Ecrl main purpose is not passenger Transport but as land bridge so that PRC can bypass choke point of SG

For us it's a benefit because we gain trade and commerce by usage of land bridge between Kuantan port and port klang

Impossible, not even if they run non stop service from kl to Kuantan

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2...g-east-and-west

From 2017, even here it's mentioned travel time is cut to 4 hours.

Now assume the full line is 665km, divide by 4 is average speed of 160km/h.

So your 40 min from KL to Kuantan is definitely sembang kencang, only possible if the line is dedicated for passenger and fully upgraded to 300kmh which was not even in original scope and doesn't work with the main intention which is freight ops. Goods trains don't run on hsr tracks.

Anyway I fully support ECRL and believe it should not have been cut down in scope, again not for passenger travel but for supporting high density freight ops so that we can take away business from SG port

The option to upgrade to 300kmh was available, given it's standard gauge track, again that's in theory only

In practice no one is going to do that on a line that is shared with freight. The tolerances necessary for a HSR will mean enormous costs to maintain the track if freight trains also run on them as well.

Maybe PRC or West can sustain such costs, we definitely can't afford to

No direct train but can take ETS up to gemas then change to diesel intercity, but not recommended unless you have so much free time and want to experience the trip

Last time I tried catching a train in gemas but the intercity coming from Kelantan was delayed by 6 hours. End up take bus to JB

Pantai Timur also mostly converted to Diesel EMU already, it's like komuter train but on diesel.

They should retain electric loco hauled service with sleeper especially for direct train from Padang besar to JB like express rakyat last time