ECRL begins trial operations ahead of the 12 December passenger service target

Highlights

ECRL begins trial operations ahead of the target launch of passenger services on 12 December, covering the Gombak–Kota Bharu route and express and transit services.
The first trial operation journey departed from Gombak for KotaSAS on Saturday, took 88 minutes and carried 170 passengers at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
As of October 2026, construction of ECRL Phase 1 from Kota Bharu to Gombak was 98.47% complete, indicating readiness for commercial operations.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Scope of trial operations through early December

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, citing Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, the trial operations programme is run by ECRL Operation Sdn Bhd, a 50:50 joint venture between MRL and China Communications Construction Sdn Bhd responsible for operating and maintaining the ECRL rail network.

According to an MRL statement on Saturday, the assessment covers operational readiness, service efficiency, station management and the passenger experience in a real-world operating environment. Trial journeys run between Gombak and Kota Bharu in both directions, covering express and transit services.

Throughout the programme, ECRL electric multiple-unit trains operate according to the planned commercial passenger timetable. Operations also include issuing boarding passes and providing cabin crew services.

Project progress and network implications

The first journey under the trial operations programme departed from Gombak Integrated Terminal Station at 7 a.m. on Saturday and arrived at KotaSAS station in Kuantan, Pahang, at 8:28 a.m. The journey took 88 minutes, with 170 passengers on board and speeds reaching 160 kilometres per hour.

This latest milestone follows the completion of several key testing and commissioning stages for the ECRL project, including system integration tests and a successful uninterrupted run on 29 October 2026. As of October 2026, construction of ECRL Phase 1, covering the Kota Bharu–Gombak route, was 98.47% complete, bringing the project closer to the start of commercial passenger operations.

In our previous coverage of China's proposed transfer of technology and expertise to Malaysia, we highlighted how bilateral cooperation also encompasses the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project and the electric vehicle sector. The article also discussed the possibility of new financing for high-impact projects through the Export-Import Bank of China, showing how Malaysia–China cooperation is expanding beyond conventional investment.

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