ECRL extension: Land acquisition, technical studies underway before construction
KUALA LUMPUR: Technical studies and land acquisition are underway for the proposed extension of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), with physical construction to begin once the alignment corridor is secured.
KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) extension is currently in the early stages of development, with technical studies and land acquisition taking precedence before any construction can commence. Transport Minister Anthony Loke revealed that the first two years will be dedicated to securing land rights from both the state government and local owners, as well as conducting thorough technical assessments.
Following these crucial steps, physical construction is expected to begin once the alignment corridor is secured. Speaking at the Transport Expo Asia 2026, Loke noted that the entire project is projected to be completed within four and a half years. As of October 14, the ECRL had reached 95.08 percent overall progress, having already entered the testing and commissioning phase ahead of commercial operations scheduled for January 2027.
The initial Phase One, which spans the Kota Baru-Gombak alignment, is on track for completion by December 2026. Moreover, the cabinet recently approved a 32km extension of the ECRL to reach the Malaysia-Thailand border, following talks between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during Anwar's recent visit to China.
This extension will significantly enhance regional cross-border logistics and connectivity between the two nations.
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