The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a 640 km long railway under construction in Peninsula Malaysia. This standard gauge double-track railway will connect Port Klang on the Straits of Malacca to Kota Bharu at the northern end of the east coast. The railway will pass south of Kuala Lumpur at Putrajaya Sentral, where it will interchange for services to KL and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
[Map via mrl.com.my.]
There is currently no coastal railway on the east coast of the peninsula, so this will connect the state capitals of the east coast with each other, and provide a faster land route to KL.
This line is not to be confused with the current KTM East Coast railway line (better known as the Jungle Railway), which doesn’t reach the coast until the last stop.
The railway will be used for passenger and freight services. Passengers trains will operate at 160 km/h and freight trains at 80 km/h.
The ECRL was approved in 2016 and construction began in 2017. In 2018 a new government was elected in Malaysia and the project was cancelled due to the high cost and other irregularities. In July 2019 the project was restarted after a realignment of the railway along with a renegotiation of the cost. In September 2020 the line was being considered for realignment again back to the original alignment. At this point the railway is expected to by completed by 2026.
Links And Resources
Official Website: mrl.com.my
Skyscrapercity: KTM: THE 620km East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) – Forum with news and discussion.
Twitter: @ecrlofficial
News Archive
2020
ECRL project to continue, 19% work completed, says govt – [18/11/20]
Transport Ministry: ECRL project ahead of schedule, to proceed with existing allocations – [18/11/20]
“Construction on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) mega project will continue next year as the federal government already allocated funds for it, the Transport Ministry confirmed today.”
East Coast Rail Link: Full steam ahead for China’s Belt and Road in Malaysia – [06/10/20]
Selangor asks federal govt to reconsider ECRL route – [18/09/20]
“Selangor is asking the federal government to reconsider its decision to abandon changes that were made in 2019 to the proposed route of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) mega project.”
Malaysian government announces East Coast Rail Link realignment – [14/09/20]
“The Malaysian government has announced plans to realign its Ringgit 44bn ($US 10.57bn) East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, reverting to the project’s original route with minor adjustments south of Kuala Lumpur.”
Realigned ECRL to cost RM6 billion more, likely to be approved, says report – [06/09/20]
RM20.37b paid for ECRL project as at July 13 – [04/08/20]
“A total of RM20.37 billion has been paid to China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) for the implementation of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) until July 13 this year.”
ECRL work going on from Dungun to Mentakab, MPs told – [27/07/20]
“Construction work for the East Coast Rail Link project is continuing, with work focused on specific construction at the Section B Line from Dungun, Terengganu, to Mentakab in Pahang.”
Tony Pua calls on China to investigate 1MDB corruption links – [21/07/20]
“As a background, by May 2017, the then Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak had signed the Phase I and Phase II of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project with a total value of RM55 billion with China Communications and Construction Company (CCCC). By June 2017, Malaysia had paid CCCC RM1,931.4 million and another CNY17,320 million via a loan from China Exim Bank.”
Transparency, ‘white elephant’ concerns in ECRL realignment – [07/07/20]
“The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is back in discussion as the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government wants to realign the project to the one first proposed under the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime.”
Exclusive: Malaysian negotiator reveals the story behind controversial rail deal’s resurrection – [15/05/19]
Malaysia gives green light for construction to resume on East Coast Rail Link – [28/04/20]
“The RM44 billion (S$14.3 billion) project was suspended when movement restrictions were put in place on March 18 in Malaysia to curb the spread of the coronavirus.”
ECRL realigned to make Putrajaya transport hub, say sources – [22/04/20]
“The realignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) fits into a plan to turn Putrajaya into a transport hub…The ECRL will also be connected to a KLIA express station and an MRT2 link, and there is talk of adding the monorail to the network, said the sources.”
Why Malaysia’s ECRL project should go on, new government or not – [28/02/20]
Transport Ministry: ECRL is 15pct complete – [13/02/20]
“The shortened East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which was relaunched last year, has reached a progress rate of 15 per cent.”
Photo journey: Malaysia’s new China-funded railway – [07/02/20]
“Is this what a ‘green’ BRI looks like? Alexandra Radu photographs work on the East Coast Rail Line, which has resumed after a year-long delay.”
BRI-backed Malaysia rail link back on track after funding agreement – [07/01/20]
2019
70pc of ECRL project employing 23,000 workers will be locals – [21/11/19]
“Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and its Chinese partner China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) will embark on a recruitment roadshow from December to tap local talents for the 640-km East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.”
Malaysian contractors on China-backed East Coast Rail Link get better deal after US$240 million in funding agreed – [19/11/19]
Going deeper down the rabbit hole: Does Malaysia’s ECRL need further scrutiny? – [23/09/19]
“In early September, a special officer of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak testified in the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption case. Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin confirmed that Najib offered Chinese state-run businesses contracts on overpriced infrastructure projects in exchange for the bailout of 1MDB and its subsidiary SRC International.”
Work resumes on Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link – [25/07/19]
“Malaysia on Thursday (July 25) relaunched its East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), kickstarting work on tunnels and viaducts along part of the route, from Dungun, in Terengganu, to Mentakab, in Pahang after a year-long suspension, and following a deal to slash costs.”
Malaysia: Revised China deal shows costs were inflated – [16/04/19]
Prime Minister Mahathir outlines the renegotiated terms for the East Coast Rail Link, to be built and largely funded by China.
New East Coast Rail Link deal eases ‘debt trap’ concerns for Malaysia, says Mahathir – [15/04/19]
ECRL project’s revival to support the Ringgit next week – [13/04/19]
China, Malaysia to resume East Coast Rail for $11 billion – [12/04/19]
Malaysia revives China-backed rail link, cost cut by a third – [12/04/19]
ECRL is now 40km shorter but will still have double tracks – [12/04/19]
“Under the supplementary agreement signed earlier today between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), the ECRL will now be 40km shorter for a total of 648km and pass through Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan instead of Gombak in the Klang Valley.”
ECRL deal with China to include palm oil buy – [08/04/19]
“The current re-negotiations on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) may see its construction price pegged at RM50mil to RM60mil per km as well as a commitment by the Chinese government to buy Malaysian palm oil and bring in projects, according to sources.”
Malaysia and China: breaking up is hard to do – [01/02/19]
“Mahathir’s promise to scrap or renegotiate “unequal” infrastructure deals with Beijing – a plan easier said than done.”
Malaysia to kill $20 billion train project in a blow to China – [28/01/19]
“Malaysia will terminate a $20 billion rail project with contractor China Communications Construction Co., Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said.”
Future of Malaysia’s China-backed East Coast Rail Link hinges on elusive report – [03/01/19]
“Beijing and Kuala Lumpur on Thursday sought to depoliticise the debate over a stalled China-backed megaproject in Malaysia, saying that negotiations on how to move forward would be left to contractors from both sides.”
2018
CCCC open to ‘equity partnership’ in bid to rescue ECRL – [24/09/20]
Najib clarifies 5 misunderstandings about ECRL, calls for RCI – [23/08/18]
Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad warns against ‘new colonialism’ during China visit – [21/08/18]
‘We cannot afford this’: Malaysia pushes back against China’s vision – [20/08/18]
Malaysia suspends construction of East Coast Railway Link – [04/07/18]
“The project owner of Malaysia’s US$20 billion (S$27.4 billion) East Coast Railway Link has told its main Chinese contractor to suspend work, both companies said on Wednesday (July 4), raising uncertainty about the future of part of China’s Belt and Road plan.”
The final cost of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is actually RM81 billion and must be reduced significantly to make it viable financially – [06/07/18]
Statement from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.
China’s belt and road builder finds itself embroiled in a scandal in Malaysian coastal railway link – [12/06/18]
“The project’s estimated total cost of 60 billion ringgit (US$15 billion) was inflated to hide a scheme to channel funds toward paying for debt owed by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the troubled state investment agency, according to a June 4 report by The Edge Malaysia , citing an interview with the newly elected premier Mahathir Mohamad.”
Mahathir says the ECRL project contract is strange – [04/06/20]
“Money from the RM55 billion loan given out by a Chinese bank for Malaysia to build the East Coast Railway Line (ECRL) is being kept abroad, paid to the Chinese construction company in China.”
Malaysia spares $14bn China-led rail project from budget ax – [01/06/18]
“Malaysia’s deal with China for a 55 billion ringgit ($13.8 billion) rail link will proceed despite new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s effort to roll back questionable spending, the finance minister said Friday, citing costs already paid on the project.”
Malaysia to renegotiate ECRL terms – Dr M – [27/05/20]
“Malaysia is haggling over the terms of a $14 billion rail deal with its Chinese partners and can reduce its ballooning national debts by $50 billion by doing away with mega projects, its prime minister said in an interview published on Saturday.”
China’s $13bn Malaysian ‘game changer’ shows ambition of BRI to reshape global trade – [12/03/18]
ECRL making remarkable progress in just 13 months, says MRL CEO – [04/03/18]
Mitigating the environmental impacts of the East Coast Rail Link – [02/03/18]
“The East Coast Rail Line (ECRL), which will connect Port Klang in Selangor with parts of the east coast, will be a boon to commuters by cutting lengthy journeys down to a matter of hours. On the downside, however, the new 688km high-speed rail line will fragment several already fragmented habitats en route by cutting through several major rivers and hundreds of hectares of protected forest in the Central Forest Spine.”
AECOM to provide site supervision services for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link project – [08/01/18]
“AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, has been appointed by China Communications Construction Company to provide site supervision services for the stations, viaducts, tunnels and depots of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.”
2017
Newsbreak: ECRL cost to balloon due to double-track feature – [09/10/17]
Will the East Coast Rail Link be a game changer for Malaysian international trade? – [01/10/17]
The real economics of ECRL – [12/08/17]
East Coast Rail Link: Malaysia touts rail trade route as rival to Singapore – [10/08/17]
“Malaysia has hailed an upcoming railway linking its east coast to Port Klang on the west coast as an “alternative trade route”, claiming that a projected 53 million tonnes of cargo will bypass Singapore annually by 2030.”
Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link a double-edged sword for environment, wildlife – [09/08/17]
“The 688-kilometer rail project promises to reduce road traffic, but will also cut through protected forests.”
Hard-pedaling soft power, China helps launch $13 billion Belt and Road rail project in Malaysia – [09/08/17]
Malaysia’s biggest railway, China’s biggest coup? – [09/08/17]
“$12.8bn project kicks off amid hopes and concerns about Beijing’s growing influence.”
10 reasons why we don’t need RM55b east coast rail link – [08/08/17]
“Why does the country need a double-tracked, electrified East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) from Port Klang on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to Kuantan and Tumpat on the east coast – 688 kilometres, to be built at a massive cost of RM55 billion?”
ECRL will benefit people greatly, says Najib – [09/03/17]
“Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday again took aim at detractors who claimed that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is tantamount to selling the country’s sovereignty.”
2016
Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Line touted as a game changer – [22/12/16]
“Singapore could be bypassed as new links alter regional trade routes.”
Minister explains why ECRL will cost RM55 billion – [09/11/16]
Malaysia not being ‘sold off’ to China, says Najib – [04/11/16]
The new Kelantan-Selangor railway costs… RM91 million per kilometer!? Sure onot!? – [04/11/16]
Confirmed: East Coast Rail Link project to be built, funded by China – [31/10/16]
“The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a 620km high-impact project under the 11th Malaysia Plan, will be built and funded by China, Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah confirmed today.”
Najib’s secret deal with China to pay off 1MDB (and Jho Low’s) debts! – [26/07/16]
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