KTMB launches Asean Express

By BENJAMIN LEE, The Star | 28-Jun-2024

The Asean Express, a new international freight train service connecting Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and China, has been launched by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) to improve trade connectivity between the nations.

The service will connect new trade routes and multiple inland ports across the region, including the Kontena Nasional Inland Clearance Depot (KNICD) in Selangor, Perlis Inland Port, Thailand’s Latkrabang Inland Port and the Thanaleng Dry Port in Laos, all of which are pivotal trade hubs.

It can reduce the transit time of goods between the nations, with the transit time from KNICD to Chongqing, China, expected to take only nine days compared with 14 to 21 days by sea.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the new service will improve regional logistics and rail connectivity, as well as open up new regional markets and reduce costs for local businesses.

“This new service will provide a smoother and more efficient flow of goods throughout the region, as well as enhance rail cargo transport capacity while reducing logistic costs for businesses by at least 20%.

“The quicker transport time is also expected to open up new markets in the agricultural sector, in particular by allowing for previously perishable produce to be transported quicker by rail.

“Rail transportation also boasts a significantly lower carbon footprint compared with road haulage, promoting a more sustainable future for all.

“Let us continue to work together in fostering innovation and strengthening trade ties to build a sustainable and competitive regional rail transport network that will benefit businesses and citizens across South-East Asia,” he said after flagging off Asean Express’s first shipment to Chongqing from KNICD here yesterday.

The new service will also see the deployment of KTMB’s first Malaysian-made “pay-as-use” leased locomotives.

A total of six locomotives and 204 wagons, built with local expertise at homegrown rail equipment manufacturer SMH Rail in Selangor, had been leased by KTMB for the service, which projects up to two round-trip train runs per week for its initial run.

KTMB group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin expressed his pride in the new service for showcasing both Asean and Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global market.

Also present were Lao People’s Democratic Republic Deputy Head of Mission to Malaysia Phetwilaychanh Souvannarath, Thailand Ambassador to Malaysia Lada Phumas, and China Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.

Freight train from Chongqing arrives in Malaysia

By Deng Rui and Tan Yingzi | chinadaily.com.cn | 13-Jun-2023

A Malaysia-bound freight train from Chongqing recently arrived in Padang Besar, Malaysia, marking the official opening of the first rail-rail multimodal transportation route from China to Malaysia. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Malaysia-bound freight train from Chongqing recently arrived in Padang Besar, Malaysia, marking the official opening of the first rail-to-rail multimodal transportation route.

The international rail service of the freight train, mainly loaded with industrial spare parts manufactured in Chongqing, was organized by Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co. The cargo departed from Chongqing’s Tuanjiecun Railway Station and headed for Vientiane, Laos, via the China-Laos Railway, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It traversed Thailand before finally reaching Padang Besar near the Malaysia-Thailand border.

The whole journey took 13 days to complete and saved more than 40 percent of the time required by the traditional Chongqing-Shanghai-Penang river-sea route, according to the company.

“The operation of the new route has not only enriched the logistics route diversity between Chongqing and Malaysia but also helps bring down transport time and costs,” said company staff member Gao Chenglin.

Customized services including delivery service for local customers, are also provided, the company said.

Malaysia’s KTMB partners China’s Cosco to start freight service sending cargo from ports to north peninsula to take load off roads

Keertan Ayamany, Yahoo News | 15 March 2023

Starting today, some 400 wagons of goods are to be transported via trains connecting Penang Port, Port Klang and Padang Besar every month, as part of a new rail-and-sea service that seeks to supplement Malaysia’s existing cargo transport systems.

The new “rail-sea service” is a collaboration between Malaysian railway company Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and China’s state-owned Cosco Shipping Lines — one of the world’s largest maritime transportation conglomerates.

Malaysia’s KTMB partners China’s Cosco to start freight service sending cargo from ports to north peninsula to take load off roads – Malay Mail

The first 40 wagons of the service were given an official send-off today as a memorandum of understanding was signed between KTMB group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Shamsudin and Cosco Shipping Lines (Malaysia) managing director Jamie Song Mingzhi.

“This one rail service can replace 40 trucks on the road,” said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who was present to witness the event at the old Kuala Lumpur railway station here this morning.

“This means we are reducing 40 trucks on the road. That is a positive effect on transport.

“If we only depend on trucks, this not only causes traffic jams, but additional trucks on the road cause road damage and difficulties to other road users,” he added.

According to Mohd Rani, talks for the service collaboration — which is estimated to reduce wait times for importers and exports in Malaysia’s inland areas by up to four days — started in August last year.

There are plans to expand the rail-sea service to include Padang Besar in Perlis and Ipoh, Perak sometime in the future.

Loke also expressed his enthusiasm for closer ties between China and Malaysia.

“One of the missions of Malaysia’s rail industry is to connect Malaysia and China one day,” he said, regarding an intention to have trains for both passengers and goods between both countries.

“It’s definitely possible today, but we need further collaboration not only between Malaysia and China but our neighboring countries such as Thailand and Laos.

“And hopefully China can play an important role in helping to convince other countries,” he said.

In South East Asia, China currently has trains connecting to Laos and Vietnam.