Malaysia, October 2026 – Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the ECRL could reduce the number of container trucks on highways by up to 90 for every freight train journey. Each train is expected to accommodate approximately 45 wagons, providing additional capacity for moving goods between the East Coast and the Klang Valley.
The planned freight network will connect Kuantan Port and, in the future, Kemaman Port with Westports and Northport at Port Klang. These connections are intended to strengthen links between major Malaysian ports and provide businesses with an alternative to long-distance road transport. According to Darwis, rail freight can offer lower operating costs and more predictable delivery schedules, particularly for shipments travelling more than 200 kilometres.
However, the extent of the shift from road to rail will depend on competitive freight rates, reliable train schedules and effective first-mile and last-mile connections. Trucks will continue to play an important role in transporting goods between factories, distribution centres, railway terminals and final destinations. Developing industrial hubs along the ECRL corridor and providing direct access to ports will therefore be important to attracting freight operators and increasing utilisation.
The 665-kilometre ECRL project had reached 98.16% completion as of October 2026, with trial operations scheduled for November ahead of planned commercial services on 12 December 2026. The railway will connect Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. Its express passenger service is also expected to reduce travel time between Gombak and Kota Bharu to approximately four hours, while a separate transit service is expected to take less than five hours. Operations and maintenance will be managed by ECRL Operations Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between MRL and China Communications Construction Company, with technology transfer to Malaysian personnel targeted over five years.
The ECRL represents a significant step towards integrating railway freight into Malaysia’s national logistics network. Its ability to reduce highway traffic will ultimately depend on industry adoption, port integration and efficient cargo handling across transport modes. If businesses shift a substantial share of suitable long-distance freight to rail, the project could help ease pressure on major highways while strengthening connections between industrial centres and international trade gateways.
Source: New Straits Times
ECRL Freight Trains Could Remove 90 Container Trucks From Highways
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Shifting long-distance freight from roads to rail is an important strategy for reducing highway congestion, improving logistics efficiency and supporting more sustainable transport. Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is preparing to support this transition, with each freight train designed to carry the equivalent of up to 90 twenty-foot containers between the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.
