By rosebell
Following the breakthrough of the 16.39km Genting Tunnel, marking the completion of the final tunnel excavation along the 665km alignment, Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has reached a major engineering landmark.
As the longest railway tunnel in Malaysia, the Genting Tunnel is also the longest on the new rail link between Kota Bharu, Kelantan and Port Klang, Selangor.
Considering that the Genting Tunnel is located within the Titiwangsa mountain range and with an overburden of 750m and passes through several fault lines and chlorite rock pockets, it was the most technically challenging of the 41 tunnels constructed along the ECRL alignment.
At almost 10.8km from the entrance portal after digging by TBM and drill and blast, the final breakthrough occurred.
As the first TBM to be deployed on the project, the date of commissioning the 8.98m-diameter TBM1 was 2022 and it was designed for the mountain region’s hard rock geology. This TBM1 is 266m long and weighs 1,600 tonnes and is equipped with four torque cylinders and has an average excavation capacity of 400-600m per month.
According to Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) CEO Dato’ Sri Darwis Abdul Razak: “Construction of the Genting Tunnel was a key component of the ECRL project as it would complete the ECRL landbridgeto connect Kuantan Port on the east coast to Port Klang on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.We are optimistic the ECRL landbridgewill complement international trade and spur export-oriented industries as it will facilitate seamless freight transportation with last-mile connectivity between Kuantan Port and Port Klang. The ECRL will also cut travel time as it will directly link commuters from the East Coast states to the Gombak Integrated Terminal which is a gateway to the federal capital.”
At the moment due to the completion of tunneling works, the ECRL project moves into its next phase, which includes track installation, electrification, signalling and communication systems, as well as station interior fit-outs. MRL says all works remain on schedule.
While the scheduled date fo completion of ECRL is the end of 2026, January 2027 is expected time for starting passenger services, with the initial segment connecting Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak in Selangor. Once operational, the rail link will reduce travel time between Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur to approximately four hours.
