He said this was raised during Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Malaysia yesterday.

“If we can improve connectivity with Thailand, and Thailand links up to Laos and China, it will help make the pan-Asian rail network a reality,” Loke told reporters on the sidelines of the Malaysia-China Summit 2024.

In a joint statement yesterday, Paetongtarn and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the facilitation of road- and rail-based movement of goods and passengers was paramount to boosting bilateral trade between Malaysia and Thailand.

Currently, over 95% of Malaysia’s trade relies on maritime routes due to the efficiency of large vessels carrying thousands of containers, Loke said, adding that rail lines have significant potential as an alternative.

“It’s still in its infancy, but in years to come, railways can play a bigger role in transporting cargo efficiently across Asean.

“After the East Coast Rail Link is completed, we aim to optimise its use to support rail cargo as a complementary service to maritime trade,” he said.

He said railway networks were already operational, adding that Malaysia currently has a cargo express train to China, though it has yet to become a mainstream option.

However, he said challenges such as lengthy customs clearance processes were holding it back. To this end, Malaysia is in the midst of discussions with Thailand on speeding up customs processes, he said.