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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.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
KotaSAS station becomes first ECRL stop to complete system installation
KUANTAN: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the nation's mega rail project, is set to enter a new chapter tomorrow (May 30) with the completion of system installation works at the KotaSas central station here. KotaSAS station is the first along the 665km alignment, which comprises 20 stations, to reach this significant milestone. Notably, the station was also the site of the project's groundbreaking ceremony on Aug 9, 2017, which was officiated by then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. In a media invitation, China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL), the project's engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contractor, described tomorrow's event as the project's first article assessment ceremony for its communication, information and signalling systems. "It marks the successful completion of communication, information and signalling systems at the ECRL KotaSas station for the operation of passenger and cargo trains. "These systems serve as the 'brain and central nervous system' of the ECRL project, playing a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient train operations," the statement said. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak and CCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo are expected to attend the event. The communication, signalling and telecommunications systems are among three critical components required to prepare the ECRL stations for testing and commissioning, scheduled for June next year. Construction began in May last year. The first six-car ECRL Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train for passengers and the first Electric Locomotive (E-Loco) unit for freight are expected to arrive in Malaysia by year-end. The ECRL project, which traverses Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, linking Kota Baru to the Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal, is slated to begin operations in January 2027. Its extension from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to be operational by January 2028. On May 6, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said construction of the ECRL had reached an overall progress of 82.45 per cent.
