East-West Rail Link Across Titiwangsa Could Take 10-20 Years - Nanta

The proposed railway project crossing the Titiwangsa Range to connect the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia could take between 10 and 20 years to complete, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said the idea of replacing aging roads with a modern rail link is practical but requires an in-depth feasibility study, including an assessment of the nation’s economic capacity.

“From a safety, logistics efficiency and carbon reduction standpoint, the proposal is viable

“However, its implementation must be carefully studied including passenger projections, construction and maintenance costs, geotechnical challenges of the Titiwangsa range, and long-term regional impact,” he told BH.

Nanta noted that Malaysians still prefer roads as their main mode of daily transport due to high private vehicle ownership. He stressed that rail should complement, not replace, the road network.

“Rail development must go hand in hand with efforts to ease traffic congestion. It is not a replacement but a way to strengthen Malaysia’s overall mobility system,” he said.

Such large-scale projects typically take 10 to 20 years, depending on route design, land management, tunnelling works and approvals from multiple agencies.

“It's an investment for future generations rather than an immediate solution,” the minister added.

He acknowledged the recent tragic crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students as a reminder to plan long-term infrastructure solutions holistically.

While the East-West Highway is not classified as a blackspot, he welcomed any proposal for a high-capacity rail line linking the east coast with the north or west regions, provided it is technically, economically and socially viable.