KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry plans to develop a rail network connecting Malaysia and China, which will likely connect Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru to Kunming.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the ambitious rail network would need further collaboration from Thailand and Laos to discuss ways to partner in building a railway linking the two countries.
"Building this network is possible, and I call upon the Chinese government to help facilitate these exchanges.
"And hopefully, China can play an important role in helping to convince other countries, such as Laos and Thailand, so that we can one day have seamless rail services between Southeast Asia and China.
"I look forward to this collaboration. And it is not only for the transportation of goods but also passenger train service between Malaysia and China," he said at the launch of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) first rail-sea service in collaboration with Cosco Shipping Lines here today.
KTMB, via KTM Kargo, has announced the collaboration with Cosco Shipping Lines, a China-based shipping company headquartered in Shanghai, to offer customers faster and more efficient goods transportation solutions.
This new partnership is set to connect major inland points to seaports throughout Malaysia's peninsular region, providing a stable, cheaper, and more convenient trade route for import and export goods.
Loke said this would significantly save the transit time to four days and be cost-effective for all import and export customers in Malaysia's inland areas while boosting economic growth and investment opportunities.
He said the service is expected to begin this month and target to move 400 wagons per month or 800 twenty-foot equivalent units per month.
"Starting from Penang Port, Port Klang and Padang Besar, the real-sea service will expand to Pasir Gudang and Ipoh in the future.
"Moving forward, I am confident that more partners will come on board from road hauliers, port operators, freight forwarders, intermodal terminal operators, and third-party logistics providers to provide seamless delivery services," he added.
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