Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, a former official with the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission, said the Thai land bridge would affect the ECRL’s projected trade volume and economic impact.
“Offering competitive pricing and ensuring efficient operations (for cargo services) could retain its attractiveness.
“But it will be quite challenging for the ECRL when this land bridge exists, because it would be more simple and direct for the shipping companies to use instead of the ECRL,” he told FMT.
Wan Agyl suggested that Putrajaya focus on promoting and expanding the railway’s passenger services instead, while optimising infrastructure to suit commuters’ convenience and preferences to boost the ECRL’s economic contribution.
He also mooted integrating the ECRL with local transport networks and developing economic zones along routes to add value to the project, which is expected to be completed in 2027.
“Route planning is an important component to ensure that the ECRL will be able to serve the needs of passengers. Trade and passenger services are two completely different games.”
The ECRL involves a 665km railway line with 20 stations: 10 passenger stations and 10 combined passenger and cargo stations. Seven of the stations will be in Pahang, six in Terengganu, two in Kelantan and five in Selangor.
Thailand recently proposed a 90km land bridge across the Kra Isthmus to connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea via rail and road. The Thais are looking for partners to kick off the project which is estimated to cost US$28.5 billion (RM131 billion).
Thailand said the route would reduce shipment time for vessels which presently sail around Peninsular Malaysia by between two and three days, helping to save costs.
Transport consultant Rosli Khan said the land bridge would affect the original idea behind the ECRL, which was for cargo to be offloaded in Kuantan before being ferried by the rail line to Port Klang.
He said not much could be done by the Malaysian government should the major Thai project proceed.
“Shipping (companies) will decide what’s best for them. The route with faster journeys, lower cost, greater efficiency and more productive ports will be chosen,” Rosli said.