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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 24): Malaysia and China have agreed on a proposal to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang in Kelantan, potentially bringing the railway closer to the Thai border.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pictured) said the proposal would be discussed with stakeholders before being brought to the Cabinet for consideration, according to Bernama. The extension has yet to receive Cabinet approval, and its final alignment, cost and delivery timetable have not been announced.
Anwar said the extension could stimulate economic activity in less-developed parts of Kelantan and improve transport connections with Thailand. He said Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had responded positively to the proposal. The announcement did not set out plans for a cross-border rail connection.
The extension has been discussed since at least September 2025, when Anwar said the proposed continuation from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang could span about 20km to 25km. He said then that its details, cost and payment arrangements had yet to be worked out.
The existing 665km ECRL is planned to link Kota Bharu and Port Klang through 20 stations: 10 for passengers and 10 serving both passengers and freight. Its Kota Bharu–Gombak section is undergoing testing and commissioning, while the Gombak–Port Klang section is scheduled for completion in December 2027.
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