The East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project has reached a pivotal milestone with the successful early penetration of the Gombak Tunnel, completed a month ahead of schedule. According to Berita Harian, the breakthrough of this 959-meter tunnel was achieved with a final blast that removed the remaining 38-meter barrier from the entrance, marking significant progress in one of Malaysia’s largest infrastructure projects.
With a combined effort of 5.8 million man-hours, the ECRL team used advanced drilling and blasting techniques to tackle the tunnel’s challenging weathered granite. Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), expressed pride in the accomplishment, attributing it to both the advanced methods and the relentless dedication of the team. He noted that the Gombak Tunnel’s completion is critical to achieving the targeted December 2026 completion date for the full ECRL route from Kota Bharu to the Gombak Integrated Terminal.
