Kuantan, Malaysia – A preview run of Malaysia’s long-awaited East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) took place on , utilizing newly delivered trains from China, as project stakeholders affirmed the railway remains on schedule for a launch. The 665km rail line is designed to connect Kuala Lumpur with the east coast towns of Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu, and is currently 92% complete, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The ECRL aims to provide a modern transportation link between the eastern and western halves of Peninsular Malaysia. “In about 11 months, we will see the first train running from Gombak to Kota Bharu,” Loke stated, referring to the ECRL’s passenger service terminal stations. “This is an important milestone in the transportation system of our country.”
The preview run, conducted between KotaSAS (Kota Sultan Ahmad Shah) and Kuantan Port City – a 20km round trip – featured the introduction of the Chinese-made CR200J trainset, alongside electric locomotives intended for cargo services. The event was attended by Loke, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, and Chinese ambassador Ouyang Yuying.
Owned by Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), a subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), the ECRL project is estimated to cost RM50.27 billion (approximately $16.2 billion USD). Initiated in as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the construction is being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company, financed through loans from the Export-Import Bank of China.
The Malaysian government anticipates the ECRL will contribute a 3.8% boost to the national economy over a 20-year period, driven by more efficient cargo and passenger transport, and associated industrial growth.
The ECRL represents Malaysia’s first major new railway line since the country’s independence in . It also marks a departure from the 1,000mm gauge used by the national rail operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), which limits the size of passenger and freight carriages. The ECRL utilizes the 1,435mm standard gauge, allowing for wider coaches – approximately 30cm wider – and an increased seating capacity of five seats per row compared to KTM’s four.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, after touring the trainset, noted the increased spaciousness. “It is very nice and spacious, less claustrophobic,” he remarked.
The CR200J trainsets offer ample legroom and individual power sockets for each seat, similar to the Electric Train Service (ETS) on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A dining car is included in the design, though it was not operational during the preview run. Eleven trainsets will serve passenger routes, while twelve electric locomotives will be dedicated to cargo operations.
For residents of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, the ECRL is expected to significantly reduce travel times. MRL estimates the journey from Gombak to Kota Bharu will take four hours and 45 minutes. Currently, the same journey by road typically takes around six hours, and can extend beyond twelve hours during peak travel periods.
“On top of that, you have to be driving the entire time, alert,” said Muaz Hussin, a marketing executive from Kuala Lumpur originally from Pasir Mas, Kelantan. “On trains, I can sleep, watch movies and walk around.”
Currently, rail access to Kuala Lumpur from the east coast requires passengers to travel south to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, before transferring to a northbound service. This existing line, often referred to as the “jungle train” due to its forested route, runs closer to the spine of the peninsula, leaving coastal cities like Kuantan, Kemaman, and Kuala Terengganu without direct rail connections.
Kuantan restaurant owner Hazri Mokhtar expressed optimism about the project’s progress, noting the visible construction of the elevated tracks. “At first there were so many uncertainties about the project. To see the rails being constructed is one thing, but to see the trains running has been exciting for me,” he said.
The ECRL project faced setbacks following a change in government in , leading to a review of its cost and alignment. The final cost was determined in at RM50.27 billion.
Transport Minister Loke highlighted the ECRL’s potential to function as a land bridge between Kuantan Port on the South China Sea and Port Klang on the Strait of Malacca. Plans are also underway to connect the ECRL in Kelantan to the Trans-Asian Railway network via Thailand. “ECRL has the potential to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional logistics hub,” he said.
