Trans-Asian railway will be linked to major terminals and ports

The proposed Trans-Asian railway from Singapore to Kunming, China, will be linked to major container terminals, depots, sea and river ports and main industrial and agricultural centres in countries involved in the project, according to Abdul Radzak Abdul Malek, freight services general manager of KTM Bhd, speaking at the "Intermodal Australia 2001" conference in Melbourne.

Mr Abdul Radzak said that the new railway would encourage intermodal transport, integrating land, sea and rail networks, and boost cross-border trade, providing links to important origin and destination points. He added that Malaysia had chaired the initial study of the railway and had overseen the submission last year of the final consultancy report to Asean transport ministers. Myanmar and Thailand have now taken over the secretariat and will be responsible for a detailed study on the link and for implementing the project.

Mr Abdul Radzak said that rail connections now existed for some of Malaysia's major seaports, including Port Klang (North Port and West Port) and North Butterworth Container Terminal. A 35 km track to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) is scheduled to be completed by the year end. Future projects include a link to Kuantan Port. Currently there was no rail track between Arayaprathet, Thailand, and Sisophon, Cambodia; the 48-kilometre "missing link" will cost US$50 million to build, and will need to be funded by a donor country.

Speaking from his company's Malaysian perspective, Mr Abdul Radzak said: "Port Klang will retain its role as the major gateway to the Malaysian hinterland whilst PTP is positioned to participate in the regional transhipment market. Penang Port will still be the major gateway for the South Thailand hinterland."