The Penang Hill funicular train has broken down again, the third time in more than a month following its reopening on April 25 after a RM73 million upgrade.

The first time,  it experienced a mechanical failure caused by a group of dogs trespassing into the rails eight days the service reopened in early May while the second breakdown was due to mechanical problems on Saturday.

Today, the service came to a halt at about 10am, apparently due to a technical glitch, while hundreds of tourists were still queuing to purchase their tickets at the top station.

However, the 400-odd passengers stranded on top of the hill were brought own by jeeps and buses.

Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) director Lee Kah Choon said initial investigations revealed that the problem was due to the electrical system not working well.

        

“I have instructed the mechanics and engineers involved to fix the problem as the breakdown this time is not the same  problem as previously,” he told Bernama when contacted in George Town today.

He said he hoped that the service would be reopened to tourists soon after the electrical problem was fully fixed and conditions were safe for the public.

Meanwhile, one of the visitors, Rosli Ismail, 50, from Johor, said he had brought his family to the foot of the hill at about 3pm but was left disappointed that such a thing happened.

“We did not expect this to happen again as I came from far away and wished to enjoy the beautiful scenery on top of the hill but a notice in front of the gate informed us that the train service was temporarily closed,” he told Bernama .

On Feb 22, the 87-year-old funicular train service ceased operations to make way for the upgrading project by the  Tourism Ministry.

The new air-conditioned Swiss-made coaches, which can carry 50 people each, was supposed to travel non-stop between the foot of the hill and the station at the summit of Penang Hill under the upgraded system, unlike the old system where passengers had to change trains at a middle station.

- Bernama