Rapid Penang 401E from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR by Bus • KL-Penang Aeroline vs. ETS Business Class Conclusion

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Rapid Penang 401E from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR

After alighting from the Aeroline bus at Queensbay Mall, I continued on to KOMTAR for a comparison of travel time if I were have taken the ETS Business Class from KL instead. For a fair comparison, I didn’t Grab immediately, but waited for 40 minutes for the next Rapid Penang Bus 401E from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR.

The conclusion in the article compares the KL-Penang Aeroline vs. ETS Business Class journey. You should read the Aeroline article first to better understand the conclusion.

Queensbay Mall

With 40 minutes to spare, I took a slow walk through Queensbay Mall before heading to the bus stop. The bus stop is located on the southern end of Queensbay Mall. Exit beside The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL).

The Queensbay Mall bus stop is just outside The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL).

Queensbay Mall Bus Stop

Arrival information is displayed at the Queensbay Mall Bus Stop.

Another 6 minutes to go for the Rapid Penang Bus 401E to Jetty to arrive. Do note that Rapid Penang Bus 401E stops at the same bus stop for both bounds. Check the bus destination before boarding.

Bus arrival information can also be retrieved by scanning the QR code to go to Google Maps.

Unfortunately, the bus stop was treated as a car park, and passengers must walk out on the road to board the bus.

An earlier bus 304 arrived first which goes to KOMTAR too, but I skipped it as it goes by a long stopping route.

Rapid Penang Bus 401E

The next arriving bus shortly after was Rapid Penang Bus 401E, my choice bus route to KOMTAR as it goes by Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

Crossing the car park to board the bus.

Boarding the Rapid Penang Bus 401E on the main road, 2 lanes away from the bus stop.

The Rapid Penang Bus 401E bus fare from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR costs RM2. Drop the money into the fare box and the driver will press a ticket for you, collected directly from the printer.

Malaysians can use the free My50 Mutiara Pass for 30 days unlimited rides on Rapid Penang bus services (RM10 card cost for first-time applicants).

The interior of the Rapid Penang Bus 401E bus. My Rapid Penang Bus 401E bus departed from Queensbay Mall at 2.44pm.

My RM2 ticket for the Rapid Penang Bus 401E as I’m not Malaysian.

Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway

Rapid Penang Bus 401E takes Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR which speeds up the journey a lot.

There are still bus stops at certain highway exits, but still faster than going by a local road.

Flying over busy junctions.

Heading into George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Turning left off Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway onto Jalan Magazine for the most direct route to KOMTAR.

Arriving at KOMTAR. Route information is displayed on board the bus.

Turning in to Lebuh Lintang beside Hotel JEN.

KOMTAR

My Rapid Penang Bus 401E arrived at KOMTAR at 3.02pm, making this a journey of 18 minutes from Queensbay Mall to KOMTAR.

KOMTAR is also home to some express bus companies, but most stop at Penang Sentral in Butterworth first before crossing over into the island, so there’s some backtracking involved, though still not involving the slow Penang Fast Ferry.

KL-Penang Aeroline vs. ETS Business Class Conclusion

This Aeroline and Rapid Penang Bus 401E combination makes my journey time from Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur to KOMTAR Penang a total of 5 hours and 32 minutes, departing from KL at 9.30am.

Before I start with the ETS comparison, there is no 9.30am departure from KL Sentral, so I will use ETS Business Class 9174up to compare instead, since my Aeroline journey involves breakfast before the bus ride.

My Aeroline and Rapid Penang Bus 401E schedule had been:

This makes the Aeroline and Rapid Penang Bus 401E journey combination at 5 hours and 32 minutes, with a cost of RM35 (breakfast buffet) + RM60 (Aeroline bus fare) + RM1.80 (online admin fee) + RM2 (Rapid Penang Bus 401E) = RM98.80.

If I had taken ETS Business Class 9174up, Penang Fast Ferry, and Rapid Penang CAT, my schedule would have been:

This makes the ETS Business Class 9174up, Penang Fast Ferry, and Rapid Penang CAT journey combination at 5 hours and 28 minutes, with a cost of RM151 (ETS Business Class train fare) + RM1.20 (Penang Fast Ferry fare) + FREE (Rapid Penang CAT fare) = RM152.20.

Including the long 40-minute wait for Rapid Penang Bus 401E from Queensbay Mall, the journey time of Aeroline Business Class Coach including connection to KOMTAR was only 4 minutes longer than the ETS Business Class including connection to KOMTAR.

Are you willing to spend an extra 4 minutes to save RM53.40?

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