KUCHING: The Transport Ministry is in the process of appointing consultants to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Trans-Borneo Railway project, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly was told today.
State Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said the consultants would evaluate and determine the railway models for implementation in Sarawak and Sabah.
"The Sarawak Transport Ministry, representing the state government on both the technical and steering committees, is collaborating with the federal ministry, federal agencies and statutory bodies, as well as the Sabah government, to coordinate and oversee the study," he said when replying to Baru Bian (GPS-Ba'Kelalan) during question-and-answer session.
Jerip said there were also representatives from the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit, state Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry, state Public Works Department, state Natural Resources and Urban Development Ministry and the state Land and Survey Department.
"The financial models of the proposed railway that are parts of the feasibility study scope,will be determined once the study is completed."
He said the feasibility study would cover technical aspects such as operational characteristics, cost, alignment, stations, depot locations and stakeholder management.
He said the commercial scope covered strategic vision and value proposition, demand estimation, high-level implementation model, risk and challenges and stakeholder engagement.
The socio-economic scope will comprise the economic case for the Trans-Borneo Railway project, national economic and social impact, catalytic impact of transit nodes, high-level narratives and stakeholder engagement.
Jerip said the federal government would fund the project.