PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has decided to revert the alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Section C to its original Northern Alignment proposed in 2016 and 2017.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the original alignment for Section C will see the ECRL traverse from Mentakab to Port Klang via Bentong, Gombak and Serendah.
He said the cabinet meeting on Sept 2, 2020, had approved the Northern Alignment, which will comprise seven stations in the long term.
"On March 31, the progress status of the project was again brought up during the cabinet meeting which decided that its implementation must be carried out immediately.
"The ECRL 3.0 alignment for Section C involves an estimated length of 201km, including 32.4km spur line, while the ECRL 2.0 for Section C has a length of 185.5km, including 41.5km spur line.
"With the changes, the alignment from Kota Baru to Port Klang will now have a total length of 665km," he told a press conference here, today.
In 2019, the Pakatan Harapan government had re-routed the ECRL alignment through Negri Sembilan, known as the Southern Alignment, before it heads to the east coast via Pahang. This plan shortened the total alignment to 640km.
Wee said of the seven stations in the Northern Alignment, five stations, namely Temerloh, Bentong, ITT Gombak, Serendah and Jalan Kastam (Port Klang) will be built in the initial stage.
Two stations - Puncak Alam and Kapar in Selangor - have been designated as future stations.
He said Temerloh, Bentong, Serendah and Jalan Kastam (Port Klang) would serve as both passenger and freight stations, while ITT Gombak would only cater for passengers.
"As we are aware, the ECRL's projected revenue is very much freight driven, the viability for the Northern Alignment will be enhanced by incorporating the proposed Serendah Bypass infrastructure to the ECRL project scope.
"The ministry has proposed that the ECRL alignment between Serendah and Port Klang will now feature dual tracks, namely a standard gauge track (1.435 metres) for the ECRL and a metre gauge track (1 metre) for KTMB (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd)."
He said the metre gauge track would be able to function as the rail bypass for the KTMB cargo line between Serendah and Port Klang.
With this plan, Wee said, the government would be able to save on infrastructure expenditure by offering the ideal solution of implementing two rail projects for the price of one.
He added that the Serendah Bypass would further drive freight volume for the ECRL, as it will cater to cargo both from the East Coast states and existing KTMB lines.
"The Northern Alignment offers 'value for money' as it will extend rail connectivity to existing cargo hubs as well as increase the capacity in the transfer of cargo via the rail network."
The project will cost an estimated RM50 billion, and is expected to be completed in December 2026.
The electrified rail network will link the East Coast states - Kelantan Terengganu, and Pahang - with the Greater Klang Valley.