Transport Minister Loke reports 56% progress in ECRL project, on track for Dec 2026 completion, transforming Malaysia’s transportation.
KUANTAN, 11th Dec 2023 – Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook revealed that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 56% progress as of November. This development aligns with the project’s completion schedule, targeting December 2026, for the stretch from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to the Gombak Integrated Terminal. Operational readiness is anticipated by January 2027.
Highlighting this year as the peak construction phase, Minister Loke emphasized the project’s transition into a new construction phase, involving flyover beam installations, train station, and depot constructions. Future stages will focus on electrification, signaling, and telecommunication system installations to facilitate passenger and cargo train operations.
During the ceremony to install the inaugural ECRL track at the Section 10 ECRL Station Site in Gebeng, attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Minister Loke highlighted the transformative impact of the ECRL upon completion.
Upon completion, residents of Kuantan can expect a significantly reduced travel time of one and a half hours to Kuala Lumpur compared to the current three-hour journey by road. Minister Loke emphasized the involvement of 23,000 workers across 1,900 construction sites, including the excavation of 26 tunnels through drill and blast methods.
Key milestones include the ongoing excavation of the 16.39km Genting twin tunnel, expected to be fully completed in the second quarter of 2025. The ECRL flyover, spanning 145km, has seen the installation of over 60km of flyover beams. The overall project involves the construction of 20 stations, enhancing transportation infrastructure across Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Selangor. Minister Loke expressed optimism about the positive impact of stations like KPC, Cherating, KotaSAS, and Paya Besar on the administration of the Kuantan district, benefiting its over 600,000 residents.
