Kuala lumpur: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) cargo service has the potential to replace approximately 79 lorries for each train trip, contributing to reduced road congestion and minimizing the risk of accidents involving heavy vehicles. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah highlighted this potential during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hasbi explained that an ECRL cargo train, consisting of up to 45 wagons, can transport loads of up to 3,150 tonnes in a single journey. This capacity significantly surpasses the average lorry, which typically carries a maximum load of only 40 tonnes per trip. The ECRL is envisioned as a crucial freight transport infrastructure, connecting the East Coast with the Klang Valley and Port Klang, in alignment with the Road-to-Rail Initiative. The initiative seeks to shift cargo movement from road to rail, potentially decreasing reliance on heavy vehicles on major highways, particularly on routes linking the East Coast and the Klang Valley.
Hasbi was addressing a query from Senator Norhasmimi Abdul Ghani regarding the impact of the ECRL on reducing the number of heavy vehicles to enhance highway safety. He noted that the effectiveness of this modal shift would rely on several factors, including industry adoption rates, a competitive tariff structure, and the availability of first-mile and last-mile connectivity.
On efforts to promote the ECRL as the preferred transport option, Hasbi mentioned plans for developing industrial hubs along the alignment and constructing a spur line to provide direct access to Kuantan Port. He emphasized that these efforts aim to ensure full utilization of the ECRL, with industrial hubs expected to emerge along the route, including a vehicle manufacturing plant that has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to use this service.
Furthermore, Hasbi cited a freight modal shift study estimating that by 2050, 24.3 million tonnes of cargo annually could be transferred from road to rail. This shift could indicate a reduction of about 3,300 to 6,700 long-haul loaded lorry trips per day. However, these figures refer to a decrease in trips rather than the number of physical lorries, as lorries will still be necessary for first-mile and last-mile deliveries.