Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is nearing completion, with passenger services potentially starting as early as mid-December 2026, ahead of the original January 2027 target.
The 665-kilometre electrified railway will connect Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak in Selangor, passing through Terengganu and Pahang. A second phase will eventually extend the line from Gombak to Port Klang.
Passenger trains will be able to travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour. A journey between Kota Bharu and Gombak is expected to take about four hours, significantly reducing travel time compared with road transport.
The ECRL will have 20 stations, serving both passengers and freight. Six-car passenger trains will be capable of carrying up to 425 passengers, while freight trains will provide a new route for moving goods between Malaysia’s east coast and the Klang Valley.
Construction and testing are now in their final stages. Officials have been conducting inspection and freight train runs, while system integration testing has progressed toward completion. The first phase of the project was already more than 97 per cent complete by August.
The second phase from Gombak to Port Klang is scheduled to begin operations in January 2028. Once the entire network is operational, the ECRL is expected to strengthen transport links, support freight movement and improve connectivity between Malaysia’s east coast states and the country’s main economic centres.
