The East Coast railway line (ECRL) is a single-track metre gauge railway line in Malaysia that runs between the Gemas railway station in Negeri Sembilan and the Tumpat railway station in Kelantan. Gemas is the rail junction between the West Coast line and East Coast railway line. Like the West Coast railway line, it is called the East Coast railway line (Malaysia) because it serves two of Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast states, namely Pahang and Kelantan. In fact, it does not run along the coast at all and only meets the South China Sea when it terminates in Tumpat railway station. It runs through the interior, often through deep jungle, thus earning the nickname Jungle Railway. Terengganu is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia not served by the KTM railway network. [1]
The East Coast Rail Link is planned to have an interchange with the ECRL at Mentakab and expand the railway network to the cities located in the East Coast, such as Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu. [2]
The East Coast rail line was discontinued due to floods which struck the east coast on 22 December 2014, causing extensive damage to the track infrastructure, signage equipment as well as track maintenance machinery which was submerged in water. In August 2020, Malaysian transport minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the government had allocated RM874.7m to upgrade track infrastructure and trains at the east coast sector and the railway should resume service by 2021. [3]
On 12 April 2021, KTMB launched its KTM Class 61 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains for the east coast route between Kelantan and Pahang. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the DMU trains were being introduced specifically to replace KTM's conventional diesel trains for the KTM Intercity East Coast rail link between Tumpat and Kuala Lipis. He claimed the new DMU will reduce travel time as the average speed of the train is about 100kph, compared to the conventional trains that run between 50kph and 60kph. The DMU trains, covering 216km from Tumpat and Gua Musang and 94km from Gua Musang to Kuala Lipis, would be fully operational in stages. The Tumpat-Gua Musang-Kuala Lipis route represents the first phase of the upgrading process. The second phase will cover routes to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, while the third phase will cover the Gua Musang-Mentakab stretch along the Pahang route. [4]
The East Coast railway line is served by a following: [5]
Station names [6] | Serving cities | Major landmarks | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Tumpat | Tumpat, Kelantan | ||
Kampung Berangan | Not in service | ||
Kampung Kok Pasir | Halt | ||
Palekbang | Halt | ||
Wakaf Bharu | Kota Bharu, Kelantan | The nearest railway station to Kelantan state capital, Kota Bharu | |
Bunut Susu | Halt | ||
Kampung Machang | Halt | ||
Pasir Mas | Pasir Mas, Kelantan | Interchange to Rantau Panjang Branch Line | |
Chica Tinggi | Halt | ||
To' Uban | Halt | ||
Sungai Keladi | Halt | ||
Bukit Panau | Halt | ||
Halt, Not in service | |||
Tanah Merah | Tanah Merah, Kelantan | ||
Sungai Kusial | Not in service | ||
Kampung Paloh Rawa | Halt | ||
Temangan | Guillemard Bridge | ||
Tanjung Bidal | Halt, Not in service | ||
Kampung Bidal | Halt, Not in service | ||
Sungai Nal | Halt | ||
Kuala Krai | Kuala Krai, Kelantan | ||
Pahi | Halt | ||
Manek Urai | |||
Sungei Mengkuang | Halt | ||
Kampung Baru Sungei Mengkuang | Halt | ||
Ulu Temiang | Halt | ||
Kampung Baru Bukit Abu | Halt | ||
Bukit Abu | |||
Kuala Gris | Halt | ||
Dabong | Dabong, Kelantan | ||
Kemubu | |||
Sri Jaya | Halt | ||
Sri Mahligai | Halt | ||
Sri Bintang | Halt | ||
Sungai Tasin | Halt | ||
Jerek Baru | Halt | ||
Bertam | Halt | ||
Bertam Baru | |||
Limau Kasturi | |||
Sungai Sirian | Halt | ||
Kampung Sungai Sirian | Halt | ||
Sungai Koyan | Halt | ||
Pan Malayan | Halt | ||
Chegar Bongor | Not in service | ||
Sungai Kemudu | Not in service | ||
Kuala Neroh | Not in service | ||
Gua Musang | Gua Musang, Kelantan | ||
Chin Teck (振德) | Not in service | ||
Lepan Tupai (Lapan Tupai) | Halt | ||
Mentara | Halt, Not in service | ||
Mentara Baru | Halt | ||
Merapoh | |||
Merapoh Baharu | Not in service | ||
Telok Gunong | Halt | ||
Kubang Rasa | Halt | ||
Sungai Yu | Not in service | ||
Sungai Temau | |||
Chegar Perah | |||
Paya Keladi | Not in service | ||
Aur Gading | Halt | ||
Dura | Halt | ||
Kampung Berkam | Halt | ||
Bukit Betong | Bukit Betong | Halt | |
Kampung Berhala | Halt, Not in service | ||
Telang | Telang | Halt | |
Padang Tengku | |||
Kuala Ketir | Halt, Not in service | ||
Kuala Lipis | Kuala Lipis, Pahang | ||
Kuala Lanar | Not in service | ||
Tanjung Sekawin | Halt, Not in service | ||
Sibar | Halt, Not in service | ||
Batu Sembilan | Halt | ||
Kuala Lentang | Not in service | ||
Kerambit | |||
Sungai Lik | Halt, Not in service | ||
Limau Purut | Not in service | ||
Mela | Halt | ||
Kampung Sepial | Not in service | ||
Tembeling | Not in service | ||
Padang Piol | Not in service | ||
Paya Teh | Not in service | ||
Teh | Halt, Not in service | ||
Jerantut | Jerantut, Temerloh, Pahang | ||
Jeransong | Not in service | ||
Jendarak | Halt | ||
Mai | Halt, Not in service | ||
Kuala Krau | |||
Sungai Dalam | Not in service | ||
Tekal | Halt, Not in service | ||
Kerdau | Halt | ||
Mentakab | Mentakab, Pahang | ||
Sungai Belengu | Not in service | ||
Mengkarak | |||
Mentri | Not in service | ||
Triang | Triang, Pahang | ||
Mengkuang | Halt | ||
Kemayan | |||
Ayer Hitam | Not in service | ||
Bahau | Bahau, Negeri Sembilan | ||
Rompin | Not in service | ||
Londah | Not in service | ||
Gemas | Gemas, Negeri Sembilan | Interchange with West Coast Line | |
(Continue to West Coast Line) |
Station names | Serving cities | Major landmarks | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Pasir Mas | Pasir Mas, Kelantan | Interchange to Rantau Panjang branch line | |
Repek | Not in service | ||
Lubok Batil | Not in service | ||
Gual Periok | Not in service | ||
Gual Sitok | Not in service | ||
Rantau Panjang | Rantau Panjang, Kelantan | Not in service | |
(Continue to Southern Line) |
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) or Malayan Railway Limited, colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin. Previously known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) the Malayan Railway Administration (MRA), and the Malayan Railway, Keretapi Tanah Melayu acquired its current name in 1962. The organisation was corporatised in 1992, but remains wholly owned by the Malaysian government.
Gua Musang is a town, district and parliamentary constituency in southern Kelantan, Malaysia. It is the largest district in Kelantan. Gua Musang is administered by the Gua Musang District Council. Gua Musang district is bordered by the state of Pahang to the south, Terengganu to the east, Perak to the west and the Kelantanese districts of Kuala Krai and Jeli to the north. It is a small railway town about 140 km south of state capital Kota Bharu. Gua Musang is represented by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim in the Dewan Rakyat. The town lies on the KTM East Coast Line, from Tumpat, near the border with Thailand, to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.
Mentakab is a town, a mukim (commune) and a state assembly constituency in Temerloh District in central Pahang, Malaysia. It is 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest from downtown Temerloh and 82 km (51 mi) northeast from Kuala Lumpur.
Rail transport in Malaysia has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the country's economic growth and modernization.
KTM Intercity are diesel-hauled intercity train services in Peninsular Malaysia, operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). Services operate along the East Coast Line between Tumpat and Gemas and on towards JB Sentral on the West Coast Line. The former Intercity services along the West Coast Line between Padang Besar in the north and Gemas have been converted to the KTM ETS service.
The East Coast Economic Region is an economic development region based on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, and the Johorean districts of Mersing and Segamat. ECER is also one of the three economic corridors launched in Peninsular Malaysia under the leadership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia. The other corridors are Iskandar Malaysia in Johor and the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) that covers the states of Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak. The ECER development program spans 12 years, beginning in 2007, and involves Public-Private Participation (PPP).
The Tanah Merah railway station is a Malaysian railway station located in Tanah Merah District, Kelantan, Malaysia. It is one of the two minor railway stations of KTM's East Coast Line.
Gemas railway station is a Malaysian railway station located at the eastern side of and named after the town of Gemas, Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan. Built in 1922, the station is the meeting point of and the railway junction connecting the West Coast Line with the East Coast Line (Tumpat–Gemas).
The Kemayan railway station is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Kemayan, Bera District, Pahang.
The Mentakab railway station is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Mentakab, Temerloh District, Pahang. This station also serve to town of Temerloh, Bentong and Genting Highlands as the nearest station from these places.
The Jerantut railway station, also known as 'Jungle Station', is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Jerantut, Pahang.
The Kuala Lipis railway station is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Kuala Lipis, Lipis District, Pahang.
The Merapoh railway station is a Malaysian train station of the KTM East Coast Line located and named after the town of Merapoh, Lipis District, Pahang.
The Gua Musang railway station is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Gua Musang, Kelantan. The old station located at the end of the main street in the old town was closed. The new station is about 1 km south of the old station.
The Kuala Krai railway station is a Malaysian train station stationed at and named after the town of Kuala Krai, Kelantan. It is the biggest railway station in Kelantan state.
The Pasir Mas railway station is a Malaysian railway station located at and named after the town of Pasir Mas, Kelantan. It is also the starting interchange of the disused Rantau Panjang Line. A new railway station which replaced the original railway station was completed in July 2008.
The Tumpat railway station is a Malaysian railway station stationed at and named after the town of Tumpat, Kelantan. It is also the northern terminus of KTM's East Coast Line.
Johor Bahru Sentral is an integrated transport hub in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a standard gauge double-track railway link infrastructure project connecting Port Klang on the Straits of Malacca to Kota Bharu in northeast Peninsular Malaysia, connecting the East Coast Economic Region states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to one another, and to the Central Region of the Peninsula's west coast.
The KTM Class 61 is a diesel multiple unit operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu for KTM Intercity services on non electrified sections of the KTM West Coast railway line and the KTM East Coast railway line.