China, Malaysia to build tracks to southern Thai border

The governments of Malaysia and China have agreed to extend a new train link from the Malaysian east coast to the country's border with Thailand's southernmost region.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang expressed agreement that their new joint train project currently under construction in northeastern Malaysia should go to the border with Thailand, Bernama reported on Thursday.

The remarks were made as Mr Anwar wrapped up a visit to Hangzhou on Thursday.

Details of the line extension have not yet been reported.

Malaysia is building a new train line called the East Coast Rail Link to connect Port Klang, the country's main port on the west coast, with Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan state, 665 kilometres away.

The new line, which will be fully electrified once completed, has been aimed at promoting economies in eastern coastal states, especially remote areas.

Part of the line will start service next year. Passenger trains on the new project will run as fast as 160 kilometres per hour, with the maximum for freight trains to be half that speed.

Malaysia wants to see the new line go to Rantau Panjang, a border town opposite Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat, but Kuala Lumpur must first convince China, as the line is built by Chinese loans with a main contractor from China.

The distance between Kota Bharu and Rantau Panjang is about 50 kilometres.

Malaysian and Thai leaders have promised more transport links between the two countries and Malaysia hopes to see trains and trucks to carry  more products to sell in China through Thailand.