There are currently no plans for the Electric Train Service (ETS) to be extended to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Bernama has reported.
This is because the east coast railway lines are single-track, and lack the electrification infrastructure necessary for ETS operations, said transport minister Anthony Loke.
“The east coast is currently served only by diesel multiple units (DMU) because the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) tracks there are single-track and not electrified. But the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will serve that region,” Loke said.
The rail service received the first units of the third-generation (ETS3) trainsets in April this year, and these will serve the southern sector of the West Coast Line, which is expected to be fully electrified and double-tracked all the way to JB Sentral by the end of this year.
Currently, ETS services will continue to be focused on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, operating between Padang Besar, Perlis and Johor Baru, Johor, the transport minister added.
Meanwhile, Loke said of KTMB that improvements are needed especially in the commuter, ETS and freight services, which have yet to achieve full profitability, according to the report. However, profitability is not KTMB’s main focus as a government-linked company, which has a social responsibility to provide the best service to the public, the transport minister said.
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Redundant railing is not a smart financial move. As mentioned, ECRL will serve the area.
Although in all honesty, it wouldn’t be redundant, as even current ETS gets packed especially during festival seasons. And we have a lot of festivals. But that can be solved with additional train cars.
The main reason is presently ETS runs on archaic narrow meter gauge KTMB rail tracks meanwhile ECRL railway track adhere to the newer wider standard gauge.
Just imagine every time ETS train going to east coast must pitstops at wheel axle exchange station before continuing journey so does coming back to west coast must swap again the wheel axle KEK
What are you talking about?
The KTM North-South Line (Pdg Besar – JB) and the KTM East Coast Line (Gemas – Tumpat) BOTH use the Metre Gage. No need “pitstops” for “wheel axle exchange.”
Only the ECRL use the Standard Gauge.
Lack of forward planning as well as myopic view of logistics. Blaming current infrastructure for future development. Mr Anthony Loke should resign as Work Minister as he has failed to carry out his job and duty.
i guess it’s lucky then that loke isn’t Work minister
Fuh your brain just dropped into tandas ke? I think you are the minority with such incapable wisdom to understand the situation. Anthony Loke had proven to be better minister so far in our history. Apa lu fikir?
East Coast is a low yield seasonal route which is not worth the infra investment. Better to update airports and have airlines ply those routes. Rail infrastructure is all about ridership on a daily basis otherwise it’s a massive white elephant.
Please be smart when you are commenting on something, without proper infrastructure, any place unable to develope in fast pace…& you better check your facts, as the utilization of train & buses services in East Coast, especially during festive season is very high…