Transport in Malaysia


Life in Malaysia
The 966km North-South Expressway, which runs through seven states in Peninsular Malaysia, is the longest expressway in Malaysia.
KL Sentral is the largest railway station in South East Asia

Transport in Malaysia started to develop during British colonial rule, and the country's transport network is now diverse and developed. Malaysia's road network is extensive, covering 144,403 km, including 1,821 km of expressways. The main highway of the country extends over 800 km, reaching the Thai border from Singapore. The network of roads in Peninsular Malaysia is of high quality, whilst the road system in East Malaysia is not as well developed. The main modes of transport in Peninsular Malaysia include buses, trains, cars and to an extent, commercial travel on aeroplanes.

Malaysia has six international airports. The official airline of Malaysia is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air service alongside two other carriers. Most of the major cities are connected by air routes. The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 km. Popular within the cities is Light Rail Transit, which reduces the traffic load on other systems, and is considered safe, comfortable and reliable.

Land

Roads

Malaysia's road network covers 144,403 kilometres (89,728 mi), of which 116,169 kilometres (72,184 mi) is paved, and 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) is expressways.[1] The longest highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres (497 mi) between the Thai border and Singapore. The road systems in Sabah and Sarawak are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of Peninsular Malaysia.[2] Driving on the left has been compulsory since the introduction of motor vehicles in Federated Malay States in 1903 during British colonial era.

Railways

The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi). 1,792 kilometres (1,113 mi) of it is narrow gauge, while 57 kilometres (35 mi) is standard gauge. 767 kilometres (477 mi) of narrow gauge tracks and all of the standard gauge tracks are electrified.[1] Relatively inexpensive elevated Light Rail Transit systems are used in some cities, such as Kuala Lumpur.[3]

Waterways

Malaysia has 7,200 kilometres (4,474 mi) of waterways,[1] most of them rivers. Of this, 3,200 kilometres (1,988 mi) are in Peninsular Malaysia, 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) are in Sabah, and 2,500 kilometres (1,553 mi) are in Sarawak.[1]

Pipelines

Malaysia has 3 kilometres (2 mi) of condensate pipeline, 1,965 kilometres (1,221 mi) of gas pipeline, 31 kilometres (19 mi) of oil pipeline, and 114 kilometres (71 mi) of refined products pipelines.[1]

Ports and harbours

Shuttle boats ferry to the Malacca-Sumatra ferry (the big yellow boat) anchored offshore near Malacca.

This is a list of Malaysian ports and harbours:

Ferry

Merchant Marine

Total: 360 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,389,397 GRT/7,539,178 tonnes deadweight (DWT) by type: bulk 59, cargo 100, chemical tanker 38, container 66, liquefied gas 25, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 56, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8

Foreign-owned: China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Liberia 1, Monaco 1, Norway 1, Philippines 2, Singapore 81, Vietnam 1
registered in other countries: 75 (2009 est.)

Air

KLIA is the main international airport in Malaysia.
Air transport route maps in Malaysia.

Airports

See also: List of airports in Malaysia

117 (2003 est.)

Airports with paved runways

total: 38
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Heliports

2 (2006 est.)

Airlines

National airline:

Other airline

See also

Regulation:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Malaysia". Cia.gov. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Mody, Ashoka (1997). Infrastructure strategies in East Asia: the untold story. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. p. 35. ISBN 0-8213-4027-1.
  3. ↑ Richmond, Simon; Cambon, Marie; Harper, Damian. Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Lonely Planet. p. 10.