KUANTAN: The first track has been laid for the East Coast Rail Link(ECRL) in Gebeng near here, marking the dawn of a new era in the country's mega-rail project.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah graced the official inauguration of the track-laying ceremony at the Section 10 ECRL station site here.
This marks the beginning of a crucial 94-kilometre track laying works from Kuantan Port City (KPC) station in Gebeng here to Dungun, Terengganu, and is expected to be completed in three to four months.
The project will then progress to lay tracks from KPC station to Temerloh, heading north from Dungun to Kota Baru (Kelantan) and concluding from Temerloh to Jalan Kastam, Selangor.
The precision track laying machine is expected to lay approximately between 1.5km and 2.5km of tracks a day, a significant increase from the conventional method, which installs between 500 and 700m of tracks a day.
Six customised diesel locomotives measuring 22m in length with a maximum speed of 100km per hour which arrived here in October will facilitate the transportation of track materials,
Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah also graced the event.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anthony Loke in his speech described this year as vital for the ECRL project with the progress rate reaching 56.35 per cent till November this year.
He said to date, 23,000 workers were hired at 1,900 construction sites along the overall rail alignment.
China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) chairman Wang Tongzhou, in his speech, described today's event as not only a ceremonial milestone as it also symbolises the beginning of a new era in the construction of Malaysia's flagship railway mega-infrastructure ECRL
"The laying of the first track under royal auspices is a testament to our commitment to Malaysia's progress, innovation, and enhanced connectivity. As we leap forward in our journey, reinforcing our dedication to excellence, safety, and community enrichment, we are inspired to create a rail system that embodies Malaysia's dynamic spirit and aspiration for a connected future." he said.
The 665km-long ECRL built with a cost of RM50.27 billion will traverse the east coast states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu through to the Klang Valley.
Upon completion, the ECRL passenger trains can travel at a speed of 160km per hour while the freight trains travel at 80km per hour.
Also present today were Pahang menteri besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
Others present were Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing and MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak.