Credit : Bernama Business's X
KUALA LUMPUR, November 7, 2026 – The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) has started trial operations, the final stage of operational readiness before commercial passenger services begin, which are targeted for December 12, 2026, Bernama reported.
The trial programme is being run by ECRL Operation Sdn Bhd, a 50:50 joint venture between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Sdn Bhd. The joint venture is responsible for operating and maintaining the ECRL network.
Gombak to Kota Bharu, in both directions
In a statement on Saturday, MRL said the trial operations would test operational readiness, service efficiency, station management and the passenger experience under real operating conditions.
The programme runs from November 7 to December 2 and covers journeys between Gombak and Kota Bharu in both directions, offering both express and transit services, according to the statement.
During the trial period, the ECRL’s electric multiple unit trains will follow the planned commercial passenger timetable. The exercise will also include the issuing of boarding passes and the provision of cabin crew services, mirroring how the line is expected to run once it opens to the public.
First run: Gombak to Kuantan in 88 minutes
The first trip under the programme left the Terminal Bersepadu Gombak station at exactly 7am on Saturday and reached KotaSAS station in Kuantan, Pahang, at 8.28am.
The journey took just 88 minutes, with 170 passengers on board, and the train reached speeds of up to 160km/h, Bernama reported.
For travellers on the east coast, that journey time would mark a major change. Trips between the Klang Valley and Kuantan by road typically take several hours, depending on traffic, and the ECRL is expected to offer a faster and more predictable alternative.
Testing milestones completed
The start of trial operations follows the completion of several key testing and commissioning stages for the project. These include the System Integration Test and the Fault-Free Run, which was successfully completed on October 29, 2026.
As of October 2026, construction of Phase 1 of the ECRL, which covers the Kota Bharu–Gombak alignment, had reached 98.47 per cent completion, according to MRL.
Building up to launch
The trial operations come amid a series of preparations for the opening. LNA earlier reported that Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching tested cellular coverage along ECRL Phase 1 ahead of operations, part of efforts to ensure passengers stay connected along the route, which passes through hilly and forested terrain on the way to the east coast.
The ECRL is one of Malaysia’s largest infrastructure projects. It is designed to link the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang with the Klang Valley, and is expected to boost trade, tourism and connectivity for communities along the line, many of which have long relied on road travel to reach the west coast.
What happens next
The trial phase is due to run until December 2, after which the focus will shift to final preparations for the start of commercial passenger services on December 12.
Results from the trial, covering everything from timetable performance to how stations handle passengers and how boarding procedures work in practice, are expected to feed into the final adjustments before the line opens to the public.
If the schedule holds, the opening would bring rail passenger services on the new line to the east coast before the end of the year, giving travellers a new option for the year-end holiday period.
Source : Bernama
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