Kuala lumpur: Fares for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will be determined based on a comprehensive study conducted by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and are subject to approval by the relevant authorities, stated Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The fares are expected to be announced several months before the commencement of operations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke emphasized that the current focus of the ministry is on construction and installation works to ensure the project is completed on time. The testing and commissioning phases are crucial and must be conducted before the fares are set. He made these remarks during a visit to Feeder Station 01 and the Kota Bharu ECRL Station project site.
Loke noted that the construction of the 665-kilometre ECRL network had achieved an overall progress of 90.81 per cent as of December 2025, surpassing the project target of 90 per cent. This progress was supported by the completion of excavation work for all 14 tunnels, the laying of over 500 km of track, and the installation of more than 12,000 Overhead Catenary System (OCS) poles for electricity supply.
On the construction of the Kota Bharu ECRL Station, Loke mentioned it had reached an overall progress of 82.06 per cent as of December 2025, with full completion expected by the second quarter of 2026. The station, built on a 20.94-hectare site, reflects Kelantan's heritage and provides 500 parking spaces, passenger drop-off and pick-up points, covered walkways, and staff quarters.
Loke also highlighted the activation of the 132-kilovolt electricity supply from the Main Input Substation to Feeder Station 01 ahead of schedule. The ministry is satisfied with the progress of the 43-kilometre ECRL line in Kelantan, which had recorded 96.67 per cent completion as of December 2025, covering the Kota Bharu Station in Tunjong and the Pasir Puteh Station in Cherang Tuli for passenger and cargo services.
The ECRL project will soon receive 11 train sets, each comprising six carriages, with the facility to be introduced in Kuantan, Pahang. Loke added that the project is expected to enter a comprehensive testing and commissioning phase from June 2026 to ensure smooth and safe operations. The minister expressed optimism that the ECRL line from Kota Bharu to the Gombak Integrated Terminal will be completed by December as scheduled, with commercial operations expected to begin in January 2027.
Meanwhile, Loke clarified that no discussions have been held regarding a proposed extension of the ECRL project to Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas. The Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, had previously expressed hope for this extension to drive economic growth at the border and strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Thailand.