The State of Penang in Malaysia, home to the country's third largest city as well as part of Malaysia's second most populous conurbation, has a relatively well-developed transport infrastructure. The city-state is well-connected by land, air and sea; the Penang International Airport is one of Malaysia's busiest, while the Port of Penang is the main harbour and transshipment hub within northern Malaysia. The North–South Expressway, the main highway along western Peninsular Malaysia, runs through Penang, while the two geographically separate halves of the state are now linked by two bridges and a ferry service.
Within the state, Rapid Penang forms the backbone of urban public transport, with public bus services throughout the Greater Penang Conurbation (including towards the neighbouring states of Kedah and Perak). In addition, Penang has the only operational funicular railway system in Malaysia – the Penang Hill Railway.
In recent years[which?], however, traffic congestion has become increasingly frequent around the capital city, George Town, leading to current efforts to improve and introduce newer forms of public transport in the state.[1][2][3]