KOTA BARU: The proposal to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Baru to Rantau Panjang is still being studied by the Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and the Transport Ministry.
Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the proposal is seen as relevant as the Malaysian and Thai governments have agreed to revive the existing railway line between Pasir Mas and Sungai Golok under Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to reconnect the railway network between the two countries.
He said the Kelantan government is proposing that the ECRL line be extended to Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas from Kota Baru and not to the original line in Tumpat.
“However, it is still under study by MRL and the Transport Ministry to extend the ECRL line from Kota Baru to Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas,” he said, Bernama reported.
He said this when replying to a supplementary question by Mohd Adanan Hassan (PAS-Kelaboran) regarding the state government’s efforts to submit a proposal to implement the ECRL to the original alignment, which is Tumpat, at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Darulnaim Complex yesterday.
Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said his ministry was examining a proposal to extend the ECRL route from Kota Baru to Rantau Panjang, to facilitate the rail network with Thailand.
The ECRL project is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026, and train services for the Kota Baru to Gombak, Selangor route will be operational by January 2027, while the second line from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to be completed a year later.
