased fleets were returned after trials were ended, however on 11 October 2021, Rapid KL resumed the Hino Poncho minibus trials on 302 service, later expanded the trials to Rapid Penang on 15 October 2021 on route 11. Rapid KL then resumed the trial on T851 parliament service from 20 February until 27 June 2023, on which the buses sent back to Hino Motors Malaysia after trial ended.
As of June 2014, the Rapid Bus fleet consists of 1,400 vehicles.[19]
Rapid Bus headquarters complex were located at Balakong (Kompleks Rapid Bus Cheras Selatan), where all training purposes, bus academy, new bus testing and major maintenance and overhaul takes place. It also holds as the largest depot than any other Rapid Bus depot. Other depots include Batu Caves, Shah Alam, Depoh Presint 14 and Maluri exclusive for Rapid KL. Rapid Penang currently have 5 depots, namely Lorong Kulit, Mak Mandin, Pengkalan Weld, Sungai Nibong and Nibong Tebal. Semambu depot is the only depot specifically built for Rapid Kuantan. For BRT Sunway Line, the depot located just before SunU-Monash station, while Sungai Buloh, Kajang, Desa Tun Razak, Serdang and Jinjang depots houses the MRT Feeder buses.
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