Lunch In Kota Bharu, Back In KLFor Dinner? ECRL Brings That Day Closer
By Abdul Hamid A Rahman
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Before 2026 ends, a Kuala Lumpur resident could head to Kota Bharu for a plate of Kelantan’s nasi kerabu at lunch and be back in KL for dinner at a mamak.
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) moved closer to making that trip possible when it began trial operations in November. The express service between Gombak and Kota Bharu is expected to take about four hours each way.
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) took delivery of the 523-kilometre Kota Bharu-Gombak section on Nov 7, when trial operations began. The first trial train left Gombak at 7 am and reached KotaSAS station in Kuantan at 8.28 am.
MRL is targeting Dec 12 to start passenger services, subject to safety requirements and regulatory approvals, with the one-way economy fares between Gombak and Kota Bharu starting at RM125 for the transit service and RM147 for the express.
Universiti Teknologi MARA’s Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS) director associate professor Dr Mohd Fathi Abu Yaziz called the handover and trial runs the “standout milestone of 2026”.
He said the railway would reshape passenger and freight connections between the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.
“The benefits of the railway would also depend on how easily passengers could get to and from stations.
“In Budget 2027, the government announced RM270 million to improve stage bus services in major cities, including connections to 15 east coast stations,” he said.
OTHER KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Mohd Fathi said that Malaysia’s land transport sector in 2026 can be best characterised as a pivotal transition year -- shifting from heavy civil construction toward operational readiness, regulatory tightening, and network integration.
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link moved into the final stages of testing and commissioning. Passenger service is targeted for February 2027, subject to independent safety certification and final regulatory approvals in both countries.
In the Klang Valley, Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) set an end-2026 target to complete land acquisition for the MRT3 Circle Line.
The reduction in the number of lots required, from 1,012 to 690 lots, was announced when the final railway scheme was approved in July 2025.
In Sarawak, DanaInfra Nasional Bhd reported that Phase 1 of the Pan Borneo Highway was 99.98 per cent complete as at Sept 30. Ten of its 11 work packages had been completed, with the remaining package scheduled for completion in 2029.
In Kelantan, the Works Ministry said in October that the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai Highway was 78.8 per cent complete, with the Pasir Hor-Kadok stretch completed. It expects the Kelantan section of the Central Spine Road between Kuala Krai and Gua Musang to be completed by 2028.
The Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2026, which came into force on Oct 16, made racing or testing speed on public roads a specific offence and introduced provisions against “tonto” syndicates that interfere with enforcement.
SHORTCOMINGS AND CHALLENGES IN 2026
In Sabah, the Works Ministry said in October that four of the 35 Phase 1 work packages on the Pan Borneo Highway had been completed, with the remaining packages targeted for completion in stages by 2030. Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee opened an inquiry into the project’s management, finances and delivery following the Auditor-General’s findings.
On the East Coast, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said on Nov 11 that Phase 3 of the East Coast Expressway (LPT3) was expected to cost more than RM10 billion. Request for proposal documents for the public-private partnership were still being prepared, with the successful bidder expected to bear the full development cost.
Meanwhile, Mohd Fathi said transport spending was still “heavily concentrated on mega-corridors”, with local feeder networks and covered walkways receiving less attention.
“Fragmented feeder bus frequencies and incomplete pedestrian infrastructure left many suburban residents reliant on private vehicles.
“Differences in engineering and safety standards across federal, state and municipal roads posed a particular risk to motorcyclists,” he said.
OUTLOOK AND PRIORITIES FOR 2027
Mohd Fathi said priorities for 2027 include ensuring reliable passenger and freight services on the first phase of the ECRL, advancing the extension to Port Klang, and managing traffic around the RTS Link station in Johor Bahru.
“We need more consistent road safety standards nationwide, continued enforcement against overloaded commercial vehicles and faster adoption of electric commercial vehicles.
“And around rail stations, more frequent feeder buses, on-demand transport and safe walking routes would help convert infrastructure capacity into actual ridership,” he added.
-- BERNAMA