Trains plying Trans Borneo route to carry passengers and cargo

TRAINS that will ply the routes of the proposed Trans Borneo Railway spanning Borneo Island will have 30 per cent capacity reserved for passengers.

The rest of the 70 per cent will be for cargo such as food products and industrial items.

Federal Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the capacity ratio is the ideal situation for the long distance trains that will link Sarawak-Sabah-Kalimantan once the project is realised.

"The technical, commercial and socio-economic aspects of the Trans Borneo Railway project are being looked into now.

"These aspects are being considered alongside the financial matters.

"The ideal plan is to have the Trans Borneo trains having 30 per cent capacity passengers and the other 70 percent for goods

"The Trans Borneo trains must serve social roles to connect people as well as to facilitate progress of businesses and industries.

"The governments of Sarawak and Sabah are directly involved in these planning details," he said in his press updates.

Hasbi said his ministry revealed these latest details during question time in the Dewan Rakyat recently.

On Feb 19, it was announced that the plan for the multi-billion Trans Borneo Railway project to connect Sarawak and Sabah to the Indonesian new capital of Nusantara in Kalimantan has been officially tabled in Parliament for discussion.

Lawmakers are of the opinion that the feasibility study being carried out now with an approved federal allocation of RM7 mil from the Transport Ministry be expedited, and for ground construction of the railway routes to proceed. - March 12, 2025