Govt Studying ECRL Extension to Thai Border Town Rantau Panjang

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that discussions are underway on the possibility of extending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to Rantau Panjang in Kelantan, which sits at the border with Thailand. 

He stressed that the idea is still at an early stage, with detailed studies on cost, financing and technical aspects yet to be finalised.

Speaking to Malaysian media at the end of his four-day visit to China, Anwar noted that the extension would cover about 20 to 25 kilometres from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang. Because it would build on existing works, the additional cost is expected to be significantly lower than earlier phases.

The Prime Minister said the matter had also been raised during his bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He expressed hope that the proposal could be realised, pointing out that Rantau Panjang remains underdeveloped compared with other parts of Kelantan. 

The presence of an ECRL station, he added, could help stimulate growth, attract investment and create new business opportunities for the border town.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously stated that the Thai government has welcomed the proposal and is seeking input from its Ministry of Transport, while Malaysia is preparing a cross-border transport MoU with Thailand to enhance future rail connectivity.

Loke, however, had cautioned that several technical hurdles remain, with the biggest being track compatibility since the ECRL uses a standard gauge of 1.435 metres whereas Thailand’s rail network runs on a narrower one-metre gauge.

On a separate note, Anwar confirmed that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be attending the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur happening later this year.

Source: BERNAMA