ECRL Breakthrough: Genting Tunnel Becomes SEA’s Longest Rail Tunnel

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has hit a major milestone recently with the breakthrough of the Genting Tunnel, a 16.39KM twin-bore tunnel running through the Titiwangsa mountain range.

Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke, who officiated the event, called it a historic moment for Malaysian infrastructure. The tunnel was completed on schedule after more than two years of digging.

It is now officially the longest rail tunnel in Southeast Asia and the most challenging of the 41 tunnels along the ECRL route.

Genting Tunnel’s construction used both Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and traditional drill-and-blast methods. The TBMs, built in China and designed for Malaysia’s hard rock terrain, each weigh over 1,600 tonnes and measure nearly 9 metres in diameter.

Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said completing the tunnel on time was a big achievement, especially given the tough conditions of the mountainous terrain.

The tunnel also highlights ECRL’s commitment to protecting the environment. With the revised alignment, the amount of forest clearing was reduced from 2,000 hectares to just 276 hectares by using more tunnels and elevated tracks.

It also helps maintain a consistent track gradient of 0.9%, which allows passenger trains to run up to 160 KM/H and freight trains up to 80 KM/H.

With the Genting Tunnel boring complete, the project now moves into the next phase. This includes laying tracks and installing electrical systems, signals, communications, and station facilities.

The ECRL is on track to be completed by the end of 2026, with passenger services starting in stages from January 2027.

The Transport Ministry is also looking into extending the line from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang to improve cross-border rail links with Thailand. If it goes ahead, the ECRL could eventually connect with rail networks connecting all the way to Kunming in China.

As part of Malaysia’s Belt and Road Initiative, the ECRL will link Kuantan Port on the East Coast to Port Klang on the West Coast. This could cut cargo shipping time by up to 2.5 days and improve logistics efficiency.

Once fully operational, the electrified railway is expected to earn 70% of its revenue from freight services, with the rest coming from passenger travel.