Rail transport in Malaysia

Rail transport in Malaysia
Class 91 of KTM ETS for Intercity Express and Class 92 of KTM Komuter at Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.
Operation
National railwayKeretapi Tanah Melayu
Major operatorsKeretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu
1 2 10  1   2   ETS  KTM Intercity

Rapid KL (brand) Rapid Rail
3 4 5 8 9 12

Express Rail Link Express Rail Link
6 7
Statistics
Ridership71,640,357 (2021) [note 1]
System length
Total2,783 km (1,729 mi)
Double track767 km (477 mi)
Electrified767 km (477 mi)
Track gauge
Main1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
High-speed1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Metre gauge
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)		1,776 km (1,104 mi)
Standard gauge
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)		292.6 km (181.8 mi)
Straddle beam monorail8.6 km (5.3 mi)
Features
Tunnel length3,300 m (10,800 ft)
Longest tunnelBukit Berapit Rail Tunnel
Highest elevation185 m (607 ft)
 atTenom railway station
Lowest elevation4 m (13 ft)
 atPort Klang Komuter station

Rail transport in Malaysia consists of heavy rail (including commuter rail), light rapid transit (LRT), mass rapid transit (MRT), monorails, airport rail links and a funicular railway line. Heavy rail is mostly used for intercity services and freight transport as well as some urban public transport, while rapid transit rails are used for intracity urban public transport in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley region. There are two airport rail link systems linking Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. The longest monorail line in the country is also used for public transport in Kuala Lumpur, while the only funicular railway line is available in Penang.

The railway network covers most of the 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia. In East Malaysia, only the state of Sabah has railways. The network is also connected to the Thai railway 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) network in the north. If the Burma Railway is rebuilt, services to Myanmar, India, and China could be initiated.

Present railway infrastructure

Summary of Malaysian railway infrastructure station and lines (West Malaysia, October 2018)
Current railway network of peninsular Malaysia.

Metre gauge rail

Peninsular Malaysia

Main articles: KTM West Coast railway line and KTM East Coast railway line
KTM Class 91 at Ipoh.
KTM Class 93 at Pulau Sebang/Tampin.

There are two primary railway networks in Peninsular Malaysia: The KTM West Coast Line, which runs from the Padang Besar station connecting with Thailand’s railway network to Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore, as well as the KTM East Coast Line between Gemas in Negeri Sembilan and Tumpat in Kelantan. Within the West Coast Line lies several branch lines, which include railways from Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang,[2] Subang Jaya to Subang Airport,[3] Sentul to Batu Caves,[4] Bukit Mertajam to Butterworth,[5] Kempas to Tanjung Pelepas[6] and Kempas to Pasir Gudang.[7] The entire 1,776 km network uses 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge tracks, and uses a ballasted setup with locally manufactured concrete sleepers. Since the early 1980s, companies formed via international collaboration, such as Mastrak Sdn Bhd had been producing these sleepers via technology transfer.[8][9][10] In the five years period of 1982-1987 alone, it was estimated that around 500,000 pieces of concrete sleepers had been laid down for the Kerdau-Jerantut and Sungai Yu-Tumpat lines.

Currently, a total of 767 km from the 1,776 km railway network is double-tracked and electrified.[11] The tracks include a portion of the West Coast Line (from Gemas to Padang Besar) as well as the entire Port Klang and Batu Caves branch lines. The rail lines from Tanjung Malim to Pulau Sebang/Tampin, Padang Besar to Padang Rengas, as well as the Port Klang, Batu Caves and Butterworth branch lines are used for commuter rail services.[12]

Efforts in retrofitting the old tracks were done under the Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) orchestrated by the Minister of Transport.[13] The first EDTP was done from Rawang to Ipoh from 2001 to 2009, stretching 179 km while the second EDTP was done from Ipoh to Padang Besar at a length of 329 km from January 2008 to November 2014.[14] There were also smaller scale EDTPs initiated in branch lines, such as the 7.2 km Batu Caves branch line, which was completed in 2010.

Malaysia's national petroleum company, Petronas, had once built and operated a single-track 75 km Kerteh–Kuantan Port railway line starting 1 April 2004. Despite this, the railway system was of poor quality and locomotives had to operate well below the designated speed. On 17 November 2010, the railway was eventually closed due to a number of recurring technical problems on the railway system such as drainage problems, improper slope protection and alleged usage of weak fill material within the embankment slope.[15][16]

Borneo

Main article: Sabah State Railway
The Sabah State Railway.

The only railway network present in the island of Borneo is the 134 km (83 mi) railway line in Sabah, linking Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu and Tenom in the Interior Division. It is operated by the Sabah State Railway and has 15 stations.[17] Efforts of modernisation were undertaken from 2006 to 2011 and as widespread usage of concrete sleepers becomes apparent in the Malaysian Peninsula, the Sabah State Railway had also installed these sleepers for their railway network.[18]

Standard-gauge railways

Main article: Public transport in Kuala Lumpur

The 292.6 km (181.8 mi) standard-gauge railways are mostly used within the Klang Valley area, where urban public transport is done.

Express Rail Link (ERL)

Main article: Express Rail Link
ERL KLIA Transit Line

The Express Rail Link is an airport rail link that stretches 57 km (35 mi) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral). It is operated by Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd. The rail link currently has two services: The KLIA Ekspres with 3 stations and KLIA Transit with 6 stations. The trains used can reach speeds of up to 176 km/h (109 mph).[19]

Light Rapid Transit (LRT)

Main articles: Ampang and Sri Petaling lines and Kelana Jaya line
Rapid KL Sri Petaling Line

The Medium-capacity rail system, or officially named as Light Rapid Transit (LRT) by Prasarana Malaysia, is a rail system that consists of four lines: Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line and the upcoming Shah Alam Line. The lines are operated by Rapid Rail and owned by Prasarana Malaysia. It is not to be confused with a light rail transit (LRT), which bears a similar acronym.[20]

The Ampang and Sri Petaling lines started with a single rail line from Sentul Timur with branches to Ampang and Putra Heights via Chan Sow Lin station. The combined 45.1 km (28.0 mi) line has 36 stations and uses semi-automated trains. The lines entered service with the first phase opened on 16 December 1996, second phase in July 1998 and the recent extension on 30 June 2016.[21]

The Kelana Jaya line is a 46.4 km (28.8 mi) LRT system which runs from Gombak to Putra Heights. It is the first fully automated driverless rail system in Malaysia, and began operations on 1 September 1998. An extension project to connect Sri Petaling Line via Putra Heights had also finished on 1 July 2016.[22]

Automated People Mover

Main article: Aerotrain (KLIA)

The only automated people mover system (APM) in Malaysia is the Aerotrain, which is located within Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The 1.2 km (0.75 mi) APM first commenced operation in 1998 and is operated by the Engineering Transportation bureau of Malaysia Airport (Sepang) Sdn Bhd. The system serves from Terminal A of KLIA to Satellite Terminal A and takes around 2.5 minutes of travel time.[23] The system ceased operations on 2 March 2023 due to technical problems on the aging system,[24] and will gradually reopen starting June 2024.[25]

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Main articles: Kajang Line and Putrajaya Line
Rapid KL Kajang Line
Rapid KL Putrajaya Line

As the population of the Klang Valley region grew higher and traffic congestion became much more problematic, the government had embarked on realising a public transport project to ease congestion. The new Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project was drafted up on early 2010 with three lines to be built, which now include MRT Kajang Line, MRT Putrajaya Line and the upcoming MRT Circle Line. All three lines are operated by Rapid Rail and owned by MRT Corp.[26][27] MRT stations are also supported with additional parking areas and feeder buses for last mile connectivity.[28]

The Kajang Line (KG) is the first mass rapid transit (MRT) line constructed in Malaysia. It is a fully automated driverless rail system with 29 stations and stretches 47 km (29 mi) from Kwasa Damansara to Kajang. The KG line began construction on 8 July 2011, and its first phase finished on 16 December 2016. Since its full opening on 17 July 2017, the KG line has been serving in various densely populated suburban areas such as Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara and Balakong.[26][29][30][31]

The second MRT line currently in operation is the Putrajaya Line (PYL). It also uses fully automated driverless train-sets running from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral with a track length of 57.7 km (35.9 mi). Works in building the PYL line began on 15 September 2016 and its first phase was opened on 16 June 2022. The second phase also began operations on 16 March 2023. The PYL line provides a new and cheaper alternative for the population of Putrajaya to travel to the heart of Kuala Lumpur without the need for a personal vehicle or using KLIA Transit. The PYL line also links several townships south of Kuala Lumpur, including Cyberjaya, Seri Kembangan and Sungai Besi as well as Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).[26][32][33][34]

Monorail

Main articles: KL Monorail and Melaka Monorail
Rapid KL Monorail Line
Malacca City's former monorail system

Malaysia has two monorail systems, one in Kuala Lumpur and another in Malacca City. Both monorail systems use elevated straddle-beams as rail tracks. The one in Kuala Lumpur is mainly used for urban public transport, while the one in Malacca City, now abandoned, is used as a displayed tourist attraction.

The KL Monorail is an 8.6 km (5.3 mi) 11-station monorail system operated by Rapid Rail and owned by Prasarana Malaysia. The monorail system uses mixed 2-car and 4-car train-sets built by Scomi Rail and serves areas from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa, as well as other areas such as Pudu, Bukit Bintang and Bukit Nanas.[35] In 2021, the system served a total of 4.226 million passengers.[36][37]

Another monorail system in Malaysia is the Melaka Monorail. It is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) uni-directional single track monorail system which formerly had three stations.[38] Since its opening on 21 October 2010, the system suffered various incidents, including frequent breakdowns and lack of maintenance.[39] The company, Monorail Theme Park & Studios, which operated the system, had its contract terminated in September 2021 and the system had stopped operating. Now, there are no plans of reviving this system.[40]

Funicular System

Main article: Penang Hill Railway
The Doppelmayr Garaventa 100-FUL Penang Hill coach at lower station.

The Penang Hill Railway in Penang is the funicular system in Malaysia. The system uses a single metre-gauge railway track, with a total length of 2 km (1.2 mi) and a passing loop in the middle. The inclination is around 52.9% at maximum and 18.8% at minimum. The system was first opened as a two-section system in 1923 and managed by the former George Town Municipality (now Penang Island City Council). On 1 February 1977, the ownership was transferred to the Penang State Government and a complete overhaul was done in 2010 to convert the system into a one-section railway.[41] The system travels through eight stations from the Lower Station at Air Itam to the Upper Station on top of the Penang Hill. Despite the upgrade done in 2010, the aging rail infrastructure had led to the system having several breakdowns as it could not support large number of passengers at certain times.[42]

Cable Transport

Main articles: Awana Skyway, Genting Skyway, and Langkawi Cable Car
Langkawi Cable Car Top Station, the two circular viewing platforms are visible

Cable transport in Malaysia is typically used in the tourism industry to transport tourists to the peak of a hill or highland using gondola lifts. As of May 2023, there are three cable transport systems built: Langkawi Cable Car, Awana Skyway and Genting Skyway. The former is located in Langkawi Island, while the latter two are located in Genting Highlands.

The Langkawi Cable Car, or Langkawi SkyCab, is a 2.2 km (1.4 mi) cable transport system transporting tourists to the peak of Mount Machinchang. The journey time takes around 15 minutes, and upon arrival, tourists are able to go to the Langkawi Sky Bridge via an inclined elevator. The construction of the cable car was realised following a survey of the most feasible method of public transportation on Mount Machinchang. The cable car commenced operations in 2003, owned by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and operated by Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd.[43][44][45]

Another two cable car systems located in Genting Highlands are Awana Skyway and Genting Skyway. Awana Skyway is a three-station 2.4 km (1.5 mi) cable car system owned by Genting Malaysia Berhad.[46] From 1977 to 2014, the system used an aerial tramway lift and had two stations.[47][48] A newer mono cable gondola lift system was later constructed on the existing system and was subsequently opened in 2016. It uses 60mm diameter solid cable wire ropes with 22 pylons, making it safer compared to the previous system. The system now has three stations, taking passengers to either the Awana Station, Chin Swee Station or the SkyAvenue Station, with the whole trip taking around 10 minutes and with an operating speed of 6 m/s.[49]

Besides the Awana Skyway, Genting Skyway is also a gondola lift cable car system in Genting Highlands. The system was opened on 21 February 1997, with two stations from Gohtong Jaya to Highlands Hotel. With a length of 3.38 km (2.10 mi), the system now serves as an alternative route whenever Awana Skyway is closed for maintenance. The trip duration for this system is 15 minutes, much longer compared to its twin system. This system is also owned by Genting Malaysia Berhad.[50][51]

Rail-based public transport in Kuala Lumpur

Further information: Public transport in Kuala Lumpur § Rail

Commuter rail service

1 Seremban Line
Between Batu Caves and Pulau Sebang/Tampin
27 stations over 135.6 km, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)
2 Port Klang Line
Between Tanjung Malim and Port Klang
33 stations over 127.5 km, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)

Mass rapid transit (MRT) service

9 Kajang Line
Between Kwasa Damansara and Kajang
29 stations + plus 3 provisional over 51 km, operated by Rapid Rail
12 Putrajaya Line
Between Kwasa Damansara and Putrajaya Sentral
36 stations + plus 5 provisional over 57.7 km, operated by Rapid Rail
13 Circle Line
A loop between Bukit Kiara and UM
Pre-construction process, will consists of 31 stations over 50.8 km, operated by Rapid Rail (previously shelved)

Light rapid transit (LRT) service

3 Ampang Line
Between Sentul Timur and Ampang
18 stations over 15 km, operated by Rapid Rail
4 Sri Petaling Line
Between Sentul Timur and Putra Heights
29 stations + 2 provisional over 37.6 km, operated by Rapid Rail
5 Kelana Jaya Line
Between Gombak and Putra Heights
37 stations over 46.4 km, operated by Rapid Rail
11 Shah Alam Line
Between Bandar Utama and Johan Setia
Currently under construction, consists of 25 stations + 1 provisional over 37 km, operated by Rapid Rail

Monorail service

8 KL Monorail
Between KL Sentral and Titiwangsa
11 stations over 8.6 km, operated by Rapid Rail
14 Putrajaya Monorail
Serving Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Kajang
Currently under planning; route, stations and operator to be confirmed

Airport rail link service

6 KLIA Ekspres
Non-stop between KL Sentral and KLIA & klia2
3 stations over 59.1 km, operated by Express Rail Link (ERL)
7 KLIA Transit
Between KL Sentral and KLIA & klia2
6 stations over 59.1 km, operated by Express Rail Link (ERL)
10 Skypark Link
Limited express between KL Sentral and Terminal Skypark
3 stations over 24.5 km, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)

Railway operators

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad

The main intercity passenger train operator is Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), a corporation owned by the Malaysian government. It operates the diesel-hauled KTM Intercity passenger trains on the entire East Coast Line and the southern portion of the West Coast Line, and the electrified KTM ETS passenger trains along the remaining portion of the West Coast Line, between Padang Besar and Gemas and the Butterworth branch line. KTM also operates freight trains along both railway lines. Under the KTM Komuter, KTM operates commuter rail services along double-track and electrified portions of the West Coast Line between Tanjung Malim in Perak and Pulau Sebang in Negeri Sembilan, and between Padang Besar in Perlis and Padang Rengas in Perak, as well as the Butterworth, Port Klang and Batu Caves branch lines.

Besides its own network, KTM also operates trains on the Kerteh-Kuantan railway under contract with Petronas, the owner of the line.

Sabah State Railway

The Sabah State Railway, previously the North Borneo Railway, is the only state department in Malaysia to operate a railway service. It operates passenger and freight services along the 134 km railway line between Tanjung Aru and Tenom in East Malaysia.

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd

The Express Rail Link (ERL) is a private company that was set up to develop and operate the high-speed railway between Kuala Lumpur's KL Sentral station and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It operates two services along the 57 km standard gauge line, the non-stop KLIA Ekspres and the commuter-like KLIA Transit. Trains on the two services can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h and are the fastest in Malaysia. Besides trains, the company also provides check-in facilities at its Kuala Lumpur City Airport Terminal at KL Sentral. Except for check-in baggage of passengers, Express Rail Link does not handle any cargo.

Rapid Rail

Rapid Rail was set up by Prasarana Malaysia to operate the rapid transit public transport service in the Klang Valley. Prasarana Malaysia is fully owned by Ministry of Finance Incorporated, the corporate arm of the Malaysian Ministry of Finance. The company currently operates two MRT lines, three LRT lines and one monorail line in Kuala Lumpur under the Rapid KL brand, namely the Kajang Line, Putrajaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line, Kelana Jaya Line and KL Monorail.

Other operators

History

Headquarters of the F.M.S. Railways at Kuala Lumpur - circa 1910. The headquarters was later moved to a building opposite Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Railway line heading north from Kuala Lumpur on left, railway sidings on right.

Railways in Malaysia began because of the need to transport tin from mines in the hinterland of the West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia to coastal ports. The first railway line, which was opened on 1 June 1885, was about 13 km long and ran between Port Weld and Taiping, the heart of the tin-rich Larut Valley in Perak state.[52] The second line was opened a year later to link Kuala Lumpur, again the center of tin-mining activities in the Klang Valley, and Klang and subsequently to Port Swettenham (Port Klang today).

Timeline

  • 1885 – The first railway line in Malaya between Taiping and Port Weld is officially opened on 1 June.
  • 1886 – Opening of line between Kuala Lumpur and Klang.
  • July 1888 – The first train crash in the country occurred in Sungai Kerawai near Teluk Anson, Perak.
  • 1891 – Opening of the line between Seremban and Port Dickson. (Abandon)
  • 1893 – Teluk Anson to Tapah Road line opened. (Abandon)
  • 1896 – Federated Malay States Railway created, merging the operations of the initial four lines.
  • 1900 – Opening of the Victoria Railway Bridge across Perak River in Perak. (Taiping - Port Weld line)
  • 1903 – Line between Tank Road and Woodlands in Singapore opened for service.
  • 1909 – The West Coast Line between Prai in Penang state and Johor Bahru completed and opened.
  • 1910 – The first stretch of the East Coast Line between Gemas and Bahau is opened.
  • 1923 - Johor-Singapore Causeway was opened, connecting Singapore's railway network with the rest of Malaya.
  • 1931 – East Coast Line between Tumpat and Gemas completed with the opening of the last stretch between Gua Musang and Kuala Gris in Kelantan.
  • 3 August 1995 – The first KTM Komuter trains, Malaysia's first to be run on electricity, began taking passengers between Kuala Lumpur and Rawang. Entire commuter train network opened to passengers with the final stretch to Seremban becoming operational on 18 December 1995.
  • 14 April 2002 – Malaysia's first high-speed train, the KLIA Ekspres between KL Sentral and Kuala Lumpur International Airport was officially launched. At the same time, the Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal in KL Sentral was also opened.
  • 1 July 2011 – KTM's Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah railway stations in Singapore were closed. All Singapore operations were moved to Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
  • 2013 - The stretch of rail between Seremban and Gemas was double tracked and electrified. ETS services ran the same year.
  • 2014 - The stretch of rail between Ipoh and Padang Besar was double tracked and electrified. ETS services ran the following year.

Projects and expansion plans

Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrification and Double-Tracking

The MYR 8 billion contract was expected to be tendered out by end 2008 pending a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The project would have included building over 200 km of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signalling and communications.[53] This included the realignment between Pulau Sebang, Melaka to Gemas section.

In May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe submitted a proposal to the Government to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Bahru at a cost of MYR 5 billion. According to them, the project would be on a private finance initiative basis and the plan submitted to the Finance Ministry later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in Johor State.[54]

On 29 January 2011, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said that the Gemas-Johor Bahru double-tracking and electrification project was expected to start that year. He added that the Government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project that year and Malaysia was still in the midst of talking with China Railway Construction, but nothing was confirmed yet. Kong said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project. The construction of the 197 km of tracks, at an estimated cost between MYR 6 billion and MYR 7 billion, would take three years.[55]

On 27 October 2015, the public display exercise, required for all development of new railways under Section 84 of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Act 2010, for the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrification Double Tracking Project began and will run until 27 January 2016. According to documents on display to the public, construction is expected to begin in 2016 and be completed in 2021.[56]

The Chinese company CRCC has been awarded to build the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrification and Double-Tracking project. Construction on the project began in Jan 2018.[57] It is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

The length of the line to be electrified and double-tracked is 197 km between Chainage 563.040 at Gemas and Chainage 754.180 at Johor Bahru. The project includes the construction of 11 stations at Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru, and 3 future stations at Tenang, Chamek and Senai. The upgraded line is supposed to cater for at least 22 services daily involving KTM ETS, KTM Intercity and shuttle train services as well as KTM Komuter.

The documents displayed also stated that the electrification for the stretch will have the same specifications as that of the Seremban-Gemas stretch, at 25 kV AC 50 Hz single phase and supplied via an overhead catenary. Train operations for this stretch will be integrated with the Train Control Centres at KL Sentral and Gemas. The design speed for the tracks is 160 km/h.

Klang Valley Double Track Project

The project was implemented by Keretapi Tanah Melayu began in 2016 and phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2021.[58] The project entails the rehabilitation of 42 km of tracks between Rawang and Salak Selatan as well as Sentul and Simpang Batu. This will focus on enhancing 16 stations along these routes and upgrade the existing signalling and electrification system.[59] This will be reduced to just seven-and-a-half minutes once the KVDT is completed.[60]

The 42 km rehabilitation under Phase I, which are:

  • Phase 1A (Rawang – Simpang Batu)
  • Phase 1B (Kuala Lumpur – Simpang Bangsar)
  • Phase 2 (Simpang Batu – Kuala Lumpur)
  • Phase 3 (Sentul – Simpang Batu)
  • Phase 4 (Simpang Bangsar – Salak Selatan)

Phase II is from Simpang - Pelabuhan Klang and Salak Selatan - Seremban.

Penang Transport Master Plan

Main article: George Town – Bayan Lepas LRT line

The Penang Transport Master Plan is a proposed, mixed-mode transport scheme for the state of Penang in norther Peninsular Malaysia conceived by the Penang state government, consisting of light rail, bus and rapid transit systems. The Bayan Lepas light rapid transit (LRT) line will be the first LRT line in Penang. It is The first and one of the priority projects of the Master Plan. The proposed 22 km (14 mi) will exclusively serve the Penang Island, and will link the city centre of George Town in the north with the industrial town of Bayan Lepas to the south of the island.

East Coast Rail Link

Main article: MRL East Coast Rail Link

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a standard gauge, single-track on double placement railway link infrastructure project connecting Port Klang on the Straits of Malacca to Kota Bharu in northeast Peninsular Malaysia via Putrajaya, connecting the East Coast Economic Region states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to one another, and to the Central Region of the Peninsular's west coast. The project was proposed to provide high speed inter-city rail service to the east coast states and to complement the KTM East Coast Line. Currently, Terengganu is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia without a passenger railway system, as the KTM East Coast Line only services Pahang and Kelantan.

Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System

Main article: Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) is a planned cross-border rapid transit system that would connect Woodlands, Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, crossing the Straits of Johor.

The rapid transit system will have two stations, with the Singaporean terminus located at Woodlands North station (interchanging with the Singapore MRT system) and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station (interchange with the proposed Iskandar Malaysia BRT system). Both stations will have co-located Singaporean and Malaysian customs, immigration and quarantine facilities.

When built, the RTS Link will be the second rail link between the two countries after the KTM Intercity Shuttle Tebrau, and the first high-capacity international metro system to be built. The RTS Link is expected to replace the railway line and shuttle train services between JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, completing the withdrawal of KTM operations from Singapore.

Kuala Lumpur Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system expansion

Main articles: Ampang and Sri Petaling lines, Kelana Jaya Line, and Bandar Utama–Klang line

On 29 August 2006, then Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak announced a RM10 billion plan to expand Kuala Lumpur's public transport network. The plan included extending the existing Kelana Jaya Line from Kelana Jaya via Subang Jaya to Putra Heights and the Sri Petaling Line from Sri Petaling to Putra Heights via Puchong.

Prasarana Malaysia, the owner of the LRT lines, signed an agreement on 13 October 2006 with Bombardier and a Malaysian company joint venture for the purchase of 22 light rail vehicle sets with an option for another 13 for RM1.2 billion for the Kelana Jaya Line. The 22 vehicles will have four cars each and will boost the carrying capacity of the fleet by 1,500 people. The 22 sets will be delivered from August 2008. The new rolling stock was put into full operation by 2016. end-2010. As for the Ampang and Sri Petaling Line, the rolling stock currently consists of a fleet of 50 new trains that are deployed to increase the capacity of the line and provide a better service. Each of the new trains is six cars long and provided by CSR Zhuzhou of China.

The entire project and fleet expansion was completed and have been in full operation since 30 June 2016.

A third LRT system is under construction which, once completed, will link the city centre with the cities of Shah Alam and Klang. The line, which spans 37 km, has 25 permanent stations under construction, one of them being kept as provisional stations for the future.[61] The LRT line is planned to be fully operational by 2026.

Sarawak rail transportation projects

Main articles: Sarawak Railway Line and Kuching LRT

Terengganu and Sarawak are the only two states in Malaysia that do not have railway infrastructure. In Sarawak, a railway line existed before the Second World War, but the last remnants of the line were dismantled in 1959.[62]

As part of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy project, the government is planning a 320 km railway track between Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah Division. The cost and plans for the project timeline is yet to be revealed.[63]

Another railway line, the Sarawak Railway Line is a proposed project by the Malaysian government to establishing a railway network in the state of Sarawak.[64][65] In 2008, it was reported the project will be ready in 2015 but still no signs of development by the government until present.[66]

The Kuching LRT system is a proposed light rapid transit (LRT) system network in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. as one of the methods to ease traffic congestion in the city.[67][68] The proposed LRT lines will connect Kuching to Samarahan and Serian.[69] The construction of the RM10.8 billion project was expected to commence by 2019 and was scheduled to be operational by 2024.[70]

Sabah rail transportation projects

Main articles: Sabah State Railway, Kota Kinabalu Monorail, and Kota Kinabalu Line

On 17 September 2015, it was announced that the Sabah State Railway will be extended to cover the northern and east coast areas, mainly to major towns of Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau.[71][72] On 21 March 2017, around RM1 million has been allocated for the project study.[73] Once the project is complete, there is also a proposal to connecting the rail networks of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia with the provinces of Kalimantan in Indonesia that will be called as "Trans-Borneo Railway",[74] as Indonesia were currently developing the railway network on their side.[75][76]

A proposed monorail line project is to be constructed in the Kota Kinabalu area by the Sabah state government.[77][78] The proposals generated mixed reactions between the mayor and politicians.[79][80][81][82] As reported in the government website, the project was in the ground breaking process under the Kota Kinabalu development plan.[83]

A new rapid transit line has also been proposed to ease traffic congestions in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. On 27 August 2019, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has submitted a proposal to build an LRT or MRT to the federal government. The city authorities are currently waiting for budget on the project.[84]

On 2021, a skytrain system of Kota Kinabalu was proposed. The skytrain is planned to connect the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.4 companies which will be involved in the skytrain project signed a memorandum of understanding on 29 November. The skytrain will be built by phases, with phase 1 will be connecting the airport to the city centre, while phase 2 will extended till Alamesra, near the university.[85]

Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Main article: Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit

The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project is a proposed three-line 150 km MRT system by Gamuda Berhad-MMC Corporation Berhad for the Klang Valley which envisages a "Wheel and Spoke" concept comprising two northeast–southwest radial lines and one circle line looping around Kuala Lumpur. The proposal was announced in early-June 2010 and construction works were targeted to commence in early 2011, leading to project completion in 2016 for the first line.

The MRT system will be the backbone of a new transport system in Klang Valley, which will be home to an estimated 10 million people by 2020. The MRT system will be integrated with the existing LRT, monorail, KTM Komuter and intra- and inter-city bus services to form an effective public transportation system.

In December 2010, the Government announced that the Kajang Line will be the first to take off. The Kajang Line will run from Sungai Buloh to Kajang through the Kuala Lumpur city centre. This route which runs from north-west to south-east of Kuala Lumpur is densely populated and is currently inadequately served by the then existing rail-based public transport. Upon completion, the line is estimated to provide service to 1.2 million people with an estimated daily ridership of 442,000.

Construction of the line was officially launched on 8 July 2011 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Phase 1 of the line, from Sungai Buloh to Semantan station was operational by December 2016 while the remainder of the line opened in July 2017.[86]

The MRT system will be owned by the Government of Malaysia through the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp), a special purpose vehicle which is 100% owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated. Rapid Rail, which is the current operator of the Klang Valley's LRT and monorail lines operated the MRT lines under its integrated fare system.

A second MRT line, the Putrajaya Line, is currently under construction and is slated to be completed and fully operational by January 2023. The third MRT line, the Circle Line, is another proposed line and would be the "Wheel" component of the MRT project. The line was recently approved by the Cabinet and is currently awaiting the tendering process.[87] Constructions are expected to commence by December 2028.[88]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Annual rail ridership in whole of Malaysia.[1]

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