China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has commenced systems integration checks and an 8,000 km trial run for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). The tests cover railway systems integration and operational performance, with the first phase scheduled for completion in December 2026 and commercial operations targeted for January 2027.
The systems integration tests will cover key railway systems including signalling, communications and traction power. The separate 8,000 km trial run will assess the safety, reliability and efficiency of the railway before passenger services begin. The first phase extends from Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak in Selangor, while the second phase will extend the line from Gombak to Port Klang.
The ECRL is scheduled to be fully operational by January 2028. Phase II, from Gombak to Port Klang, is expected to be completed by December 2027. The project is intended to improve east-west connectivity across Peninsular Malaysia and reduce journey times. An express service is expected to connect Gombak and Kuantan in about one hour and 35 minutes, compared with approximately three hours by road. The project also includes the Integrated Transport Terminal Gombak, which was reported to be nearly 99 per cent complete at the time of the systems testing ceremony. Major station designs incorporate architectural and cultural elements from the states along the route.