ECRL: Proposed rail route opened for public inspection and input

Better connectivity: Najib looking at the proposed route for the ECR L after launching the Public Inspection session at the SPAD headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. With him are (from left) Liow, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan and SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed alignment for the 600km-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) has been unveiled for the public to give feedback and suggestions.

Twenty-three stations have been proposed along the route, which has been described as a game changer project that will spur development of the east coast states.

When the rail link is completed in 2024, it will allow passengers to travel by train from Wakaf Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak and on to Port Klang in about four hours. By road now, it can take up to 12 hours.

The ECRL will also benefit freight transport because it will link key economic and industrial areas within the East Coast Economic Region, including Kuantan and Bentong in Pahang, as well as Kuantan Port, and Port Klang on the west coast.

Launching the ECRL Public Inspection session at the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) headquarters yesterday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government wanted feedback and views on the project.

“We want to collect feedback and views from the people so that this project can really meet their expectations,” said the Prime Minister. Also present was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The launch officially kickstarts a three-month public inspection of the ECRL’s proposed alignment, which received conditional approval from SPAD on March 2. Construction work will start this July.

Najib said the ECRL would make it easier for Malaysians to travel to and from the East Coast.

Citing an example, the Prime Minister said a trip by road from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu in the run-up to Hari Raya or Chinese New Year could take up to 12 hours due to congestion.

With the ECRL, the time could be cut down to about four hours, depending on the speed limit for ECRL trains which Najib said would be set soon.

Najib said that while the current ECRL alignment would connect Wakaf Bharu in Kelantan to the Integrated Transport Terminal (ITT) in Gombak, this would eventually be extended to Port Klang.

“If we want to make it easier to tansport freight, it is only logical for the rail line to reach Port Klang,” he said.

Both the alignment and information about the stations are on display at SPAD headquarters.

A series of public inspection sessions will also be carried out at 38 high-traffic locations until June 5.

These include district offices in Kota Baru, Tumpat, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Besut, Setiu, Kuala Terengganu, Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Kemaman, Dungun, Kuantan, Maran, Temerloh and Bentong.

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), which has been tasked to undertake the construction and implementation of the project, has provided a toll-free number, 1-800-222-524, for public input and information.

The public can also go to www.mrl.com.my or send an e-mail to feedback@mrl.com.my.

Source: The Star | 9 March 2017