"ECRL Construction 42% Complete, Developer Proceeds With Genting Tunnel" - Loke

According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is currently 42.06% complete. Loke stated today, while visiting the Genting ECRL Tunnel construction site, that the rail line's construction progress is on track to be completed by December 2026. However, Loke also stated that the ECRL project is currently facing a difficult challenge with the completion of the Genting ECRL tunnel, a twin tunnel spanning 16.39km in length that connects Bukit Tinggi, Pahang with Gombak, Selangor.

According to Loke, the tunnel will be built using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) rather than the drilling and explosives used in other ECRL tunnels. “I am confident with the management and workforce for the ECRL project to complete the project using two TBMs which were made in China. "When the construction crosses the Titiwangsa Range, these highly technological machines will be able to face engineering challenges and geological conditions," Loke said.

Construction on the first Genting tunnel has already begun, and approval to use the TBM for the second tunnel was obtained in November. “Boring works for the first Genting ECRL Tunnel have already reached a depth of 2.602km while the second reached 2.497km.

"For your information, the Genting ECRL Tunnel construction site spans 11.6ha in width and employs over 300 people."

"We hope that by January 2027, the ECRL will be fully operational, saving three hours of travel time from Kota Baru to Gombak," Loke added.