Recently, the ECRL project is progressing smoothly, with several tunnels completed or TBMs installed in the tunnels, and the project has reached 34% construction completion mark.

On November 9, the 396-meter-long 14# Tunnel and 824-meter-long 21# Tunnel were successfully completed, and the TBM was installed in the 220-meter-long 15# Tunnel.

On November 8, Genting 2, the open hard rock TBM successfully entered the tunnel for construction, which is another major progress after Genting 1 TBM successfully starting construction in April. Genting Tunnel is 16.4 kilometers long, the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia, and a key project in the ECRL project.

In October, the 2.8-kilometer-long tunnel in Kuantan was completed two months ahead of schedule.

In a recent interview with 21st Century Business Herald, a project manager talked about the progress of the project, and also gave an outlook on the importance of the railroad after its completion. He said, the project will be of great significance to Malaysia's economic development, especially in connecting the northern and eastern coast of Malaysia, which are relatively undeveloped, with the developed region around the capital. In addition, the project will also greatly facilitate local people's travel."

With a total length of 665 kilometers, the ECRL project in Malaysia is a standard electrified railroad for both passengers and goods, with passenger trains designed for a speed of 160 kilometers per hour and freight trains for 80 kilometers per hour. The project will be part of the Pan-Asian Railway and the most direct and convenient access linking the Malay Peninsula.

The ECRL project is a railroad designed according to Chinese standards. The open hard rock TBM is tailor-made for the Genting Tunnel.

He said that by the time the railroad is completed, the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu will be shortened from the 8-12 hours to 4 hours, saving half the travel time and greatly facilitating the travel of residents. Traffic safety along the route will also be greatly improved.

The project's contributions to local livelihoods has gradually come out during the construction process.

In order to purchase as many local products as possible, CCCC has established a local resource sharing platform, and up to now, CCCC has invited about 2,900 local enterprises to register on the platform, "In the construction, the proportion of local subcontracting and procurement of civil construction works (excluding tunnels) has reached 40%."

At the same time, the railroad has also effectively boost local employment. Up to now, the project has recruited more than 5,000 local employees.

A study from an industrial development financial research center in Malaysia shows that the construction phase of the project is expected to boost Malaysia's economic growth by 2.7%, the project's demand for machinery and equipment transportation will drive commodity imports, fixed asset investment growth by 3.3% and 2.1%, respectively.