Rapid Bus Expressway Transit cuts travelling time by 40 minutes

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KUALA LUMPUR: Bus passengers   travelling  from Kota Damansara and Bandar Sungai Long to Kuala Lumpur will be able to save more than 40 minutes of their travelling time with the launching of the Rapid Bus Expressway Transit (RapidBET) service today.Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad’s communication department general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said the two routes, namely the RapidBET1 (between Kota Damansara  and  KL Sentral/Pasar Seni via the Penchala Link) and RapidBET2 (between Bandar Sungai Long and KL Sentral/Pasar Seni via the Grand Saga Highway) would take only 50 minutes compared to the normal route which could take about 90 minutes.

For the initial stage, four to six buses had been allocated to ply the two routes, and the number would be reviewed from time to time based on demand, he told Bernama yesterday.

However, he said, the RapidBET service would only be available on weekdays during the morning and evening peak hours and the fare would be the same as that for the existing bus route.

“For the introductory stage, RapidBET will run at 15 to 20-minute intervals during the morning and evening peak hours.

The frequency and service periods will be increased at a later stage, depending on the demand for each route,” he added.

RapidBET, one of the measures taken by the government to overcome the public transportation woes in the city, will be launched by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today in Kota Damansara.

The bus service, which plies the less congested highways to link heavily populated areas and the city centre, is to be one of the new attractions of public transportation in the Klang Valley.

In ensuring that the RapidBET  take less time to reach its destinations, the service will have limited stops and passengers going to other areas will be connected by feeder buses and the park-n-ride facility.

Ebi Azly said the two routes were identified based on population density and demand, and Syarikat Prasarana hoped the new service would encourage more people to use it, hence reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

“We plan to extend the service to other areas but it will depend on public demand,” he said. — Bernama