Ecrl To Thai Border Can Counter Land Bridge Threat Says Expert

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Transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said although an ECRL extension to the Thai border may bring a strategic advantage, it requires significant investment. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: A transport expert says extending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to the Thai border will counter competitive pressures emerging from the proposed Chumphon-Ranong Land Bridge project.
Transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the extension could enhance connectivity between the two nations, opening up new logistical pathways and potentially reducing transportation costs and time for goods.
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook had said on March 27 that Malaysia was considering extending its ongoing RM50 billion ECRL project closer to its border with Thailand to reduce economic competition with its neighbour.
FMT Business previously reported that Thailand’s planned US$28.5 billion (RM135 billion) land bridge project will have two new ports built to bypass the Malacca Strait, potentially benefiting Penang Port depending on their efficiency.
“The balance with Thailand’s land bridge idea could be struck by leveraging the complementary aspects of rail and maritime transport.
“While the land bridge aims to offer a quicker and more direct maritime shipping route, the extended ECRL could serve as a key component of a multi-modal transport network, offering efficient overland transport options,” Wan Agyl told FMT.
However, he said although the ECRL extension gave Malaysia a strategic advantage in maintaining its status as a critical transport and trade hub, it would require significant financial investment and risks cost overruns.
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.Wan Agyl warned that additional construction and increased transportation activity might also harm the environment and local communities if not carefully managed.
Meanwhile, transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan pointed out that Malaysia is Thailand’s sixth-largest trading partner, with the latter’s exports here valued at US$12.5 billion in 2022.
He said with the ECRL extension, trade value is capable of doubling to around US$27.5 billion or more yearly.
Rosli Azad Khan.Rosli said rail transport was also known to have a lower unit cost compared to road transport, and was lower than shipping for some commodities.
“For instance, the average cost for a 20ft container between Bangkok-Kota Bharu (by sea) is about US$2,000. The same container could be transported by rail at almost half the price.
“I would say our transport minister (Loke Siew Fook) is talking about an important piece of the puzzle still missing in our logistical infrastructure master plan: the rail link between Kota Bharu and Thailand,” Rosli said.
He said the extension would also bring in more tourists to Malaysia considering that the current project’s last stop is Kota Bharu, about 40km from the Thai border.
However, Rosli warned that east coast states such as Kelantan and Terengganu had existing local hardline religious rules governing tourists and tourism activities.
“Any failure to develop the economy, industry and tourism will result in the outflow of new investments into Thailand instead.” - FMT

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