Projects | East Coast Rail Link, Malaysia

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The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is the largest infrastructure project in Malaysia, envisioned as the backbone for economic development and growth along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Stretching 665 kilometres, it will carry freight and passenger rail to improve connectivity between the east and west coasts of the peninsula. The immediate benefit will be a reduction in travelling time, cutting what is typically a seven-hour journey by road between Kota Bharu and the Klang Valley to only four hours using the railway.

The long-term potential leverages tourism to the east coast as well as industrial, commercial, and logistical growth along the railway’s major corridors.

With the input of ERE Consulting Group’s (a member of Aurecon Group) environmental and rail engineering experience, and in-country experience, we were appointed to undertake the environmental and social impact assessment.

This role was to optimise the railway alignment to conserve important wildlife habitats and landscapes as well as minimise disruption to communities.

Location

Malaysia

Client

Malaysia Rail Link

Partners

Malaysia Rainforest Station (MRS) and Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

Aurecon's Role

ERE was appointed to optimise the railway alignment to conserve important wildlife habitats and landscapes as well as minimise disruption to communities.

Expertise

Environment & Planning, Rail & Mass Transit, Engagement & Change Advisory

Complete

2022

Preserving precious habitat

The railway alignment tracks through challenging terrain with its changing elevations and forest areas that support rural communities and wildlife movements.

ERE Consulting Group (ERE) was able to optimise the alignment to achieve 90 per cent less forest loss when compared with the original design of the railway. This was achieved by using ERE's knowledge of railway design and environmental engineering, combined with a deep understanding of important landscapes and biodiversity. This was supplemented with camera-trap surveys to record and understand wildlife movements.

ERE worked collaboratively with the client, Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), to determine actions to preserve forest and wildlife pathways, including the construction of multiple tunnels and wildlife crossings as part of the project.

Camera trap image of a Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) within a forest reserve.

Supporting community connection

ERE’s approach was to consider the total benefit analysis of the project. This included providing connection between the environment and people, considering both the ecosystems and how they might be affected by change.

Communication with the communities situated along the route of the railway was two-way communication with open dialogue – we spoke, listened and collaborated with them to educate and understand, to be able to reach the best possible outcomes for people and the project.

ECRL Project achieved its first tunnel breakthrough in Paka, Terengganu, Malaysia.

ERE Consulting Group ERE) with Aurecon in discussion with logging workers in forested habitats in Malaysia.

Aurecon and ERE Consulting Group (ERE) are discussing with the forestry department to determine actions to preserve forest and wildlife pathways.

Field staff preparing camera-traps in the forest.

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ECRL Project achieved its first tunnel breakthrough in Paka, Terengganu, Malaysia.

There were many rural and urban communities to engage with – diverse in their culture, way of life and geographic location. We tailored our approach to suit each different community, however the underlying focus was providing people with the right information at the right time, to be open and transparent in our communication.

This was achieved with a mix of communication methods including visiting individual homes, holding town hall meetings and mini workshops, conducting surveys and distributing information pamphlets.

Aurecon employees inspecting Central Kowloon Route tunnel.

How will Asia’s transport networks evolve to deliver sustainable, resilient and connected mobility?

Connecting lives, accelerating growth

ERE’s development of the environmental impact assessment included noise modelling, heritage studies, carbon emissions calculations (operations) and minimisation of construction waste.

Noise modelling aimed to determine the impacts of noise during construction activities to determine suitable types of hoarding to be used. The modelling also helped determine ideal noise barriers to be included in the rail design during operation to reduce noise pollution from the trains.

Carbon emission calculations for the operation of the railway aimed to assess the net carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emission offset with the ECRL in operation (i.e., the amount of CO₂e avoided from cars, bus, lorries etc. from using the railway).

Sustainable waste management practices were prioritised as key mitigation measures as well. This includes reuse, recycling and recovery of construction and demolition waste, reuse of generated biomass for temporary slope protection, and reuse of excavated material and soil material for embankment sections.

Aurecon worked collaboratively with MRL to revise the original alignment design to conserve important wildlife habitats and minimise disruption to communities.

The revised alignment design avoids the forest reserve and helped to achieve 90 per cent less forest loss compared with the original design.

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Aurecon worked collaboratively with MRL to revise the original alignment design to conserve important wildlife habitats and minimise disruption to communities.

To stimulate the economy in the east coast region and support population growth, the ECRL will be a modern, high-capacity, and efficient rail system.

It will improve connectivity to east coast state capitals, major urban centres, industrial clusters, seaports, internal container depots, airports, tourism zones and integrated transport terminals, and will enhance transport accessibility for the population on the coastal and rural areas of the east coast.

Linking the east coast with the west coast, the ECRL will be able to complete the rail network for Peninsular Malaysia and establish a 'landbridge' between Kuantan Port and Port Klang. ERE is proud to be contributing its expertise and experience to this high-impact and rakyat-centric project.

Preserving precious habitat

Supporting community connection

How will Asia’s transport networks evolve to deliver sustainable, resilient and connected mobility?

Connecting lives, accelerating growth

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We would love to work with you to bring your ideas to life, so get in touch and we'll get back to you.

Preserving precious habitat

Supporting community connection

How will Asia’s transport networks evolve to deliver sustainable, resilient and connected mobility?

Connecting lives, accelerating growth

TAGS

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We would love to work with you to bring your ideas to life, so get in touch and we'll get back to you.