Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link project enters final phase of accelerated construction
Source：CCCCTime：2026-05-14
With construction on the Kota Bharu-Gombak section of Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) now completed, station and auxiliary building construction across the section has been fully wrapped up, and all eight 11 kV substations have been energized.
With construction on the Kota Bharu-Gombak section of Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) now completed, station and auxiliary building construction across the section has been fully wrapped up, and all eight 11 kV substations have been energized. With the line now ready for live-power operation, the project has entered its final phase of construction.
Stretching roughly 665 kilometers across four Malaysian states, the railway will, once completed, become a key transport artery connecting the country's east and west coasts, providing a strong boost to economic and social development along the route.
In March this year, track-laying on the 519-kilometer Kota Bharu-Gombak section was completed ahead of schedule. Rail vehicles can now travel along the finished tracks toward Kuala Lumpur, flanked by dense tropical rainforests.
The project has generated a significant number of jobs, with over 80 percent of the workforce drawn from the surrounding communities. The master-apprentice training model has helped cultivate a large pool of Malaysian technical talent.
To enhance safety awareness among local workers, the track-laying team established a training center and a VR experience hall, conducting more than 100 safety training sessions.
Since 2017, the China-Malaysia Railway Talent Training Program has sent over 2,300 young Malaysians to China to study railway technology, creating a strong pipeline of local professionals for the future operation and maintenance of the ECRL.
Editor: CHEC
