Getting Around Bukit Mertajam

Getting Around Bukit Mertajam

Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai on the mainland half of Penang, and it has been a transport hub since a railway line to the coastal port area of Perai was completed at the end of the 19th century. That history still shapes how visitors move through it today: the railway station remains a major Malayan Railway (KTM) station within Seberang Perai, and the town sits close to Butterworth, where the bus, train and ferry terminals converge.

Rail

The Bukit Mertajam railway station is the anchor of the town's public transport and is walkable from the centre. It provides intercity rail transportation towards other major cities and towns along western Peninsular Malaysia, as well as on to Woodlands in Singapore, so it is a practical way in and out if you are arriving from elsewhere in Malaysia rather than from Penang Island. The station is served by the Padang Besar Line, with the Ipoh Line also listed as a service. Trains run from early morning until late at night.

Because the railway station is a short walk from the town centre, arriving by train drops you within reach of the main bus stops and the market area rather than on the outskirts.

Buses

Buses are the main way to get around Bukit Mertajam and to connect with the rest of Seberang Perai. Rapid Penang routes serve the town, linking it with Butterworth, Perai, Juru, Simpang Ampat and Nibong Tebal. Cityliner also operates an additional bus route between Bukit Mertajam and Butterworth.

Useful routes for visitors include:

• 701 and 702, connecting Bukit Mertajam with Penang Sentral
• 606, linking Bukit Mertajam with Kepala Batas
• 709, running between Penang Sentral and Macang Bubuk
• 802, connecting Bukit Mertajam with Nibong Tebal
• T713, connecting Megamall Pinang with Bukit Mertajam
• 708, between Bukit Mertajam and Junjung

Rapid Penang also runs a Congestion Alleviation Transport (CAT) service, which is free of charge and operates within Bukit Mertajam itself. This is the simplest option for short hops around town if a CAT route happens to suit your destination.

Be aware that buses do not come especially often, and some lines run as infrequently as once every hour or two. Plan around the timetable rather than assuming you can turn up and go. Fares on the Rapid Penang services are inexpensive; the 701 and 702 between Penang Sentral and Bukit Mertajam, for example, cost only a few ringgit. Exact fares are best checked in the transit app or paid on board.

The main bus stops near the town centre are clustered together and all within a short walk of each other: Terminal Bas Bukit Mertajam, the stop at The Summit, and Taman Usahaniaga. The bus terminal and The Summit stop are each roughly a five-minute walk from the centre.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Taxis exist but are not something you can reliably flag down on the street. In practice you generally pick one up from the main taxi terminal rather than hailing one as you walk. If you are coming from Penang Island, a taxi from Penang Sentral to Bukit Mertajam is possible, but the fare can be high because of traffic conditions. Taxis waiting at Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal on Penang Island are a different story: they tend to charge much less and at a fixed price, which can make them a better bet than the Penang Sentral rank.

Because street hailing is unreliable, it is worth arranging your onward transport before you need it, particularly if you are travelling late in the day or heading somewhere off the main bus routes.

Walkability

The town centre is compact and pleasant to cover on foot. The main bus stops, the bus terminal, and the railway station are all within roughly a ten-minute walk of the centre, which makes it feasible to arrive by train or bus and reach the town's core without another vehicle. The main thoroughfares within Bukit Mertajam are Jalan Pasar and Jalan Kulim.

One thing to watch for if you are driving or cycling: railway crossings are a common feature of the area, including one on the shortcut from Permatang Tinggi and two from Permatang Tengah. Expect to wait at level crossings.

Getting In from the Airport

Penang International Airport is on Penang Island, so reaching Bukit Mertajam means crossing to the mainland. Most car rental counters in Penang are located at the airport, which makes flying in and renting a car a straightforward option if you plan to drive to Bukit Mertajam.

If you would rather use public transport, the usual approach is to make your way to Penang Sentral, the transport hub on the mainland side, and pick up a Rapid Penang bus from there. Routes 701 and 702 run between Penang Sentral and Bukit Mertajam. These buses do not come often, but they are the cheapest way in.

Express buses are another option. Penang's two main express bus terminals are Butterworth Bus Terminal, near the ferry terminal and the KTM train station, and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal on Penang Island. Bukit Mertajam is only a short distance from the Butterworth bus, train and ferry terminals. Several major operators run services to Penang, Butterworth and George Town, and in some cases the driver will drop you directly at Bukit Mertajam. If that is not possible, take the ferry from Butterworth to Penang Sentral and continue by local bus.

By train, you can also reach Bukit Mertajam on KTM services such as Express Rakyat 1 and Express Langkawi EL8. This is a particularly convenient choice if you are coming from a place that has no express bus terminal.

Practical Summary

• For short trips within town, use the free CAT service or walk; the centre is compact.
• For connections to Butterworth, Penang Sentral and other parts of Seberang Perai, use Rapid Penang routes such as 701, 702, 606, 709 and 802.
• For long-distance travel up or down western Peninsular Malaysia, the KTM railway station is the most direct option.
• For door-to-door convenience, arrange a taxi from a terminal or a fixed-price taxi from Sungai Nibong rather than trying to hail one on the street.
• From the airport, either rent a car at the airport or head to Penang Sentral and continue by bus; express buses via Butterworth may drop you in Bukit Mertajam directly.