KTM East Coast railway line explained

Box Width:300px
East Coast Line
Other Name:Jungle Railway
Native Name:
  • Malay: Talian Pantai Timur (Malay)
  • Tamil: மலாயா கிழக்கு கடற்கரை தொடருந்த வழித்தடம் (Tamil)
  • Chinese: 东海岸铁路线 (Simplified Chinese)
  • Chinese: 東海岸鐵路線 (Traditional Chinese)
Type:
Status:Operational
Locale:Peninsular Malaysia
Start:Tumpat
End:Gemas
Stations:67
Continuesas:West Coast Line
Routes:
Owner:Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Operator:Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Character:Scenic route
Tracks:1
Map State:collapsed

The East Coast railway line (ECRL) is a single-track metre gauge railway line in Malaysia that runs between the Gemas railway station in Negeri Sembilan and the Tumpat railway station in Kelantan. Gemas is the rail junction between the West Coast line and East Coast railway line. Like the West Coast railway line, it is called the East Coast railway line (Malaysia) because it serves two of Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast states, namely Pahang and Kelantan. In fact, it does not run along the coast at all and only meets the South China Sea when it terminates in Tumpat railway station. It runs through the interior, often through deep jungle, thus earning the nickname Jungle Railway. Terengganu is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia not served by the KTM railway network.[1]

The East Coast Rail Link is planned to have an interchange with the ECRL at Mentakab and expand the railway network to the cities located in the East Coast, such as Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.[2]

History

The East Coast rail line was discontinued due to floods which struck the east coast on 22 December 2014, causing extensive damage to the track infrastructure, signage equipment as well as track maintenance machinery which was submerged in water. In August 2020, Malaysian transport minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the government had allocated RM874.7m to upgrade track infrastructure and trains at the east coast sector and the railway should resume service by 2021.[3]

On 12 April 2021, KTMB launched its KTM Class 61 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains for the east coast route between Kelantan and Pahang. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the DMU trains were being introduced specifically to replace KTM’s conventional diesel trains for the KTM Intercity East Coast rail link between Tumpat and Kuala Lipis. He claimed the new DMU will reduce travel time as the average speed of the train is about 100kph, compared to the conventional trains that run between 50kph and 60kph. The DMU trains, covering 216km from Tumpat and Gua Musang and 94km from Gua Musang to Kuala Lipis, would be fully operational in stages. The Tumpat-Gua Musang-Kuala Lipis route represents the first phase of the upgrading process. The second phase will cover routes to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, while the third phase will cover the Gua Musang-Mentakab stretch along the Pahang route.[4]

Services

The East Coast railway line is served by a following:[5]

Line network

Main line

Station names[6] Serving citiesMajor landmarksComments
TumpatTumpat, Kelantan
Kampung BeranganNot in service
Kampung Kok PasirHalt
PalekbangHalt
Wakaf BharuKota Bharu, KelantanThe nearest railway station to Kelantan state capital, Kota Bharu
Bunut SusuHalt
Kampung MachangHalt
Pasir MasPasir Mas, KelantanInterchange to Rantau Panjang Branch Line
Chica TinggiHalt
To' UbanHalt
Sungai KeladiHalt
Bukit PanauHalt
Halt, Not in service
Tanah MerahTanah Merah, Kelantan
Sungai KusialNot in service
Kampung Paloh RawaHalt
TemanganGuillemard Bridge
Tanjung BidalHalt, Not in service
Kampung BidalHalt, Not in service
Sungai NalHalt
Kuala KraiKuala Krai, Kelantan
PahiHalt
Manek Urai
Sungei MengkuangHalt
Kampung Baru Sungei MengkuangHalt
Ulu TemiangHalt
Kampung Baru Bukit AbuHalt
Bukit Abu
Kuala GrisHalt
DabongDabong, Kelantan
Kemubu
Sri JayaHalt
Sri MahligaiHalt
Sri BintangHalt
Sungai TasinHalt
Jerek BaruHalt
BertamHalt
Bertam Baru
Limau Kasturi
Sungai SirianHalt
Kampung Sungai SirianHalt
Sungai KoyanHalt
Pan MalayanHalt
Chegar BongorNot in service
Sungai KemuduNot in service
Kuala NerohNot in service
Gua MusangGua Musang, Kelantan
Chin Teck (振德)Not in service
Lepan Tupai (Lapan Tupai)Halt
MentaraHalt, Not in service
Mentara BaruHalt
Merapoh
Merapoh BaharuNot in service
Telok GunongHalt
Kubang RasaHalt
Sungai YuNot in service
Sungai Temau
Chegar Perah
Paya KeladiNot in service
Aur GadingHalt
DuraHalt
Kampung BerkamHalt
Bukit BetongBukit BetongHalt
Kampung BerhalaHalt, Not in service
TelangTelangHalt
Padang Tengku
Kuala KetirHalt, Not in service
Kuala LipisKuala Lipis, Pahang
Kuala LanarNot in service
Tanjung SekawinHalt, Not in service
SibarHalt, Not in service
Batu SembilanHalt
Kuala LentangNot in service
Kerambit
Sungai LikHalt, Not in service
Limau PurutNot in service
MelaHalt
Kampung SepialNot in service
TembelingNot in service
Padang PiolNot in service
Paya TehNot in service
TehHalt, Not in service
JerantutJerantut, Temerloh, Pahang
JeransongNot in service
JendarakHalt
MaiHalt, Not in service
Kuala Krau
Sungai DalamNot in service
TekalHalt, Not in service
KerdauHalt
MentakabMentakab, Pahang
Sungai BelenguNot in service
Mengkarak
MentriNot in service
TriangTriang, Pahang
MengkuangHalt
Kemayan
Ayer HitamNot in service
BahauBahau, Negeri Sembilan
RompinNot in service
LondahNot in service
GemasGemas, Negeri SembilanInterchange with West Coast Line
(Continue to West Coast Line)

Rantau Panjang branch line

Station namesServing citiesMajor landmarksComments
Pasir MasPasir Mas, KelantanInterchange to Rantau Panjang branch line
RepekNot in service
Lubok BatilNot in service
Gual PeriokNot in service
Gual SitokNot in service
Rantau PanjangRantau Panjang, KelantanNot in service
(Continue to Southern Line)

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Jungle Railway. Malaysia Traveller.
  2. Web site: East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Project, Malaysia . Railway Technology.
  3. News: Gemas-Tumpat rail line expected to be repaired and completed by mid-2021, says Dr Wee . Tarrence Tan . Martin Carvalho . Hemananthani Sivanandam . Rahimy Rahim. 11 August 2020. The Star (Malaysia).
  4. News: Faster, smoother rail travel. 12 April 2021. The Star (Malaysia).
  5. https://www.ktmb.com.my/Intercity.html KTM Intercity
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714094009/https://scontent.fpen1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/212972828_4327594140613323_6448983239686806558_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=1480c5&efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&_nc_ohc=3Tz_RuAsLwIAX-ftLkV&_nc_ht=scontent.fpen1-1.fna&oh=68c2b9c3139a03df3258a7d9630562fd&oe=60F377AB Peta Rangkaian Sistem KTM 1991