GOMBAK: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) aims to begin operations in December 2026, with authorities looking to shorten the testing process without compromising safety.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government was reviewing the final testing phase, particularly the Fault-Free Run (FFR), to launch earlier than the previously targeted January 2027.
“If everything goes smoothly, we are confident that ECRL operations can start as early as December this year and not early next year,” he told reporters after officiating the Comprehensive Inspection Train (CIT) and the commencement of System Integration Testing (SIT) and FFR here on Friday (Aug 14).
Loke said the FFR process would normally take two to three months, but the government was looking at ways to streamline the process as several tests had already been completed.
The SIT, scheduled to begin this month, will test the integration of key railway systems including signalling, communications, electrical power and the overhead contact system.
The FFR will then involve running the trains without passengers to assess whether the integrated system operates safely and reliably.
Loke said each train set must complete an 8,000km FFR under the supervision of the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) before receiving approval for commercial operations.
He stressed that safety remained the Government’s priority despite efforts to accelerate the timeline.
“We want to simplify the process without compromising on safety... We will not take any risks,” he said.
The ECRL project connecting Kota Baru, Kelantan, to Gombak, Selangor, was 95.08% complete as of July, with the first phase previously scheduled for completion by December 2026.
The second phase from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to be completed by December 2027, with full operations targeted for January 2028.
Loke said staff preparation was also well underway, with recruitment and training having started about two years ago, including training in China.
“These final few months will be very crucial in ensuring the staff are already in position. It is actually a trial run,” he said.
Once operational, Loke said the ECRL is expected to carry several thousand passengers a day, with each of its 10 train sets capable of carrying up to 425 passengers.
