Photoessay: Forgotten Tram Tracks, the Hidden History Beneath Penang Road in Front of the George Hotel

Tram tracks leading from Chulia Street to Penang Road

Do you know that among the hustle and bustle of the city, buries a deep history that you miss out on a daily basis?

Penang is a city rich in history, but some of its past remains quite literally beneath our feet. Long before modern traffic took over the streets, trams were the heartbeat of George Town’s transportation system. Introduced in 1888, these trams connected key locations, making travel seamless in an era before cars became the norm. However, by the late 1920s, they faded into history, replaced by trolleybuses and other forms of transport.

For decades, the tram tracks were buried and forgotten—until 2004, when roadworks uncovered a hidden piece of Penang’s past. A section of the long-lost tracks, stretching from Chulia Street to Penang Road right in front of The George Hotel, was unearthed, revealing a glimpse of the city’s former tramway.

Today, in front of The George Hotel, these remnants still lie beneath the pavement, a quiet reminder of an era when trams once rolled through the streets of George Town.

It’s fascinating to think about how much history remains hidden beneath our everyday surroundings. The next time you walk along Penang Road, take a moment to look beyond the present—because sometimes, the past is just beneath your feet.

Close up of tram track

The side of The George Hotel by the busy Penang Road.

#PenangTramTracks #HiddenHistory #GeorgeTownHeritage