Kota bharu: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Phase 1 service from Kota Bharu to Gombak is targeted to commence operations as early as December, earlier than the original schedule in January 2027. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the target depends on the smoothness of the ongoing testing and commissioning processes, including the System Integration Testing (SIT) and Fault-Free Run (FFR), without any compromise on safety aspects.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and the main contractor China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) need to work to expedite the process so that the service from Kelantan to Selangor can commence by the end of this year. Loke mentioned that efforts are underway to see how the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) can assist in facilitating matters related to the testing and certification processes to expedite the project without compromising safety. He explained that the usual process takes two to three months, and they are exploring ways to shorten this time.
Loke highlighted that the effort to accelerate the operation was made based on the assessment that various tests on the train had been conducted before it was sent to Malaysia, including tests at the factory in China. The SIT ECRL starting this month will test the integration of various systems, including electrical and signalling systems, before the FFR is implemented in September. The first train set and E-Loco each need to undergo FFR over a distance of 8,000 kilometres under the supervision of APAD to ensure that operational safety and reliability meet the established standards and legal requirements.
FFR is one of the important processes before commercial operations because the train will move on the track under real conditions, but without carrying passengers. Loke emphasized that all previous tests must be completed and approved before the FFR is implemented, ensuring that the effort to expedite the period does not mean that any safety processes will be overlooked.
Meanwhile, the ECRL project has now recorded an overall progress of 95.08 per cent as of July for Phase 1, which connects Kota Bharu and Gombak. Phase 2, which connects Gombak to Port Klang, is expected to be completed by December 2027, with operations scheduled to begin in January 2028. Present at the event were the Chief Secretary to the Government and MRL chairman Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Haji Habibollah, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, and Ministry of Transport secretary-general Datuk Seri M. Jana Santhiran, along with other key figures from MRL and CCCC.