MRL East Coast Rail Link

This article is about standard gauge railway line. For the metre gauge railway, seeKTM East Coast railway line.

TheEast Coast Rail Link(ECRL) (Malay:Laluan Rel Pantai Timur) is an under-constructionstandard-gaugedouble-track railproject connectingPort Klangon theStraits of MalaccatoKota Bharuin northeastPeninsular Malaysia,linking theEast Coast Economic Regionstates ofPahang,Terengganu,andKelantanto one another and to the central region of the peninsula's west coast.

Port Klang-Kota Bharu East Coast Rail Line
CR200J, the planned EMU for passenger service
Overview
Native name	Laluan Rel Pantai Timur Pelabuhan Klang-Kota Bharu
Status	Under construction (78.5% as of January 2025)
Owner	Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd
Locale	Section A:Kota Bharu–Pasir Puteh–Jerteh-Bandar Permaisuri–Kuala Terengganu Section B:Dungun–Kemasik–Chukai–Cherating–Kuantan Port City–KotaSAS–Gambang–Maran Section C:Temerloh–Bentong–Gombak–Serendah–Puncak Alam–Kapar–Northport/Westport
Stations	20
Website	mrl.my(owner's website), ecrl.my(official website)
Service
Type	Inter-city rail,rail freight transport
Operator(s)	Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd & CCCC Joint Venture
Depot(s)	Kuantan Port City
Rolling stock	CRRCCR200J6-car set EMU
Ridership	5.40 million by 2030 (estimated)
History
Planned opening	1 January 2027(1 January 2027)
Technical
Line length	665 km (413 mi) double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in)standard gauge
Electrification	11 kV 50 Hzoverhead line
Conduction system	With driver
Operating speed	160 km/h (passenger train) 80 km/h (freight train)

East Coast Rail Link Proposed network
ECRL 1.0 (2017)
Pengkalan Kubor KTMEast Coast Line toTumpat Wakaf Bharu MRL Kota Bharu Jelawat Tok Bali Kelantan Terengganu state border Kampung Raja Penarik Kuala Terengganu Kuala Telemong (proposed) Pengkalan Berangan Dungun Bukit Besi spur line Kerteh (proposed) Kemasik Kemaman spur Chukai Terengganu Pahang state border Cherating Kuantan Port City Kuantan Port City spur Kota SAS Kuantan Sentral (proposed) Gambang Maran Mentakab KTM│ MRL KTMEast Coast Line toGemas Bentong Bentong Tunnel ( 18 km 11 mi ) Pahang Selangor state border Gombak Utara Gombak 5 Serendah 2 future stations Puncak Alam Kapar KTMJalan Kastam 2 Northport and Westport
ECRL 2.0 (2018)
MRL Kota Bharu Pasir Puteh Kelantan Terengganu state border Jerteh Bandar Permaisuri Kuala Terengganu Pengkalan Berangan (future) Dungun Kemasik Chukai Terengganu Pahang state border Cherating Kuantan Port City Kuantan Port City 2 Kota SAS Gambang Maran Temerloh to Mentakab viabranch line KTMEast Coast Line ←Wakaf Bharu│Mengkarak→ Kemasul (future) Pahang Negeri Sembilan state border Klawang Nilai Sentral ( Nilai Arab Industrial Park ) ETS1 KTMWest Coast Line ←Bangi│Nilai→ Negeri Sembilan Selangor state border Putrajaya Sentral 71214 Express Rail Link ←KL Sentral& Bandar Tasik Selatan │ KLIA T1&T2→ Jenjarom Westport
ECRL 3.0 (2021)
MRL Kota Bharu Pasir Puteh Kelantan Terengganu state border Jerteh Bandar Permaisuri Kuala Terengganu Pengkalan Berangan (future) Dungun Kemasik Chukai Terengganu Pahang state border Cherating Kuantan Port City Kota SAS Gambang Maran Temerloh to Mentakab viabranch line KTMEast Coast Line toWakaf Bharu│toMengkarak Bentong Genting Tunnel ( 18 km 11 mi ) Pahang Selangor state border Gombak 5 Serendah ETS2 future stations Puncak Alam Kapar KTMJalan Kastam 2 Northport Westport

The project is set to carry both passengers and freight from the west coast of Malaysia to the east, and vice versa. Construction began in August 2017.

On 3 July 2018, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) instructedChina Communications Construction Company(CCCC) to suspend all work under the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning contract of ECRL. The suspension was lifted a few months later after the signing of a supplementary agreement between MRL and CCCC in April 2019 on a revised construction cost and realignment of the southern route of the rail link.

ECRL is realized by a semi-automatic Chinese technology that lays 1.5 km of tracks a day with an accuracy of 10 millimeters usingGPSsatellites.

Project proposal

Infrastructure

The project provides for the double tracking and standard gauge railway line. The infrastructure includes spur lines, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, depots, stations and a signalling system.

Board of directors

• Chairman:Mohammad Zuki Ali
• Director:Fauzi Abdul Rahman

Services

According to the first realignment, the inter-city passenger trains will use 6 car-train sets forEMUstravelling at 160 km per hour, cutting travel time from Kota Bharu to Gombak and Port Klang to around four and six hours respectively. The freight (cargo) trains use electric locomotives running at 80 km per hour.

Meanwhile, for international freight service from China to Europe via Malaysia, the original alignment of ECRL is expected to help reduce the shipping time by as much as 30 hours.

Stations

The project provides 20 stations, comprising 14 passenger stations, 5 combined passenger and freight stations, and 1 freight station.

Section A

Name	Images	Location	State	Elevated?
Kota Bharu	Note: Images will be added soon.	1	Kelantan	Yes
Pasir Puteh		2		No
Jerteh		3	Terengganu
Bandar Permaisuri		4		Yes
Kuala Terengganu		5
Dungun		6		No

Section B

Name	Images	Location	State	Elevated?
Kemasik	Note: Images will be added soon.	7	Terengganu	No
Chukai		8
Teluk Cempedak		9	Pahang
Kuantan Port City		10
KotaSAS		11
Paya Besar		12
Maran		13

Section C

Name	Images	Location	State	Elevated?
Temerloh	Note: Images will be added soon.	14	Pahang	No
Mentakab		15
Bentong		16
Gombak		17	Selangor
Serendah		18
Puncak Alam		19
Port Klang		20

Note:

Some stations interchange with 2Keretapi Tanah Melayuand 1Kelana Jaya linestations like Gombak LRT Station and Jalan Kastam Station.

Project background

The project forms part of China'sBelt and Road Initiative.On 15 March 2016,Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat(SPAD) and East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), conducting a marketing exercise to gauge market interest, and seek views and ideas for the ECRL via a Request for Information (RFI).

In November 2016, a framework finance deal and construction agreement, valued at USD13.1 billion, was signed by the Malaysian Government and the state-owned China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC). The deal was criticised by Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamadas being lopsided. “When it involves giving contracts to China, borrowing huge sums of money from China, and the contract goes to China, and China contractors prefer to use their own workers from China, use everything imported from China, even the payment is not made here, it's made in China... that kind of contract is not something that I welcome”.

Starting 8 March 2017, the plan is opened for public inspection for three months atLand Public Transport Commission (SPAD)head office and 38 other locations including district offices.

The 3-month Public Inspection for Phase One of the ECRL received some 95 percent approval from 17,000 respondents across 15 east coast districts.SPAD had granted approval for Phase One of the ECRL railway schedule on 23 June 2017 which covers about 600 km of track. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the ECRL has also been completed and endorsed by the Department of Environment on 20 June 2017.

On 9 August 2017, then Prime MinisterNajib Razakpresided at the groundbreaking ceremony inPahangstate, marking the beginning of construction. He said "The construction of this rail link is in line with the government's initiative for efficient national infrastructure as well as connecting towns and upgrading public transport in the rural areas of the east coast."

Upon the change of government due to the2018 Malaysian general election,the newly-electedPakatan Harapangovernment initially decided to cancel the project citing high cost as the main factor.However, instead of cancellation, the ECRL route was then realigned with major changes made on the Section C route between Port Klang and Mentakab, Pahang.

After the fall of Pakatan Harapan government due to theSheraton move,the newPerikatan Nasionalis planning to revert the ECRL route back to its original alignment.

Railway alignment

Original alignment

Phase 1

The proposed alignment for Phase 1 of the railway features 22 stations running along a 600.3 km route. The new rail link is projected to connect passengers fromKota Bharuin Kelantan toITT Gombakin Selangor in less than four hours.

It will start north of Kuala Lumpur at the Integrated Transport Terminal Gombak (ITT Gombak), the future interchange with theKelana Jaya Lineand main long-distance bus terminal. From the Klang Valley the line will run east through the state of Pahang, serving the towns ofBentong,Mentakab,MaranandGambang,KotaSASbefore reaching the state capital,Kuantanwhere there will be two stations namely Kuantan Port City 2 (freight) andKuantan Port City 1(passenger).

From Kuantan, the line will turn north toCheratingbefore entering the state of Terengganu, where it will serve the towns ofChukai,Kemasik,Kerteh(Provisional),Dungun,Pengkalan Berangan,state capitalKuala Terengganuas well as viaTelaga PapanandKampung Rajaarea.

The ECRL will continue north into Kelantan, serving stations atTok BaliandJelawat,before ending atKota Bharu.

The rail link includes a total of 50 km of tunnelling and underground alignment. The tunnelling works will be carried out along the Gombak-Bentong area where the single-longest twin hill-tunnel spanning 18 km will be built under theTitiwangsa Mountains.There will also be several underground lines, including in the heavily populated Gombak area near the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of ECRL will have an estimated length of 88 km. This phase will cover the stretch from Gombak North toPort Klang(Jalan Kastam) throughSerendahand two more future station located atPuncak AlamandKapar.As well, a further extension betweenKota BharuandPengkalan Kuborwill also be built. The cost of construction for this section of the ECRL is RM9 billion. With Phase 1 and Phase 2 combined, the total length of the entire line is about 688 km and the construction cost amounting to RM55 billion.

First realignment

Due to the change of government in 2018, the new Pakatan Harapan government initially planned to cancel the project but instead decided to realign the route especially on the Section C between Port Klang and Mentakab, Pahang.This realignment would add extra two hours of travelling time between Kota Bharu to Port Klang from the original four hours to six hours.

Below are the new changes made due to the realignment.

• Double tracking from Port Klang to Kota Bharu bypass Gombak and Bentong.
• Standard gauges were used and the maximum speed for passenger is 160 km/h and for freight is 80 km/h.
• The number of stations reduced to 20 and these stations had been removed from list:
  • Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat
  • Wakaf Bharu, Tumpat
  • Jelawat, Bachok
  • Telaga Papan, Setiu
  • Kerteh, Kemaman
  • Kuantan Sentral, Paya Besar
  • Bentong
  • Gombak North, Gombak
  • ITT Gombak, Kuala Lumpur
  • Serendah, Hulu Selangor
  • Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor
  • Kapar, Klang
  • Northport, Klang

and the following stations were shifted to another place or new stations:

• • Kota Bharu station will be located near Kampung Tunjong, passed through Melor town and portion of Bachok District land, and then will reached Pasir Puteh station and go ahead to Jerteh station via tunnel.
  • Kuala Terengganu station, formerly situated at Kuala Nerus, was shifted to Marang District nearWakaf Tapai.
  • Pengkalan Berangan station which formerly situated at Marang south was shifted to Marang west, making it nearer Marang town, and become a proposed station.
  • Temerloh station will be integrated with current KTMB Mentakab via spur line.
  • Klawang station will be located at Kampung Seperi, Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan
  • Nilai Sentral station will be integrated with new KTMB komuter station.
  • Putrajaya Sentral station will be integrated with the current station via spur line, the section at Putrajaya will be elevated and pass Presint 14, 1 and 9.
  • Jenjarom station which is located at oil palm area.
  • Westpost station, as a terminal freight station atPulau Indah

The estimated date of completion was also extended for more than two years to the end of December 2026, compared to the originally targeted date of June 2024.

Second realignment

Due to another change of government from Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional in 2020, the Perikatan Nasional government is planning to revert the ECRL route back to its original alignment.

In March 2021, the second realignment is confirmed with the reversion of the alignment to its original alignment with added improvement by passing through Serendah and linking Port Klang with West and North Port. The decision was said to enable the construction of a meter gauge bypass line from Serendah to Port Klang for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) to be included into the new ECRL alignment. Section C alignment from Serendah - Port Klang will be on dual gauge (MRL -1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in), KTM -1,000 mm(3 ft3+3⁄8in)). The bypass line will make the KTMB rail services more efficient as it serves as a significant freight relief line to the KTMB which currently faces bottlenecks when traversing Kuala Lumpur's central business district (CBD) and relieves the concerns for public safety as KTMB cargo containing hazardous materials need to go through KL Sentral, Bank Negara and several other stations due to the freight congestion.

This latest realignment will add 25 km more of rail tracks totaling to 665 km.The first section from Kota Bharu to Gombak will be completed by December 2026. The section between Gombak Utara to Port Klang is targeted to be completed by January 2028.

The alignment was confirmed on 2 December 2021 after the Selangor state government agreed to having the original northern alignment known as Section C. The project cost remains unchanged at RM50.27b, with supplementary agreements signed to formalise the alignment.

Rolling stock

Passenger EMU

The originalCRRC ZhuzhouCJ6-type EMU proposed for inter-city rail line passenger services.

Passenger services will be operated by a fleet of 11 sets of six-car CJ6-type EMUs, each accommodating up to 440 passengers. The EMUs will be eco-friendly and produce less noise than other EMUs.The passenger service will only run with the maximum speed of 160 kph.In 2020, promotional material by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has changed this to theCR200JEMUs. As of November 2024, the6-Car Set CR200Jmade up of an uncoached electric locomotive, 4 unmotorized coaches featuring Business Class and Economy Class seats and a coached locomotive to be delivered by the end of December 2025, said Anthony Loke.

Rail freight locomotive

One electric locomotive is capable of haulage up to 45 wagons with 3500 tonnes cargo. A fleet of 18 sets locomotives featurescontainer wagon,box wagon&open wagon.

Construction rolling stocks

The diesel locomotivesChina Railways DF8Bused to assist in construction activities for the track laying which began on 11 December 2023,The purpose for this locomotive is to fill the ballast of the track. All six customised diesel locomotives measuring 22m in length with a maximum speed of 100km per hour which arrived on 23 October 2023 will facilitate the transportation of track materials.Also, there is a CCPG500A track laying rolling stock which arrived in 4 December 2023 and a Ballast Tamping Machine, Rail Heater, etc.

Owner and operator

The ECRL will be owned by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), a special purpose entity wholly owned by theMinister of Finance (Incorporated)(MoF Inc).It will be jointly operated and maintained by a 50:50 joint-venture between MRL and CCCC.

See also

• Malaysian national projects
• Rail transport in Malaysia
• LCR Boten–Vientiane railway
• CR Yuxi–Mohan railway
• Thai Canal

External links

• Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD)
• Official Website
• First tunnel breakthrough six months ahead of schedule