11 Datuk Muhammad Bin Ibrahim

Governor of the Central Bank of

CONNECT@POIC

NEW RAILWAY LINK

A comprehensive study is (Malaysia’s Minister of also look at suitable types of being carried out on Transport Datuk Seri Liow trains. establishing a railway link Tiong Lai announced in Kota connecting ’s west coast Kinabalu in 2015 that RM400 The study would also look at with northern and million has been set aside for upgrading communication eastern , TheStar on- expanding Sabah’s rail links to systems to ensure safer rail line reported in March 2017. Sandakan, Kudat and .) journeys.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Sabah’s existing railway line, Pairin said the three DMU Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan the only one passenger railway trains, costing RM7.62mil, were was quoted as saying that the in and established by from India and could Federal Government allocated the British colonial accommodate 192 passengers. RM1mil for the study which administration, now links Kota These would service the could bring about the Kinabalu, south-western -Beaufort- expansion of the current Beaufort and the interior route. 137km Sabah State Railway Tenom district. line. About 495,000 passengers Pairin said the aim was to travelled on the railway last “We are targeting to do it provide alternative transport year. The rail service was also (expanding the rail links) but facilities for the people of improving with the number of this will depend on the study,” Sabah cancellations due to weather or Pairin said when launching technical problems reduced new (DMU) “We are committed to from 762 in 2015 to 134 last railcars belonging to SSR at expanding our railway lines to year. the Tanjung Aru Station near Sandakan and Kudat,” he said, . adding that the study would