PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE PLANNED ON KEMPAS BARU–PASIR GUDANG CARGO ROUTE

JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- A railway line stretching about 40 kilometres from Kempas Baru to Pasir Gudang, previously used exclusively for cargo services transporting containers from the port, is now being planned for passenger train services.

Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the plan by the state government and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) includes the development of several medium-scale stations to facilitate passenger boarding and alighting.

He said the service is expected to shorten travel time between Pasir Gudang and other areas such as Kempas and JB Sentral, while also helping to reduce road congestion in Pasir Gudang, Masai, Tampoi and around Johor Bahru city.

“Based on current proposals, a 25-kilometre journey by train would take about 30 minutes, compared with more than an hour by car during peak hours,” he said in a Facebook post.

The move, he said, is a strategic step to improve daily mobility for workers, students and local residents, while also bringing social and economic benefits to the state.

Mohamad Fazli explained that the Pasir Gudang cargo rail line has been upgraded, involving tracks, signalling systems and safety aspects, making its infrastructure more ready to support passenger services.

“This makes the cost of launching passenger services lower and allows for faster implementation, as there is no need to build an entirely new railway line,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the plan is also part of efforts to expand the passenger rail network in the state.

“…with the combination of the Southern Commuter project, it will complete a wider train network in Johor Bahru, the harbour area and potential other connections, including to the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link in the future,” he said.

--BERNAMA