Southern link: Tunku Ismail (front left) with Anwar (front right) and Loke (centre) alongside Yeoh (second from right) and SIPP-YTL JV director Datuk Wira Anuar Ahmed (fourth from right) at the launch of the Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-tracking project at Kempas Baru station yesterday.
PETALING JAYA: The joint venture (JV) between SIPP Rail Sdn Bhd and YTL Corp Bhd
’s construction arm YTL Construction (SIPP-YTL JV) has officially handed over the 192-km Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-track project to the government.
SIPP-YTL JV had served as the main local sub-contractor for the RM8.9bil railway project, which began physical construction on Dec 1, 2016.
Owned by the Transport Ministry, the project also involved the construction of 11 new stations along the Johor corridor, as well as bridges, depots, rail systems and supporting infrastructure.
In a statement, SIPP–YTL JV said the completion and commissioning of the Gemas-Johor Baru line marked the final southern link of Malaysia’s electrified railway network.
It will enable continuous electric train service (ETS) connectivity from Padang Besar, Perlis in the north, all the way down to Johor Baru in the south.
With operational speeds of up to 140km/h, the travel time between KL Sentral and JB Sentral is expected to be reduced to about four hours and 20 minutes compared with roughly seven hours using existing diesel-powered services.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who graced the handover yesterday, said the milestone was a significant step in the government’s efforts to modernise public transportation.
“This initiative reflects the steadfast commitment of the Madani Government to strengthen a modern, advanced and high-quality public transport system that delivers tangible benefits to the rakyat, in line with the aspirations of the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he said.
The event was officiated by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
SIPP-YTL JV managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong said the project required a high degree of engineering precision.
“From tracks and bridges to stations, depots and supporting systems, every component was built to world-class standards to ensure optimal performance and efficiency,” he said.
The electrified double-track works conclude a multi-year effort to extend fast rail services further south.
Previously, the ETS operated from Padang Besar, Perlis only up to Gemas, Negri Sembilan, with the southern sector relying on slower diesel trains.
This year, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) progressively expanded ETS operations into Johor – first to Segamat in March, followed by the launch of the southern-bound ETS3 service to Kluang in August.
The Kuala Lumpur-Johor Baru ETS service is expected to begin today.
With this, KTMB will be able to operate electrified trains across the entire west coast rail spine – from Padang Besar, Perlis, down to Johor Baru.
