Kuching Urban Transportation System
The Kuching Urban Transportation System is an under-construction Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit system network that serves Greater Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian. It is the first ART system network to be built outside of China and also the first metro bus system in the state of Sarawak which was touted as one of the methods to ease traffic congestion in the city of Kuching. The project is currently constructed by Sarawak Metro using state funds provided by the Development Bank of Sarawak. The ART lines will connect Kuching to Samarahan and Serian as well as future lines to other parts of Greater Kuching.
Initial LRT proposal
The proposed construction of a RM10.8 billion Kuching light rapid transit project was expected to commence by 2019 and was scheduled to be operational by 2024. It was proposed that the LRT will use hydrogen fuel cell rolling-stock with a travel speed of 70–140km/h.The hydrogen fuel cell trains were in line with the state government's vision to develop a hydrogen economy, as part of its green initiative. Aside from hydrogen-powered trains, Kuching will also be the first city in the country to have hydrogen-powered buses.
Planned routes
On 29 March 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak released the routes and stations of three of the six lines with 155.2 kilometers of track to be completed in 2024, while the remaining three lines to be implemented at a later stage. A government-linked company called Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd had been registered to manage the LRT system.| Line | Origin – Destination | Landmark nearby proposed stations | Distance & Stations |
| ' Samarahan Line | Kota Samarahan to Damai via Sungai Batu, | Rembus, Kota Samarahan, Summer Mall, Aiman Mall, INTAN/SALCRA/UiTM, UNIMAS, Sarawak Heart Centre, La Promenade, Riveria, eMart, PPKS, Wisma Wan, Vivacity, Simpang Tiga, Swinburne, Jalan Tabuan, Jalan Central Timur, Police HQ, Hikmah Exchange, Jalan Hashim Jaafar, Medan Raya, Sarawak Stadium, Hospital Sarawak, Bandar Baru Samariang, Mara, Rampangi, Salak, Sg. Batu, Buntal, Santubong, Damai Central | 62.4 km, 25 stations. |
| ' Serian Line | Serian to Senari via Siburan, | South Depot, Serian, Pasar Baki, Tapah, Beratok, Duranta, Siburan, Seratau, Beverly Park, JPJ, Kota Padawan, Everwin, Penrissen, Kuching Sentral, Kuching International Airport, BDC, Gala City, City One, Simpang Tiga, JPN, The Spring Shopping Mall, Chung Hua Middle School No. 3, Jalan Tun Razak, SMK Pending, Bintawa, Isthmus, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Demak Laut, Demak Laut Convention Centre, Senari Port, Bako, Muara Tebas, Deep Sea Port | 82 km, 25 stations. |
| City Dispersal Line | Kuching City | Waterfront, UTC, Jalan Abell, Padungan, Padungan Central, Three Hills Park, Tanah Putih, Pending, Jalan Tun Salahudin, Darul Hana, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Medan Raya, Jalan Hashim Jaafar, Hikmah Exchange | 10.8 km, 13 stations. |
Samarahan Line (Line 1)
Serian Line (Line 2)
Shelving
However, on 1 September 2018, the Chief Minister of Sarawak announced that the project has been placed on hold, citing that the funds allocated to the project will instead be used to build basic amenities for Sarawak's rural areas. Eventually, in July 2019, the Chief Minister of Sarawak said that the new LRT project will be built using artificial intelligence technology which will remove the need for conventional rails and bringing down the cost of the project, which culminated into adopting the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit system from China.Current ART proposal
In September 2019, the government of Sarawak ultimately decided to go with China's Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit system than LRT due to its more affordable cost where the state transport minister said it will be ready by 2022. The Premier of Sarawak, Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg had initially promised to build the first Kuching ART soon to avoid rising costs, with Chinese companies offering their expertise to collaborate in the construction. In April 2022, Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg disclosed to the Singaporean English daily newspaper, The Straits Times that the ART system will likely consist of 52.6 km of route and is expected to begin construction in the third quarter of the same year, with a projected operational date of 2025.File:Sarawak-metro-art-hydrogen01.jpg|thumb|A prototype of the Kuching ART undergoing an engineering run.In August 2023, the state received its first hydrogen-powered ART vehicle prototype and went through an engineering run for two months until September, where it then went through a proof-of-concept testing in November. Besides ART vehicles, Sarawak Metro will procure an additional 55 hydrogen buses which will serve as part of the first and last mile connectivity for the system which are still currently in trial operation since January 2020.
Planned routes for Phase 1
On 16 December 2022, the Premier of Sarawak released the Phase 1 integrated transit map of the KUTS project with a 69.9-kilometer route consisting of 3 initial rail lines and a total of 31 stations to be completed in stages, with Phase 1 of the Blue Line scheduled to be completed in 2025 while the remaining lines are to be constructed at a later date. Currently, the Green Line has since increased the number of stations from 10 to 14 stations bringing the total number of stations across the Kuching Urban Transportation System to 35 stations. However, only 8 stations are now confirmed to be built while the other 6 are under provisional status.As of May 2025, the overall progress of Phase 1 of the Kuching Urban Transportation System is now at 29.89% which is slightly behind the planned schedule of 33.86% due to construction delays. This has resulted Phase 1 of the Blue Line to now be projected to open on the fourth quarter of 2026 instead of 2025 as well as the current timeline being delayed to 2028.
Blue Line alignment
The Blue Line is expected to begin revenue service for Phase 1 on 31 December 2026 starting from the Rembus station until the Riveria station. This initial phase will allow Samarahan residents as well as students from UNIMAS and UiTM to travel seamlessly from their respective places to around the Samarahan area without needing to drive. Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the Blue Line, which will begin full revenue service on an unspecified date in 2027 due to construction delays, will continue along the newly built Sungai Kuap bridge to Stutong and various popular and congested routes in Kuching before finally terminating at Hikmah Exchange station in downtown Kuching. All Phase 1 stations located in Kota Samarahan will be at-grade while Phase 2 will focus more on the elevated section with the exception of Stutong station which will remain at-grade.Red Line alignment
The Red Line is expected to begin revenue service on an unspecified date sometime in 2027. It is currently unknown whether this line will open simultaneously with Phase 2 of the Blue Line. At the moment, this line will have 8 stations but is expected to expand in the near future, with potential expansions to 12th Mile, Serian, and the Kuching Deep Sea Port. It will also be connected with the bus terminal as well as the Kuching International Airport, which will play an important role in providing easy transportation for those leaving or coming from either one of those terminals. Most stations on this line are to be elevated stations with the exception of Jalan Tun Razak station and Pending station which will be at-grade.| Station Code | Station Name | Platform type | Station Layout | Local government | Notes / Interchange |
| Kuching Sentral | Side | Elevated | MBKS | Exit to bus terminal, walking distance to Farley Shopping Mall, Westfield Points Commercial Centre, future Interchange station with a future line | |
| Kuching International Airport | Island | Elevated | MBKS | Connected with airport terminal via walkway to Departure Hall | |
| Pelita Height | Island | Elevated | MBKS | Exit to RH Plaza, walking distance to Wisma Elica, voco Hotel Kuching | |
| Tun Jugah | Island | Elevated | MBKS | Exit to Emporium Kuching, Premier 101 Plaza | |
| Swinburne | Island | Elevated | MBKS | Exit to Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, walking distance to KWSP Kuching, Jalan Uplands Commercial Centre | |
| Simpang Tiga | Double Island | Elevated | MBKS | Walking distance to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, JPN Sarawak, Kenyalang Park Post Office, Interchange station with the Blue Line | |
| Jalan Tun Razak | Island | At-grade | MBKS | Exit to Shell Jalan Tun Razak, Chung Hua Middle School No.3, Lorong Foochow shoplots | |
| Pending | Terminus | At-grade | MBKS | Northern terminus. Connected with Neu Pendington, walking distance to Pending Industrial Estate, Cross-platform interchange with the Green Line |