KTM East Coast railway line

The KTM East Coast railway line is a single-track metre gauge railway line in Malaysia that runs between in Negeri Sembilan and in Kelantan. Gemas is the rail junction between the and East Coast Line. Like the West Coast Line, it is called the East Coast railway line because it serves two of Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast states, namely Pahang and Kelantan. However, it does not actually run along the coast at all and only meets the South China Sea when it terminates at . It runs through the interior of Peninsular Malaysia, often through deep jungle, thus earning the nickname Jungle Railway. Terengganu is the only state in Peninsular Malaysia not served by the KTM railway network.

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is planned to have an interchange with the East Coast Line at and expand the railway network to the cities located in the East Coast, such as Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.

History

The East Coast Line was briefly disrupted due to floods which struck the east coast states on 22 December 2014, causing extensive damage to the track infrastructure, signage equipment as well as track maintenance machinery which were submerged underwater. In August 2020, then Malaysian Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said the government had allocated RM874.7m to upgrade track infrastructure and trains at the east coast sector and projected that the railway would resume services by 2021.

On 12 April 2021, KTMB launched its KTM Class 61 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains for the East Coast Line route between Kelantan and Pahang. Wee Ka Siong said the DMU trains were being introduced specifically to replace KTM's conventional diesel trains for KTM Intercity's Shuttle Timuran service between and . He claimed the new DMU will reduce travel time as the average speed of the train is about 100kph, compared to the conventional trains that run between 50kph and 60kph. The DMU trains, covering 216km from Tumpat and and 94km from Gua Musang to Kuala Lipis, would be fully operational in stages. The Tumpat-Gua Musang-Kuala Lipis route represents the first phase of the upgrading process. The second phase will cover routes to , while the third phase will cover the Gua Musang– stretch along the Pahang route.

Timeline Source: 4 April 1910: Bahau – Gemas 1 October 1910: Triang – Bahau 1 August 1911: Mentakab – Triang 1 March 1912: Kuala Krau – Mentakab 16 November 1912: Kuala Teh (closed) – Kuala Krau 15 May 1913: Tembing (closed) – Kuala Teh (closed) 4 May 1914: Tumpat – Pasir Mas – Tanah Merah 15 October 1917: Kuala Lipis – Tembing (closed) 1 September 1920: Pasir Mas – Rantau Panjang 16 March 1921: Padang Tengku – Kuala Lipis 15 November 1923: Chegar Perah – Padang Tengku 21 July 1924: Tanah Merah – Kuala Krai 17 October 1927: Kuala Krai – Manek Urai 5 December 1927: Merapoh – Chegar Perah 14 July 1930: Manek Urai – Kuala Gris and Gua Musang – Merapoh 5 September 1931: Kuala Gris – Gua Musang

Services The East Coast railway line is served by the following:KTM Intercity

between and via . The route between Gemas and JB Sentral is part of the West Coast Line while the route between Gemas and Tumpat is on the East Coast Line) (stops at all stations and halts) Between and Between and Between and Between and Between and at (train services to , , , and on the West Coast Line)

Line network

Main line Station namesPeta Rangkaian Sistem KTM 1991Cities, Towns, Landmarks ServedTerritoryCumulative distance (km)[(Padang Besar ～Kuala Lumpur) Railway route map of the West Coast Main Line in Malaysia https://raildiagram.com/2024/06/09/tumpat-gemas-ktm-east-coast-line-in-malaysia-rail-track-diagram-map/]CommentsTumpat 0.0 Kampung Berangan Not in serviceKampung Kok Pasir HaltPalekbang Halt, Not in serviceKota Bharu 14.0 The nearest railway station to Kelantan state capital, Kota BharuBunut Susu 18.1 HaltKampung Machang Halt, Not in usePasir Mas 24.8 Interchange to Rantau Panjang Branch LineChica Tinggi 30.1 HaltTo' Uban 33.4 HaltSungai Keladi 39.0 HaltBukit Panau 42.0 Halt Tanah Merah 51.5 Sungai Kusial Not in serviceKampung Paloh Rawa Halt, Not in serviceTemangan Guillemard Bridge 64.4 Tanjung Bidal Halt, Not in serviceKampung Bidal Sungai Nal 77.6 HaltKuala Krai 84.9Pahi 92.7 HaltManek Urai 101.5 Sungai Mengkuang Halt, Not in useKampung Baru Sungai Mengkuang HaltUlu Temiang 116.1 HaltKampung Baru Bukit Abu HaltBukit Abu 127.9 Kuala Gris 131.3 HaltDabong 139.4 Kemubu 148.2 Sri Jaya 153.4 HaltSri Mahligai 155.7 HaltSri Bintang 157.6 HaltSungai Tasin 159.5 HaltJerek Baru 163.6 HaltBertam HaltBertam Baru 170.4 Limau Kasturi 178.9 Sungai Sirian HaltKampung Sungai Sirian 186.6 HaltSungai Koyan Halt, Not in servicePan Malayan 194.7 HaltChegar Bongor Not in serviceSungai Kemudu Not in serviceKuala Neroh Not in serviceGua Musang 206.1 Chin Teck Not in serviceLapan Tupai HaltMentara Halt, Not in serviceMentara Baru 226.4 Halt 230.8 Merapoh Baharu Not in serviceTelok Gunong 236.2 HaltKubang Rasa Halt, Not in serviceSungai Yu Not in serviceSungai Temau 255.7 264.1 Paya Keladi Not in serviceAur Gading 271.5 HaltDura Halt, Not in serviceKampung Berkam 278.8 HaltBukit BetongBukit Betong 284.9 HaltKampung Berhala Halt, Not in serviceTelangTelang 291.2 Kuala Ketir Halt, Not in serviceKuala Lipis 299.9Kuala Lanar Not in serviceTanjung Sekawin Halt, Not in serviceSibar Batu Sembilan Kuala Lentang Not in service 323.1 Sungai Lik Halt, Not in serviceLimau Purut Not in serviceMela 333.9 HaltKampung Sepial Not in serviceTembeling Not in servicePadang Piol Not in servicePaya Teh Not in serviceTeh Halt, Not in serviceJerantutTemerloh 353.3 Jeransong Not in serviceJendarak 362.0 HaltMai Halt, Not in serviceKuala Krau 379.1 Sungai Dalam Not in serviceTekal Halt, Not in serviceKerdau HaltMentakab 405.5 Sungai Belengu Not in service 427.8 Mentri Not in service Teriang 437.8 Mengkuang Halt, Not in service 444.9 Ayer Hitam Not in serviceBahau 490.8 Rompin Not in serviceLondah Not in serviceGemas 527.7Interchange with West Coast Line(Continue to West Coast Line)

Rantau Panjang branch line Station namesCities, Towns, Landmarks ServedTerritoryCumulative distance (km) CommentsRantau Panjang Junction between Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah stations (Continue to main East Coast Line)Pasir MasRepek Not in serviceLubok Batil Not in serviceGual Periok Not in serviceGual Sitok Not in service Rantau Panjang Not in service(Continue to SRT Southern Line in Thailand)

References

Further reading

External links

Jungle Railway in Malaysia – The best train times and most scenic sections