Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project

Project Summary

The Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT) is undertaking the construction of a double-track electric rail line from Gemas to Johor Bahru in Malaysia at the expected cost of RM8.9 billion. The project was awarded in October 2016 to a Chinese consortium consisting of China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd (CRCC), China Railway Engineering Corporation and China Communications Construction Co Ltd. The Gemas-Johor Electrified Double-Tracking Project (GJBEDTP) involves the upgrading and construction of a 197km double-track electric rail line between Johor Bahru in the state of Johor and Gemas in the state of Negeri Sembilan. It also includes the construction of stations, depots, yards, underpasses and bridges, the installation of signalling and communication systems, and the remodelling and renovation of 11 intermediate stations. The main objectives of this project are to improve the quality of rail infrastructure, provide better quality train services to passengers, and to improve rail safety for operations. The GJBEDTP is also the final package for the MOT’s electrified double-tracking project and its completion will ensure a continuous double track line from Padang Besar to Johor Bahru. The project received a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the construction on 3 April, 2018 and is expected to be completed by October 2022.

Figure 1. Gemas-Johor Bahru EDTP within the Malaysian railway network

Source: Hutchinson (2020)

Project Background

a. Context of Malaysian Railways

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) or Malayan Railways Limited, was established as a government-linked company (GLC) under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc.) in 1992 to operate the railroad networks in Peninsular Malaysia. Prior to its establishment, it was previously known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) and had consolidated the once-fragmented state railway operations under one company. During the corporatisation exercise in 1992, the government had separated the ownership and management of railway assets under FMSR to a statutory body called the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), thus allowing KTMB to dedicate its focus on the successful operations of the railway line as a business.

During the 1990s, the government seeked to undergo a modernization programme for the country’s railway infrastructure, which included the upgrading and electrification of existing lines, renovation of existing stations and the construction of new stations. In 1995, KTMB began operating the country’s first electrified railway service, KTM Komuter, to provide local rail services in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley suburban areas. Services were later expanded to other parts of Malaysia with the introduction of the Northern and Southern sections, and the expansion of the West Coast railway line. The MOT’s electrified double tracking project refers to the large scale project to electrify KTM’s West Coast railway line, which provides transport services to the western states of Peninsular Malaysia.

b. Context of West Coast rail line electrification

In early 2000s, Malaysia had started planning for the domestic segment of a proposed Pan-Asian railway that would connect China with Southeast Asian railways. This involved setting aside an estimated RM4.5 billion under the Eigth Malaysia Plan for the double-tracking project. This massive cross-country infrastructure project, spanning some 5,600km and running through 6 ASEAN countries as well as China, was first mooted by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamed during the ASEAN Summit in 1995. 1

The Government had commissioned a study to analyse the economic feasibility and engineering design of the domestic portion of the regional project, which required the electrification of the West Coast railway line. The line runs from Padang Besar railway station close to the Malaysia-Thailand border in Perlis (where it connects with the State Railway of Thailand) to the Johor Bahru station (where it connects to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore).

1 Chin, P. Y. 2003. “Double-tracking rail vision”. Accessed through:
http://lib.perdana.org.my/PLF/Digital_Content/Prominent_Leaders/Mahathir/News_1968-2004/2001-2005/nt2003aj/doail%20vision.pdf