Rapid Penang Bus 204 from KOMTAR to Penang Hill Railway Lower Station

Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 operates from Jetty and KOMTAR to Stesen Bukit Bendera, which is albeit an incomplete bus stop name as it is located at Penang Hill Railway Lower Station at Air Itam, and not on Penang Hill itself. Heading up to Penang Hill just for the Penang Hill Railway and the new funicular gallery at Edgecliff, I opted to travel on Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 from my hotel at Wassup Youth Hostel.

KOMTAR Bus Terminal

The façade of KOMTAR Bus Terminal.

Heading to Platform 2 to catch Rapid Penang Bus Service 204. Platform numbers at KOMTAR Bus Terminal relate to the corridor.

KOMTAR Bus Terminal Platform 2 serves Rapid Penang Bus Service 201, 202, 203, and 204.

Destination signs at Platform 2 also state the bus destinations from this platform.

Waiting at the front area of the platform for boarding.

My Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 arrived at KOMTAR at 9.56am. This was a 9.45am departure from Jetty. Do note that timetables have changed since my trip. Check latest details on the Prasarana PULSE app.

Boarding the Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 at KOMTAR.

The typical interior of Rapid Penang’s single deck buses.

Next bus stop information is available on screens on board the bus.

My Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 ticket from KOMTAR to Bukit Bendera which costs RM2.00. Only cash and Pas Mutiara are accepted on board Rapid Penang buses. Malaysian citizens with the Pas Mutiara can ride on all Rapid Penang bus services for free in 2022.

Passing by GAMA Supermarket and Departmental Store.

Passing by McDonald’s Birch House.

Passing by Penang Times Square.

Making a brief stop at Dhoby Ghaut.

Passing through the Masjid Negeri Pulau Pinang junction.

Passing by Masjid Negeri Pulau Pinang.

While the main road to Bukit Bendera goes straight on, the Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 also operates as a residential bus route serving Rifle Range and Air Itam.

Twisting and turning through residential areas of Air Itam.

The main catchment of bus passengers are residents of flats.

Headoign along Jalan Padang Tembak or Rifle Range Road.

Most passengers alighted and boarded at Flat Padang Tembak.

Crossing the main Jalan Air Itam to Kampung Melayu.

Heading around more residential areas around Kampung Melayu.

Passing by Air Itam Market.

Passing by Kek Lok Si Temple.

Stop at Pekan Air Hitam, Jalan Balik Pulau for Kek Lok Si Temple.

Turning to Bukit Bendera at Air Itam War Memorial Park.

Along Jalan Bukit Bendera, parking guides can be seen along the road.

Passing by the coach park a distance away from the Penang Hill Railway Lower Station.

Approaching Penang Hill Railway Lower Station.

The terminal bus stop for Penang Hill Railway Lower Station is located in front of the multi-storey car park.

The Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 journey from KOMTAR to Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill Railway Lower Station) took 37 minutes.

The bus and bus driver will rest here before embarking on the next journey back to Jetty.

Bus departure information is available on the screen at the bus berth.

Crossing the road to Penang Hill Railway Lower Station.

Conclusion

The Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 is a direct bus from the heart of Georgetown to Penang Hill Railway Lower Station which is a useful route for tourists.

Do note, however, that while this is a one-seat ride, the Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 is not a straight route as Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 also serves residential areas close to Penang Hill, twisting and turning around Air Itam.

The frequency of Rapid Penang Bus Service 204 is also not great, with an average of 1 bus every 45 minutes.

If you have a tight itinerary for Penang and Penang Hill, you may wish to choose a Grab or taxi to save the waiting and travelling time between Georgetown and Penang Hill Railway Lower Station, even with this direct bus service available.