China-built ECRL completes first system installation at KotaSAS station in Kuantan, Malaysia

The East Coast Rail Link, a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company, has completed its signal and related system installation at the first station of KotaSAS, marking the beginning of advanced railway tech deployment across 20 stations.

China Communications Construction (ECRL), or CCC-ECRL, the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contractor for the ECRL project, and the Malaysia Rail Link, jointly announced the complete installation of the communication, information and signaling (CIS) systems at a ceremony at the KotaSAS station on May 30.

The systems form a critical component of the railway's overall engineering system, in terms of ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable railway operations through functions such as automatic train protection, traffic control and real-time passenger information.

"The CIS system is often described as the nervous system and brain of the railway. ECRL KotaSAS Station is the first station equipped with these critical components of the ECRL operations," said Deng Bo, CCC-ECRL managing director.

This First-Article Assessment serves as the cornerstone for verifying construction feasibility and setting quality standards, laying the foundation for system installation across the 20 ECRL stations, said Deng.

Installation began on March 15 and was basically completed on May 20, 2025.

Malaysia Rail Link CEO Darwis Abdul Razak said the CIS systems are significant components of the ECRL and play a pivotal role in the operation and maintenance phase of the rail infrastructure.

The assessment ceremony is a critical process that ensures that "every element meets the highest standards of quality, interoperability, and compliance for rail operators", he said.

Darwis said the ECRL is gearing towards its testing and commissioning phase in June 2026.

As of April 2025, the ECRL Project has achieved an overall progress of 82.45 percent.

Running from Malaysia's largest transport hub Port Klang to the northeastern state of Kelantan, the 665-kilometer project is expected to be completed by 2027.

In 2017, the groundbreaking ceremony of ECRL, officiated by then Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, was also held at the KotaSAS station project site.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com