Penang LRT project to be completed in 2031
Penang has everything one would need for a fun, short vacation – top-notch hawker food, charming cafes, and gorgeous heritage buildings. The one thing that crops up as a slight drawback when exploring the island is the need for more public transportation.
This seems less of a concern in the coming years, as the construction for the Light-Rail Transit (LRT) line in Penang is currently ongoing – with work progress at 8.99% at the time of writing – and is estimated to be completed in 2031.
A total of 22 stations to connect George Town and Bayan Lepas
Image credit: Laluan MRT
The Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project faced several delays ever since it was proposed, but recent updates are sparking a glimmer of hope to see the project finally pull through.
Conceived by the Penang state government in 2015, the originally proposed Bayan Lepas LRT line was envisioned to enhance connectivity between the city centre of George Town and the industrial area of Bayan Lepas. The project has undergone several revisions since its initial proposal, in which the main LRT line was to be located near Komtar in George Town and linked to the Penang International Airport.
Image credit: MRT Corp
The modified and finalised alignment of the LRT line will commence from Penang Sentral in Butterworth before traversing to Lebuh Macallum, and ending at the Penang South Reclamation area (PSR-A). The 29.67km rail system, also known as the Penang Mutiara Line LRT, will be equipped with a total of 22 stations along it, including two provisional stations, as well as an ETS interchange station located at Macallum in George Town.
The route passes through key areas in Penang, including Komtar, Sungai Pinang, East Jelutong, Gelugor, Sungai Dua, Sungai Nibong, Bukit Jambul, and the Free Industrial Zone. These areas will be linked to Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas on the southern part of the island.
Image credit: Laluan MRT
Once the initial project is completed, the line could potentially be expanded further to Tanjung Bungah, serving its growing tourism and residential areas, with future extensions also envisioned for Bukit Mertajam and Batu Kawan on the mainland.
What are the stations on the Penang Mutiara Line LRT?
The Mutiara Line will serve several key locations, including:
| Station number | Station name | Area | Nearby attractions |
| A01 | PSR-A Station | Silicon Island | – |
| S02 | Permatang Damar Laut Station | Permatang Damar Laut | – |
| S03 | Penang International Airport Station | Bayan Lepas | Penang International Airport |
| S04 | Sungai Tiram Station | Bayan Lepas | – |
| S05 | FIZ South Station | Bayan Lepas | Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Penang Science Park vicinity |
| S06 | FIZ North Station | Bayan Lepas | Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Snake Temple |
| S07 | Jalan Tengah Station | Bayan Lepas | Pantai Hospital Penang |
| S08 | SPICE Station | Bayan Lepas | Setia SPICE Convention Centre, SPICE Arena |
| S09 | Bukit Jambul Station | Bukit Jambul | Bukit Jambul Complex, Bukit Jambul Country Club, INTI International College Penang, Bukit Jambul residential areas |
| S10 | Sungai Nibong Station | Sungai Nibong | Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, Queensbay Mall |
| S11 | Sungai Dua Station | Sungai Nibong | Universiti Sains Malaysia vicinity |
| S12 | Batu Uban Station | Batu Uban | – |
| S13 | Jalan Universiti Station | Gelugor | Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| S14 | Gelugor Station | Gelugor | Gelugor residential areas |
| S15 | Penang Waterfront Station | The Light City | Waterfront Shoppes, The Light Waterfront, The Light City, E-gate |
| S16 | East Jelutong Station | Jelutong | – |
| S17 | Sungai Pinang | George Town | – |
| S18 | Bandar Sri Pinang Station | George Town | Karpal Singh Drive |
| S19 | Macallum Station | George Town | George Town city centre |
| S20 | KOMTAR Station | George Town | KOMTAR, 1st Avenue Mall, Prangin Mall, George Town city centre |
| S30 | Jalan Bagan Luar Station | Butterworth | – |
| S31 | Penang Sentral Station | Butterworth | Penang Sentral, Butterworth KTM Station, Penang Ferry Terminal, bus terminal |
When will the Penang LRT be completed?
Image credit: Laluan MRT
The estimated timeline for the LRT Mutiara Line spans several years, with key milestones already underway. The railway scheme for the PSR-A to KOMTAR section was approved in October 2024, followed by the start of construction in January 2025.
Public inspection for the Macallum to Penang Sentral alignment and Sungai Dua Depot is expected between February and May 2026, with the contractor for the second segment appointed in July 2026. Construction of the Macallum to Penang Sentral section is projected to begin in January 2027, with the full line targeted for completion and operations to commence by December 2031.
LRT project in Penang set for completion in 2031
In a city that’s notorious for its ferocious drivers, this piece of news on Penang’s LRT project comes as a delight for both locals and tourists alike.
As a pivotal endeavour poised to shape the transportation landscape of Penang, such urban development is a beacon of innovation that’ll help propel Penang further as a notable tourist destination and make it even more convenient for everyone to travel around the state.
Some places in Penang that you can check out in the meantime:
Cover image adapted from: Laluan MRT
This article was first published on 24th August 2023, and updated on 9th September 2026.