ECRL project 72.93 pct complete  Anthony Loke

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 9 – The progress of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which connects the Klang Valley to the East Coast, has reached 72.93 per cent as of September.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the encouraging progress achieved was in line with the December 2026 completion schedule for the ECRL track from Kota Bharu to the Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal.

He said the rail line from Gombak to Port Klang, meanwhile, is expected to be completed in December 2027.

“Terengganu has recorded the highest completion percentage of 87.4 per cent during the same period and is ahead of the other states, namely Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang under this mega project… involving the alignments, tracks and stations.

“I am confident that with such progress, we will be on schedule. According to the schedule, the train services between Kota Bharu and Gombak must start on Jan 1, 2027. That’s our target,” he said.

He told reporters this after witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Berhad (EPIC Berhad) on Wednesday.

Asked if the 665-kilometre-long ECRL construction project would be affected since Terengganu is expected to experience monsoon season next month, he said the matter had been taken into consideration by MRL and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC).

Loke said that several areas which the ECRL will pass through have been built on elevated ground to avoid flooding problems, including through the construction of flyovers.

On the signing of the MoU, which integrates EPIC Berhad’s logistics operations with the ECRL network, specifically at the Kemaman Port connection route, Loke said it would invigorate cargo transportation through an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly integrated rail network.

The inking of the MoU, he said, would enable the ECRL services to connect the Kemaman Port, which is one of the deepest seaports in Malaysia, with other ports, industrial parks, business centres and tourism zones along the rail line.