Alighting from the Transmac Bus Service 25B at MGM Cotai back-of-house entrance, I headed to walk over to Wynn Palace to find the next attraction on my list – the Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab. As I was walking along the pavement, I saw something new yet familiar zip past on the viaduct ahead of me.
The Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT) will be Macau’s first rail-based public transport. I have seen construction hoardings around Macau since 2009, and a few times after that with barely any progress on my few visits to Macau in the past 10 years. Finally, 10 years on, I’m seeing train testing on the new Taipa LRT Line, though the line is still not open for the public yet.
The Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT) has opened on 10 December 2019 at 3:33pm.
Free rides will be offered from 10 December 2019 to 31st December 2019.
Despite having no train services yet, some stations are opened for the overhead bridge to function for the public to cross the road, including Cotai Leste LRT Station, which is pretty considerate.
A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ocean Cruiser, part of the Crystal Mover family, undergoing testing on the Macau LRT Taipa Line. Finally I’m seeing actual trains, not pictures of mockups.
Heading up to Cotai Leste LRT Station to cross the road to get to the Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab.
The station sign of Cotai Leste LRT Station is covered up.
Heading up the escalator to Cotai Leste LRT Station.
The view of the LRT viaducts running in the middle of the road.
Looks like there is an emergency walkway at he sides of the viaduct as the train cannot be seen clearly when near the viaduct.
Walking along this bridge just gives me the RapidKL Kelana Jaya Line feel with the grey-painted steel pillars, glass facade, and smooth flooring with yellow tactile paving for the visually-impaired. Even more so when I first saw the LRT ticket gates on a Facebook page a few weeks ago.
The entrance to the station is also barricaded haphazardly with temporary road barricades.
The information screen for the Macau LRT Taipa Line at the concourse. Unfortunately, I could not get a shot of the concourse itself since it was blocked out by the barricades.
Wynn Palace is on the opposite side of the station.
The red cable car on the Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab.
The cable car station of Wynn Palace.
The distinct bronze Wynn Palace facade.
The new modes of transport in Macau.
The train testing was done rather frequently at about 5 minutes headway.
The Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab does a loop around the Performance Lake.
Another shot of the Ocean Cruiser.
There is a wye junction after Cotai Leste LRT Station for trains to continue on to Terminal Marítimo da Taipa or to head to the depot behind Wynn Palace.
The Mitsubishi Ocean Cruiser’s livery is rather similar to the Mitsubishi Crystal Mover colour scheme like on the Incheon Airport Shuttle Train and Sengkang-Punggol LRT Lines, except that the border is light blue rather than white. The 2-car walkthrough train also features a rather different flat face without emergency detrainment doors at the ends.
The Wynn dragon with the Ocean Cruiser.
Heading down the steps to the ground floor. There are no escalators on this side of the bridge, probably bearing design plans from 10 years ago.
Wynn Palace offers a nice view of the Cotai Leste LRT Station and tracks in front of the Performance Lake.
Spotting the Ocean Cruiser from Wynn Palace itself.
Two Ocean Cruisers passing each other before Cotai Leste LRT Station.
The side view of the Ocean Cruiser 2-car train.
The Macau LRT Cotai Leste LRT Station together with the Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab.
The Wynn Palace Dragon SkyCab looks prepared to integrate well with the Macau LRT. Finally, the Taipa LRT Line will be opening soon, as the opening has already been deferred 13 years since 2006.
The Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT) has opened on 10 December 2019 at 3:33pm.
Free rides will be offered from 10 December 2019 to 31st December 2019.