A major transportation infrastructure project in Malaysia——The East Coast Connection Railway (referred to as East Rail) is expected to officially open for operation in January 2027. The project is 665 kilometers long and has 20 stations, which will greatly improve the transportation situation between the east and west coasts of the Malaysian peninsula and is expected to promote local economic development.

It is understood that the East Rail project aims to solve the problem of poor traffic on the east coast of Malaysia, especially the severe traffic congestion during festivals. Currently, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to states such as Kelantan on the east coast often takes several hours due to poor traffic conditions. During the festive season, it is even more likely to exceed10 hours of severe traffic congestion. The completion of the East Rail will greatly shorten this travel time, and it is expected to save about three hours from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan.

In addition to improving transportation conditions, the East Rail project is also expected to promote the development of local tourism. According to Raghu, the Operations Director of the East Coast Economic Zone Development Committee, the opening of the East Rail will enable residents of Kuala Lumpur or Port Klang to reach coastal towns on the east coast, such as Kuantan, Kota Bharu, and Kuala Lumpur within two hours. This will greatly facilitate the travel of tourists, increase the passenger flow of these coastal towns, and promote the prosperity of the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, enterprises along the East Rail Line are also full of expectations for this project. Mohamad Ferus, the owner of Zhen Latin Cafe, said that the opening of the East Rail may improve the local population flow and bring more customers to their business. Some foreign tourists have also provided feedback that the driving time from Kuantan to Jindal Bay is approximately45 minutes, and taking private taxis for this journey is expensive, and public transportation services are unstable, so the East Rail is undoubtedly a good travel choice.

However, the construction of the East Rail project also faces some challenges. A village in Kelantan reported that it has started flooding since the construction of the East Rail. In addition, some residents of Klang Port in Selangor have also complained that their land must make way for the railway. Nevertheless, the authorities have expressed confidence inAfter 2027, the East Rail will be put into operation as scheduled to strengthen regional connectivity and promote local economic development.