Rail project to cut KL- Penang journey to three hours

It will only take three hours to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur by train when the electrified double-track project (EDTP) is completed.Once operational, commuters can have breakfast in Penang, lunch in KL and return to the island for dinner, all in the same day. Currently, the train journey between the destinations takes about nine hours. The RM12.4bil stretch from Ipoh to Padang Besar, undertaken by MMC-Gamuda, is now 5% completed and expected to be ready on Jan 7, 2013. It will link up to the Rawang line.


“It will only take about 90 minutes to travel from Penang to Ipoh by train when the project is completed, compared to about four hours now,” he told newsmen during a site inspection yesterday. It will only take 90 minutes to travel from Penang to Ipoh.



DATUK AZMI MAT NOR said the alignment for the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar double-track project cuts across the four northern states of Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis.

“We are working closely with the four state governments and they are very helpful,” he said.

“We do not foresee much problem for the next five years as 70% of land needed for the project is owned by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).”

Azmi said rail transport in the country currently had a market share of just 3%, compared to road transport which commanded 89% share.

“Over-reliance on road transport is unsustainable, especially during congestion on expressways and festive seasons,” he added.