KUALA LUMPUR, August 2025 — The feasibility study for the proposed Trans-Borneo Railway, which if built would link Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan in Indonesia, is expected to conclude by the third quarter of 2026, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. The 12-month study, which kicked off in June 2025, is focused on the Sabah and Sarawak portions of the project.

The federal government has allocated RM 7 million for the study, financed under the 12th Malaysia Plan. The terms of reference include comparative analyses covering technical, commercial, socio-economic, operational, governance, and social benefit aspects. Deliverables from the consultant will include a strategic plan, implementation schedule, action plan, and a timeline, alongside ensuring support from all key stakeholders.

While earlier claims surfaced from Brunei-based Brunergy Utama that the project would run about 1,600 kilometres at a cost of approximately US$70 billion and support train speeds up to 350 km/h, Minister Loke clarified that the project remains in the proposal stage, with no contract awarded and no official confirmation of those figures.

Completion of the study is anticipated to provide clearer direction and feasibility for the Trans-Borneo Railway, which has the potential to significantly boost connectivity and economic integration across the Borneo region.

Source: The Edge Malaysia