Latest news with #Darwis
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
ECRL communication and signalling systems ready at 15 stations by next year
KUANTAN: The construction of the Communication, Information, and Signalling (CIS) systems, often referred to as the brain and nervous system of the railway, at 15 East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) stations is expected to be completed by March next year. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the stations are located in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang. "The ECRL KotaSAS station is the first to successfully complete the CIS system installation. "Work is ongoing at the Kota Baru station in Kelantan, as well as at other locations. Based on our experience at KotaSAS, it takes about 40 days to complete the installation of CIS components at a single station. "The CIS system installation at all 15 stations in the east coast states is expected to be completed by the end of this year or by the first quarter of next year at the latest. "The CIS system at KotaSAS will serve as the benchmark for implementation across the entire ECRL network," he told reporters at the ECRL KotaSAS Station here today. Darwis was speaking after the first article assessment ceremony, held to mark the successful installation of the CIS systems at the KotaSAS station, making it the first station along the ECRL alignment to complete the installation. In his speech, Darwis said the ECRL's engineering system comprises six key disciplines in train operations namely non-traction power supply, traction power supply, overhead catenary system, and the communication, signalling, and information systems. "I can assure you that the installation and commissioning of these systems adhere to international standards and represent some of the most advanced technology in the rail industry. "The CIS systems are crucial components of the ECRL and will play a pivotal role during its operational and maintenance phases. "These systems not only power the trains and stations but also ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations from automatic train protection and traffic control to real-time passenger information," he said. Meanwhile, CCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo described the CIS systems as the brain and nervous system of the railway. "The KotaSAS station is the first to be equipped with these critical components. "Today's first-article assessment sets the benchmark for system installation at the remaining 20 ECRL stations, stretching from Kota Baru in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor," he said. The CIS system at the KotaSAS station is supported by four main technical rooms, each responsible for managing specific functions. These include communication networks, data and surveillance systems, train movement control, cable connectivity, and lightning protection. Also present were CCC-ECRL Section 14 head Li Qun and CCC-ECRL project director Kong Qi. The ECRL project, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor, is scheduled to be completed by December next year and begin operations in January 2027.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
ECRL's longest tunnel in Southeast Asia set for breakthrough next month
KUANTAN: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is poised to achieve a significant milestone next month, with the breakthrough of the Genting Tunnel — Southeast Asia's longest rail tunnel — expected by the end of June. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said only 200m remained of the tunnel's full length of 16.39km. "We're making excellent progress… with just 200m left, we anticipate the Genting Tunnel breakthrough by the end of June. We are on track," he told reporters at the ECRL KotaSAS Central Station today. Darwis said this after officiating the first article assessment ceremony, which marked the successful installation of communication, information, and signalling (CIS) systems at the KotaSAS station — the first along the ECRL alignment to complete this critical phase. Construction of the twin-bore Genting Tunnel, a core component of the ECRL, began in June 2022. Excavation works have utilised two state-of-the-art, China-made tunnel boring machines (TBMs) — the largest ever deployed for a rail project in Southeast Asia. The tunnel traverses the Titiwangsa Range via Bukit Tinggi, connecting Bentong in Pahang to Gombak in Selangor. On the subject of ticket pricing for the ECRL, Darwis said the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry and the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). "It's premature to discuss ticket fares at this stage. Pricing will be determined by the Transport Ministry and Apad," he said, adding that Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously assured the public that fares would remain affordable. Darwis was responding to remarks made by Pahang assemblyman Datuk Wong Tat Chee, who used an artificial intelligence (AI) tool — ChatGPT — to estimate hypothetical ticket prices. Wong had suggested a fare of about 10 sen per kilometre during last month's state assembly sitting. Separately, Darwis welcomed a recent announcement by the Pahang state government expressing its readiness to implement high-impact development projects surrounding all seven ECRL stations within the state. "We've been informed that the state government will prioritise infrastructure and public facilities within a 15km radius of each ECRL station. "The 258km alignment within Pahang includes seven stations — Cherating and KotaSAS will serve passengers only, while Kuantan Port City, Paya Besar, Maran, Temerloh, and Bentong will handle both passenger and cargo traffic," he said. On May 7, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced plans for transit-oriented development (TOD) around the stations , incorporating housing, commercial, and educational zones. The ECRL project, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor, is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026, with operations slated to begin in January 2027.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
ECRL on track: 90pct completion expected by year-end
KUANTAN: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which stretches across Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor, is expected to achieve 90 per cent overall completion by year-end. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the 665km mega rail infrastructure project had recorded an overall progress of 82.45 per cent as of April. "Progress currently stands at 89 per cent in Kelantan, 91 per cent in Terengganu, 84 per cent in Pahang, and 67 per cent in Selangor. These figures reflect that the project is on course for full completion by December next year. "Given the current scope of work, along with strong commitment and support from the participating states, we are confident of reaching the 90 per cent milestone by year-end. "The key takeaway is that all components of the project are advancing steadily and in parallel. We aim to commence the testing and commissioning phase on June 1 next year," he told reporters at the ECRL KotaSAS Station here today. Darwis was speaking during the first-article assessment ceremony, which marked the successful installation of the communication, information and signalling (CIS) systems at the KotaSAS station. The KotaSAS station is the first among the 20 ECRL stations along the alignment to complete the CIS systems installation. Describing the milestone as a major achievement for the ECRL's engineering development, Darwis said the project's systems work fell under Section 14, which covers critical rail technologies. "A first-article assessment, also known as a first-article inspection, represents a pivotal stage in the lifecycle of a major railway infrastructure project. "Today's milestone marks the culmination of years of collaboration between MRL and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), encompassing detailed engineering design, construction supervision, and project management," he added. The CIS systems, developed to meet international safety and performance standards, are a core component of the ECRL's engineering backbone. They are essential to ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable railway operations, covering automatic train protection, traffic control, and real-time passenger information. Meanwhile, Darwis said two sets of six-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains for passenger service, along with two Electric Locomotive (E-Loco) units for freight, were expected to arrive in Malaysia by the end of this year. In February, he said that all 11 six-car EMU train sets and 12 E-Loco units would be fully delivered by June 2026. The ECRL, which links Kota Baru to the Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal, is slated to commence operations in January 2027. The extension from Gombak to Port Klang is scheduled to begin service by January 2028.
