Consider the alternatives

The RM81b ECRL project could strain the government financially and also expose it to many risks

THE country’s first railway line started in 1885 to transport tin ore between Taiping and Port Weld (now Kuala Sepetang) in Perak. A year later, a second line was opened to link Kuala Lumpur and subsequently to Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), also to service the tin mining industry.

One hundred and thirty-four years later, it has evolved into a modern, comfortable and economical passenger service with two lines; one runs up the west coast from Johor Baru, through Kuala Lumpur, to Padang Besar in Perlis while the other is often referred to as the “jungle train” as it branches off the first line at Gemas in Johor and runs through Kuala Lipis in Pahang up to the northeastern side in Kelantan.

In recent years, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) introduced the Electric Train Service from Gemas to Padang Besar. The rail operator recorded some 7,000 passengers on the sector daily.

Then there is the proposed 688km East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project from Port Klang to Kuantan and onwards to Pengkalan Kubor, which was much talked about last week following the confusion over its future. Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the cabinet decided on Thursday to cancel the project but Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that he was “shocked” by the announcement.

The project would, without a doubt, be welcomed, especially by those going home to the east coast states during the festive season. There had been news reports and social media postings of travellers having to spend up to 15 hours on the federal road due to the traffic congestion.

On the flipside, such a mammoth project could strain the government financially and also expose it to many risks. At RM81 billion, it is said to be the largest infrastructure project ever for the country. The seven-year project was originally scheduled for completion in 2024.

The government should take a breather to look at low-cost alternatives to facilitate the ease of travel to the east coast states. It can, for example, consider extending the 758km East Coast Expressway by another 124km to end at Tumpat in Kelantan. The expressway currently ends at Kampung Gemuruh near Kuala Nerus in Terengganu. Taking the cost of the 185km East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) — connecting Jabur, Kemaman and Gemuroh, Kuala Terengganu — at RM18 million per km as a gauge, it would cost the government some RM3 billion.

Or, it can look into a rail connection between Kuala Lumpur and Mentakab in Pahang. Currently, travellers to the east coast will have to go south to Gemas from Kuala Lumpur before they can make their way eastward. Analysts tracking the domestic rail sector have said that tunnelling the Titiwangsa mountain range for the rail project would not result in the cost being inflated.

Travelling time will not only be reduced but the efficiency of the train service can be further enhanced. In fact, rehabilitation of the current track in the east coast could be more efficient and cost-effective than building the ECRL.

Travelling time will not only be reduced but the efficiency of the train service can be further enhanced.