At the beginning of the new year, the Malaysia East Coast Rail Link (MECRL) project of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has reached a crucial milestone. On January 1st, two passenger electric multiple units (EMUs) with a speed of 160 kilometers per hour and two freight electric locomotives with a capacity of 7,200 kilowatts were successfully delivered to the track laying base in Kuantan, Pahang. This marks the official transition of this 665-kilometer long transnational railway artery from the construction phase to the testing and commissioning phase. The smooth arrival of this batch of equipment is not only a testament to the efficient collaboration between China and Malaysia, but also signifies that the MECRL is one big step closer to its goal of being opened to traffic. This has garnered widespread attention from local Malaysians and the international community.

This batch of core equipment, independently developed and manufactured by CRRC Dalian, was rolled off the production line and shipped from Dalian in November 2025. At 6:50 pm on the day of arrival, the first multiple unit train was successfully transferred and entered the preparation warehouse of the Kuantan Rolling Stock Depot. On January 2, the remaining one multiple unit train and two electric locomotives were also fully stored, laying a solid hardware foundation for subsequent joint commissioning and testing. According to the on-site staff, the equipment transfer process strictly followed relevant Malaysian railway standards and safety regulations. The technical teams from China and Malaysia cooperated throughout the entire process to ensure that every step was precise and accurate, fully demonstrating professional and efficient project execution capabilities.

Ingenuity in design meets local needs

The trains delivered this time fully incorporate Malaysian local characteristics in terms of function and appearance. The train body adopts a blue and white color scheme, inspired by Malaysia's long and beautiful coastal landscapes, which visually combines modernity with regional recognition. With its smooth lines and fresh and elegant color scheme, the train body will become a unique mobile scenery when running through Malaysia's tropical scenery, and has received high praise from many local people.

In terms of passenger experience, the train has specially added wheelchair accessible areas, demonstrating humanistic care. Equipped with a real-time passenger information system, it can dynamically push out information such as operational status and station details, enhancing travel convenience. The freight electric locomotive, with a powerful 7200 kW output, meets the heavy-haul transportation needs of the Madong Railway, providing power support for efficient regional logistics operations. Furthermore, the train has optimized its air conditioning and body sealing performance according to the climatic characteristics of Malaysia, effectively coping with the local high temperatures and rainy weather conditions, ensuring comfortable travel for passengers and safe transportation of goods.

Project acceleration empowers regional development

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a flagship project of China-Malaysia joint construction under the Belt and Road Initiative. Once fully operational, it will connect three states on the east coast of Malaysia, significantly reducing regional spatial and temporal distances and driving industrial upgrading and economic development along its route. The arrival of core equipment this time not only lays a solid foundation for the project to be opened to traffic on schedule but also demonstrates China's technological prowess in high-end rail transit equipment and the fulfillment capability of "China Construction". Upon completion, the project will further improve Malaysia's railway network layout, facilitate personnel exchanges and material circulation between the east coast region and the capital Kuala Lumpur and surrounding cities, and help achieve high-quality economic and social development locally.

Next, the project team will comprehensively carry out static debugging and dynamic testing of the train, pushing for the early opening and operation of this transnational railway. Technical personnel from both China and Malaysia will form a joint debugging team to conduct comprehensive testing and optimization of various performance indicators of the train, ensuring that the train can operate safely, stably, and efficiently after being officially put into operation, benefiting both China and Malaysia.Editor/Bian Wenjun