Diesel locomotives arrive in Kuantan to assist in ECRL construction

SHAH ALAM - Several diesel locomotives that will be used to assist in the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project have begun arriving in the country.

According to ECRL, the locomotives have now reached the depot in Kuantan Port, Pahang.

"Good news! The first few ECRL diesel locomotives have arrived in Malaysia via Kuantan Port and are now at the ECRL depot in Kuantan Port City.

"These locomotives will greatly support the project's construction activities," it said in a Facebook post today.

It also shared snapshots of the diesel locomotives that were brought in via the Kuantan Port.

On Sept 19, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the ECRL project was reported to be at an overall progress rate of 50.29 per cent.

This year is reportedly the peak year for ECRL construction, involving major structural work such as piling, station construction, and track installation.

He said that the tunnel boring work using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method for the first Genting tunnel had reached 3.10 kilometres, while the second Genting tunnel had reached 4.29 kilometres.

The ECRL project's completion date from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to Gombak remains as scheduled on Dec 31, 2026, while from Gombak to Port Klang, it will be completed by Dec 31, 2027.

The 665km-long ECRL project spans across the East Coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before connecting the Klang Valley to the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The main contractor for the ECRL project is China Communications Construction Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL), which is also the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) contractor.

As of Aug 31, a total of 2,785 local companies, including subcontractors, consultants, suppliers, and service providers, have been involved in the ECRL construction project.