GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hill funicular service will be open to hikers this Saturday.
This is in accordance with the Penang government's announcement yesterday that hiking activities in Penang Hill via the jeep track and heritage trail would be allowed from Saturday.
According to a statement from the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), the funicular schedule will start from 7am on an hourly basis, with the last trip from the Upper Station at 7pm.
"Hikers through Heritage Trail are advised to register via PGCARE at the Penang Hill Lower Station before commencing their hikes for contact tracing purposes, and to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the authorities and PHC.
"As the funicular service will not be running at full capacity in accordance with the new normal SOP, no services at substations will be provided to hikers for now. PHC will only provide additional pick-up and stop-over services at the Middle Station for hikers.
"The scheduled funicular trips are for the hill residents, authorised workers, and hikers only. The funicular service will remain closed for other visitors until further announcements by the relevant authorities," it said today.
The David Brown's Restaurant & Tea Terrace will operate daily from Saturday while the Astaka will remain closed until further notice.
Since January this year, Penang Hill had experienced a significant drop in visitors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
All commercial activities at Penang Hill were severely affected when PHC complied with the Movement Control Order (MCO) beginning March 18.
Penang Hill, located about 830m above sea level, was the first colonial hill station developed in Peninsular Malaysia.
The most popular way to the hilltop is via the Penang Hill funicular train.
PHC's main focus is to manage the funicular system, maintain and develop Penang Hill as a major ecotourism destination, with a vision to make Penang Hill the hill resort of choice in Malaysia and the region.