Transport minister: ECRL extension to Thailand faces track gauge differences, flood risks

• Anthony Loke said this comes as the ECRL uses the standard gauge track, which is wider, while Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) operates on a metre gauge, creating a mismatch or a lack of alignment between the two systems.

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): Government’s upcoming technical study on extending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to the Malaysia–Thailand border will look into addressing some challenges, including track gauge differences and flood risks, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. (pictured)

Loke said this comes as the ECRL uses the standard gauge track, which is wider, while Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) operates on a metre gauge, creating a mismatch or a lack of alignment between the two systems.

“One option being considered is to allow SRT trains to enter Rantau Panjang and run alongside the ECRL line, so that cargo transfer can be carried out directly on the tracks,” Loke told the Dewan Rakyat during question time on Tuesday.

He said the feasibility of the extension must first be assessed through detailed technical studies, which will also examine potential flood exposures along the route.

“The ECRL is a costly project because many of its sections are elevated—ensuring resilience against floods,” he added.

Any proposed extension, Loke said, would require discussions with the project’s main contractor, China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), as well as approval from the Cabinet. He did not specify a timeline for when the matter would be tabled.

Talks with Thai authorities began on May 2, and included infrastructure aspects.

“Thailand has given positive feedback on this proposal and is seeking a way forward from its Ministry of Transport (MOT),” Loke said.

He added that Malaysia’s MOT is also preparing a cross-border transport memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand, to strengthen bilateral cooperation on railway connectivity.

He said the ministry is also further evaluating whether the cross-border connection should run on the ECRL’s infrastructure or KTM Bhd’s network.

Loke was responding to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who asked about the progress of the study to extend the ECRL to Rantau Panjang—a proposal supported by the Sultan of Kelantan, and whether it would be considered part of the ECRL’s strategic expansion.

On June 12, officials from the MOT, Thailand’s Department of Rail Transport, and SRT carried out a joint site visit to the Rantau Panjang KTM station, the Sungai Golok bridge, and the Kota Bharu ECRL station, to review the condition of rail lines and supporting infrastructure.

The ECRL, a government-to-government project with China funded through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, spans 665km. The line is scheduled for full completion by end-2026, with services from Kota Bharu to Gombak expected to commence in January 2027. The second segment from Gombak to Port Klang is slated for completion in 2028.

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) is the project owner, while CCCC is the main contractor. In February, Loke reiterated that the project requires no additional government allocation, with tenders to be issued jointly by MRL and CCCC.

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