Malaysia studies $15 billion Trans-Borneo Railway linking Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesia’s Kalimantan
High-speed railway network to connect Sabah, Sarawak states of Malaysia with Brunei, Indonesia’s Kalimantan
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) – The feasibility study for the Trans-Borneo Railway, a proposed high-speed rail network connecting Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan, Indonesia, is on track for completion by the third quarter of 2026, reports Business Times.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said in a written parliamentary reply that a local consultancy firm has been appointed to conduct the 12-month study for the Sabah and Sarawak segments.
The 7 million Malaysian ringgit ($1.66 million) study, fully funded under the 12th Malaysia Plan, will deliver a detailed comparative analysis of the project’s technical requirements, commercial and operational models, socio-economic benefits, governance framework, and overall viability.
Key outputs will include a strategic blueprint, a phased implementation schedule, and an actionable rollout plan – all developed with stakeholder consultation to ensure broad acceptance and support.
If implemented, the Trans-Borneo Railway – with an estimated price tag of 63.3 billion Malaysian ringgit ($15 billion) – would be one of Southeast Asia’s largest cross-border transport infrastructure projects.
Analysts say it could transform Sarawak’s economic landscape by unlocking new growth corridors, reducing logistics costs, enhancing rural-urban connectivity, and opening access to regional markets.
Beyond domestic benefits, enhanced rail links with Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan could position Sarawak as a strategic trade and transit hub in Borneo, deepening economic integration and aligning with the state’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
The project is also expected to spur investment in high-value sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and resource-based manufacturing, while creating thousands of jobs during construction and operation.
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