ECRL Project Hits 82.45% Completion – Ahead of Schedule, Says Transport Minister

Marcus Liew
May 31
2 min read

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) - Malaysia’s flagship infrastructure project connecting Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor - has reached 82.45% completion as of April 2025, placing it ahead of schedule, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Key Milestones Achieved

✅ 400km of Track Installed (Maran to Kota Bharu)

Completed 2.5 months early, this major accomplishment sets a strong tone for the final stages of the project.

🚧 Next Phase: Maran to Bentong (100km)

Track laying will begin this month (May 2025) and is expected to finish by the end of June.

⚡ Electrification Work Underway

Begun in May, it will be followed by signalling, telecom, and information systems installation as the rail network moves towards the operational stage.

Training Malaysians for ECRL Jobs

A crucial part of the ECRL’s development is human capital investment:

RM12 million pledged by project contractor CCCC for the PLKI-ECRL skills training programme
3,200 Malaysians will be trained for the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase
In 2025, 210 trainees will undergo one-year intensive training in Liuzhou, China
Training includes technical and non-technical modules - combining theory, practical sessions, and real-life railway operation experience

Upon graduation, trainees will be guaranteed employment in roles such as:

Assistant train drivers
Signalling and overhead line technicians
Station attendants
Electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance technicians

ECRL Operations Company Officially Registered

To manage the rail system upon completion, the ECRL operating company - a joint entity by Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) and CCCC - has been formally registered as ECRL Operation Sdn Bhd with the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

Looking Ahead

With completion expected by the end of 2026, the ECRL is set to:

Boost interconnectivity between the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia
Create thousands of skilled jobs
Serve as a key economic driver for regional development

Minister Loke summed it up best:

“When the Prime Minister asked whether the project is on time, I told him, ‘Not just on time - it’s ahead of schedule.’”