The feasibility study for the proposed Trans-Borneo Railway connecting Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia) is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2026. Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook confirmed that a local consultant has been appointed to conduct the 12-month study, which began in June 2025, focusing primarily on Sabah and Sarawak.
The study will cover technical, commercial, socio-economic, operational, and governance aspects, along with a strategic plan, implementation schedule, and action framework. It is funded with RM7 million allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan, fully financed by the federal government. Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya previously confirmed the budget approval.
The Trans-Borneo Railway, first proposed in 2015 by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to then Indonesian President Joko Widodo, envisions a 1,600 km network with trains capable of operating at up to 350 km/hr. However, the project remains at the proposal stage and no company has yet been awarded the contract.