The Sabah state government has announced plans to implement 39 railway infrastructure projects between 2026 and 2030 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), aimed at strengthening the state’s transport network to support rising investment and economic activity. The programme will be led by the Sabah Railway Department (JKNS) following its transfer to the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport.
Of the total, eight projects are currently ongoing and are expected to be completed by the second year of the 13MP, while 24 new projects are scheduled to commence in 2026. The ongoing initiatives include slope and embankment repairs along the Beaufort–Tenom railway alignment to improve safety and service reliability, the procurement of two diesel multiple unit (DMU) non-powered cars and one locomotive to increase passenger and freight capacity, and a feasibility study with preliminary design works for a new rail link connecting Putatan with the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park and Sepanggar Port.
The new projects planned from next year include feasibility studies for an urban rail-based public transport system serving Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas, procurement of four additional non-powered cars to expand the DMU fleet, and a range of upgrading works covering track maintenance, station improvements, and signalling system enhancements. These initiatives are intended to modernise Sabah’s rail infrastructure and provide more efficient transport options for commuters and businesses.
In parallel, the state government has aligned port development with rail expansion by placing the Sabah Ports Authority under the same ministry. For 2026, priority will be given to accelerating the Sepanggar Bay Container Port capacity expansion project and addressing interim congestion issues. Additional maritime infrastructure upgrades, including jetty improvements, vessel traffic monitoring systems, and ferry terminal preparatory works, are also planned to ensure integrated transport development across Sabah.
