Prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced at today’s Budget 2017 speech the allocation of RM55 billion for the development of the East Coast Rail Line project, which is a 600 km-long line that will connect the Klang Valley with the East Coast.
The line will start from Port Klang, connecting townships such as ITT Gombak, Bentong, Mentakab, Kuantan, Kemaman, Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu and will end in Tumpat.
Meanwhile, RM100 million will be allocated for the repairs to the Gua Musang-Tumpat sector of the East Coast railway line that was destroyed during floods, while the frequency of ETS services for the Johor Bahru-Padang Besar route are to be increased.
A total of 19 sets of trains are to be acquired – at a total cost of RM1.1 billion – in stages until 2019.
