Kuala terengganu: The first two sets of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains and two electric locomotives (E-Loco) for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project are anticipated to arrive by the end of this year, as announced by Malaysia Rail Link (MRL). MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak explained that the arrival aims to facilitate commissioning tests for both passenger and freight train operations, which are scheduled to commence in June 2026.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, an additional nine EMU sets and 18 locomotives are planned for delivery in stages between April and May next year. In total, the fleet will comprise 11 EMU trains for passenger services and 20 locomotives for freight operations. Darwis shared this update during the launch of the 2025 POLYCC TVET Mega Fiesta at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Polytechnic (PSMZA). The event was also attended by Abdul Razak Sabtu, Senior Director (Competency) of the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education, and PSMZA director Zamra Derahman.

Darwis further revealed that MRL is set to send 109 students from higher learning institutions to participate in the ECRL Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL) in Liuzhou, China, from August to October this year. These trainees are assured job placements with the ECRL project upon completing their training, with a starting salary of RM3,000. Earlier in May, 101 students from various institutions, including polytechnics and MARA, were sent to join the PLKI-ECRL programme. Approximately 60 students from PSMZA were selected for this opportunity, highlighting the crucial collaboration between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and industry partners in developing a skilled workforce ready to tackle global challenges.