The third batch of assistant driver trainees for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project recently commenced training at the Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College in Guangxi, China.

A total of 51 Malaysian trainees will undergo a five-month program focused on railway operations and maintenance. Upon completing the training and returning to Malaysia, they will take up internships on the ECRL project, contributing to the future operation and maintenance of the railway.

The East Coast Rail Link Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL), jointly launched by the ECRL project and its owner, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), aims to align workforce needs in railway construction and operation with professional skills training. The program is designed to cultivate a pool of Malaysian railway professionals equipped with expertise in modern rail systems, safety protocols, and maintenance practices. To date, 259 trainees have participated in assistant driver training.

The launch ceremony was widely covered by major Malaysian media outlets, including Sin Chew Daily, Bernama, Malay Mail, and The Star.