Overground construction begins on mega rail project in Malaysia

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has begun aboveground construction work.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was among the guests to witness the historic moment in a ceremony.

At the ceremony, Malaysian Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook praised the benefits of the project, including its contribution to the local economy, improvements to the communities on the east coast of the country, and the transfer of technology and skills that the ECRL has made possible.

Wang Tongzhou, CCCC chairman, said that the track-laying marks the transition of the project from underground construction to aboveground construction. 

The ECRL is a major infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and runs from Malaysia’s largest transport hub, Port Klang, across the peninsula to Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia.

The goal of the project is to make it a landmark of enduring and friendly cooperation between China and Malaysia.

The mega-rail project, which is expected to be completed in December 2026, is 56.3% complete according to New Strait Times.