The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) has announced that the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) system, Malaysia’s driverless bus service, is scheduled to start a three-month pilot from April 2021. The pilot was originally scheduled for last year but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pilot will showcase the system’s transportation capabilities as well as give IRDA significant feedback to address and prepare for issues that might arise. The showcase will include nine bus suppliers who will demonstrate the latest electric and biodiesel bus technologies.
The IMBRT will link with the Rapid Transit Link System (RTS Link), further connecting Johor Bahru and Singapore by 2026. The project is estimated to cost around RM2.56 billion, of which RM1 billion will be sponsored by the government, while the rest will be funded through private-public partnerships (PPPs).