Will the revised ECRL route negate its travel time advantage over cars?

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Revised ECRL Route May Eliminate Travel Time Advantage Over Cars

The revised East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) route is projected to result in a rail journey from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru that is nearly as long as travelling by car. This change stems from the omission of the Titiwangsa Range tunnel through Bentong in the updated plans, which is expected to add an additional one to two hours to the trip. Consequently, if the ECRL travel time approaches the approximately seven hours required for a car journey between the two cities, the rail service may lose its primary advantage.
Extended Travel Time Due to Route Changes

The former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, highlighted that the original plan under his administration aimed to reduce travel time to four hours. However, the revised route, which bypasses the Bentong route and the Titiwangsa Range tunnel, makes this objective unattainable. Passengers originating from Kuala Lumpur will now need to travel to a station hub in Putrajaya, necessitating a southward journey before heading north, thereby extending the overall travel duration by an estimated one to two hours.
Reduced Construction Costs for ECRL Phases 1 and 2

Despite concerns about the revised route's impact on travel time, the construction cost for Phases 1 and 2 of the ECRL has seen a significant reduction. The total cost has been lowered to RM44 billion, marking a decrease of RM21.5 billion from the initial estimate of RM65.5 billion. This cost revision was announced by the Prime Minister's Office.
Concerns Regarding Foreign Management of ECRL

Najib also expressed reservations about the proposed involvement of Chinese entities, specifically China Communications Construction Company, in the management, operation, and maintenance of the ECRL. He suggested that foreign involvement should be limited to roles such as main contractors and technical advisors. Najib raised potential security issues, arguing that Malaysians possess the capability to manage the rail system and citing Prasarana Malaysia Bhd's international contracts as evidence of local expertise.

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Will the revised ECRL route negate its travel time advantage over cars?

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