The Governments of Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to restore the inactive railway line connecting Sungai Kolok in Thailand with Rantau Panjang in Malaysia, aiming to enhance cross-border trade, mobility, and regional development. The revival plan follows a bilateral transport ministers’ meeting on May 2, where both sides pledged to accelerate the route’s restoration.
A Thai delegation led by Atiphu Jittanukrao, deputy director-general of Thailand’s Department of Rail Transport, visited Malaysia on June 13 to inspect key stations along the Eastern Corridor Rail Link (ECRL) and assess infrastructure, including the disused Sungai Kolok railway bridge. The inspection covered stations in Kelantan state—Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, and Kota Bharu—linking the historic route with the 665-kilometre ECRL, now 83 percent complete.
Malaysia is considering a 30.5 km extension from Kota Bharu to strengthen the ECRL’s integration with national rail networks. Inactive for over two decades, the Rantau Panjang–Pasir Mas section has faced challenges such as frequent flooding. Joint efforts are now underway to revitalise this corridor and better connect Thailand’s southern provinces with Malaysia’s infrastructure network.