KUALA TERENGGANU: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is scheduled to commence operations in mid-December, is expected to serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Terengganu, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
He said the state government is encouraging entrepreneurs and business owners to seize the opportunities offered by the new rail network and maximise its potential.
“I believe it can contribute to the economic well-being of the people. Entrepreneurs should explore how they can maximise the benefits of the ECRL, particularly in terms of goods transportation and expanding business activities across different locations,” he told reporters after chairing a State Executive Council meeting here today.
Ahmad Samsuri said the state government is also confident that the new rail service will give a further boost to Terengganu’s tourism sector by offering visitors a more convenient and flexible travel option.
He said the service would also support the Visit Terengganu Year 2027 (TMT 2027) initiative, which aims to attract more than 15 million tourists to the state.
He added that the state government had held discussions with Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) to ensure that facilities and supporting services around ECRL stations are adequately developed to cater to the expected influx of tourists and visitors from outside the state.
“We have also discussed with MRL the development of areas surrounding the stations, including transit-oriented development (TOD), to ensure that these facilities deliver tangible benefits to tourists, local residents and the business community,” he said.
The ECRL is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the East Coast and the Klang Valley, with journeys from Gombak to Kuala Terengganu taking approximately three hours, while the trip from Gombak to Kota Bharu is expected to take about four hours.
The 242-kilometre ECRL alignment in Terengganu features six stations: Chukai, Kemasik, Dungun, Kuala Terengganu, Bandar Permaisuri and Jertih.