The Melaka Monorail is Melaka’s only rail-based transportation system which ferries people leisurely around the Melaka River near Kampung Morten. I use the words leisurely and around as the Melaka Monorail only has one operational station at Tun Ali, and the 2.5km journey around the elevated loop takes 23 minutes to complete.
After the Springfield Monorail (from The Simpsons) was completed (and destroyed) on 14 January 1993, Lyle Lanley probably came to Melaka to set up his next “genuine, bonafide, electrified 6 3-car monorail” project. The Melaka Monorail first opened on 21 October 2010, which broke down a few hours after the opening, and soon ceased operations some time in 2011.
The Melaka Monorail has since been revived since 4 December 2017, and is now known as Monorail Themepark & Studios (MTS). However, so as to not overly glorify it, I shall still refer to it as the Melaka Monorail instead of MTS throughout this article.
The entrance to the only operational station, Tun Ali Station. This is also the entrance to Monorail Themepark & Studios and so happens to be the only ride in the whole theme park.
To purchase a ticket for the Melaka Monorail, head up to Level 1 for the ticket counters.
The ticket counters are at the end of the hall. It seems that the Melaka Monorail has prepared for large crowds with enough seats for two and a half train loads here.
The geographical route map of the Melaka Monorail.
The fare table of the Melaka Monorail beside the ticket counters.
My RM20 ticket as an adult foreigner for this trip. (And to those who do not really believe that I’m not a Malaysian, here’s proof.)
Up at Level 2 on the platform level. Here, there are even more seats for another two train loads of waiting passengers.
However, luck was on my side that I need not join in the seating queue for four and a half train loads as I’m the only passenger on board.
A staff will be waiting at the end of the queue line to check for tickets. She also took away the A and B portions of my ticket, presumably used for making stops at the disused Hang Jebat and Hang Tuah Stations en route.
I’d wanted to ride on the front car, but the gate to it was closed, with the staff citing aircon problems as the reason.
Heading into the middle car as guided. Note the minimal platform gap with the additional plate on the platform.
The interior of the middle car of the Melaka Monorail. Each train car seats 8 passengers, so with this 3-car train, there is a total capacity of 24 passengers. Unfortunately, as the train is not of a walk-through design, I had only 8 seats to myself instead of 24.
Departing from Tun Ali Station.
Running through the outer signal with it not changing when the train has passed by it. Hmm.
The Melaka Monorail maintenance shed is located just after Tun Ali Station. Here’s the maintenance vehicle in the old Melaka Monorail livery instead of being plain yellow.
And here’s the original Melaka Monorail set. Doesn’t look like it’s going to be moving out of the shed any time soon.
The interior of the train seems like it’s still in place.
Good thing I didn’t enter Tun Ali Station via this entrance as the rusting train isn’t the most welcoming sight to Monorail Themepark & Studios.
The Melaka Monorail train car is equipped with an emergency hammer to break glass (though I wouldn’t recommend jumping out of the train at height), an intercom to speak to the operator (presumably driver), an emergency door key (again, wouldn’t recommend jumping out of the train) and CCTV.
Typical restrictions are in place such as smoking and pets being not allowed, but with No No Food and No No Drinks as an instruction, do they mean that food and drinks must be brought on board?
Heading towards the Melaka River.
Crossing over the Hang Jebat Bridge.
The northern terminus of the Melaka River Cruise is on the right.
The ride was somehow quite bumpy, which makes it quite difficult for photos of tight corners like this.
The Spice Garden (Taman Rempah) Jetty of the Melaka River Cruise.
Bypassing Hang Jebat Station.
Bypassing the danger signal outside Hang Jebat Station. Seems like the signalling system is either not in operation yet or the signal lights are just there for decorative purposes with no actual signalling system installed.
Continuing on down south along the Melaka River on the original 1.6km alignment.
Continuing south towards Hang Tuah Station.
Kampung Morten on the right.
Making a u-turn along with the Melaka River around Kampung Morten.
Looking at Hang Tuah Station on the left.
Looping around The Shore Melaka.
Below is where a supposed Melaka River Cruise jetty is, but it’s currently not in operation either.
Approaching Hang Tuah Station.
Passing by Datuk Mohd Zin Bridge, one of the newer bridges over the Melaka River.
The emptied-out Hang Tuah Station.
Leaving Hang Tuah Station. Here, you can see the point where the original alignment merges with this new extension.
Crossing the Melaka River again over the monorail bridge adjacent to the Datuk Mohd Zin Bridge.
Passing by Melaka River Pirate Park on the left. It would be good if this was incorporated into Monorail Themepark & Studios, at least there would be more than one ride.
The Old Bus Station Bridge beside Melaka River Pirate Park.
The Shore Melaka from across the Melaka River.
Getting overtaken by a Melaka River Cruise boat.
A bit of zig-zag here to avoid existing structures on the street level.
Looking up at The Shore Sky Tower, the tallest observatory deck in Melaka.
Passing along Jalan Hang Tuah.
Seems like every other vehicle is faster than the Melaka Monorail, including a bicycle.
Passing by Jalan Tun Ali Food Court.
Approaching the entrance to Monorail Themepark & Studios.
Rumbling above the entrance to Monorail Themepark & Studios.
Approaching back at Tun Ali Station.
Still wondering what this structure is or was, standing in the middle of Monorail Themepark & Studios.
The station staff will open the gates as the monorail pulls in to the station.
Managed to get a shot of the rear car.
The rear driving cab of the Melaka Monorail. Seems that the train is capable of travelling in the reverse direction, despite the line being a uni-directional loop.
The exit is located at the front of the train.
Closing the gates once again since there are no other passengers after me.
There was a green screen at the start of the ride for souvenir photos to be taken, but no one was there to take any. Not that I was interested in it at all anyway, would have just said no.
The commemorative plaque for the reinstatement of the Melaka Monorail dated 22 December 2017.
Overall, while I had wanted to get on the Melaka Monorail the moment it opened in December 2017, a part of me also thought it might be good to wait a little while to see if it breaks down again, since I didn’t want to spend the rest of the time regretting my decision while getting rescued from the train by the Bomba team if it stalls. Though after waiting for a couple of months, and not actually expecting much from the Melaka Monorail in the first place, it was quite sad and disappointing anyway since the ride led to nowhere, wasn’t the smoothest ride out there and the mystery of the dubious Melaka Monorail is finally answered – albeit not 100% to what I thought it might have been.
After the trip, I really wondered what’s the point of building the Melaka Monorail anyway. But whatever the reason for building the Melaka Monorail in this area where tourists do not and perhaps cannot visit (since there aren’t stations to alight at the populated areas), I will probably never know.
Will I get on the Melaka Monorail again? I’m not sure. I think that’s enough disappointment for now.
I’m in Melaka at the moment and the monorail appears to have closed down yet again – we walked alongside it for along time yesterday and didn’t see one traib / carriage – does anyone know if it has finally closed for good?
It could be because there was no passengers at the station – the train runs on demand and not on a set schedule.