Penang ferry to end once bridge is expanded - NST

BUTTERWORTH: The famous Penang ferry will be history once the Penang Bridge is expanded.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) said it was planning to discontinue its ferry service once the expansion work on the Penang Bridge is completed next year.

"We are not keen to operate the vehicular ferries as the operating costs have gone up tremendously," said PPSB chief operating officer Mohd Niana Merican Abd Kadir Merican yesterday.

While vehicles will use the expanded Penang Bridge, Niana said speed boats would be introduced to ferry people across the channel.

Besides being cost-effective, the speed boats can reduce the travelling time from 20 minutes to between eight and 10 minutes.

Costs was the main reason why the company does not want to continue with the ferry services, said Naina.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Sunday/National/2199463/Article/index_html]