Time to overhaul rail network stage by stage

I HAVE been following with great interest developments with regard to the High Speed Railway (HSR) and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) which were initiated by the previous government. I am very sure that both the ECRL and the HSR are not required at all. They actually duplicate existing rail infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia, and more cost-effective railway options are available.
All that is required is:
» Upgrade the existing KTM tracks from narrow-gauge (metre-gauge) to standard-gauge (broad-gauge);
» Construct dual-track standard-gauge tracks for the entire length of the railway network;
» Replace existing rolling stock (locomotives and coaches) on a stage-by-stage basis as the track conversion process proceeds;
» Construct connecting tracks at appropriate points to link smaller towns along the main railway grid, eg Tampin/Gemas to Malacca, Segamat to Muar, Jerantut to Kuantan, Pasir Mas to Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Krai to Kota Baru, etc. Each of these main grid stations could be converted to rail junctions.
» Upgrade station facilities and signalling infrastructure to accommodate these new railway networks.
By doing so,
» It would substantially reduce land acquisition costs as the main railway grid is already in use and there would be no need to acquire additional land for it;
» Land acquisition costs would only apply to connecting tracks between the rail junctions and the terminal stations;
» The total cost of this revised railway network would easily save the government at least 30% to 40% (perhaps more) of the costs budgeted for the HSR and ECRL; and
» With standard-gauge tracks and trains, Malaysians will have a high-speed, upgraded railway network.
It is risky to merely add an additional line to existing metre-gauge track to accommodate standard-gauge and metre-gauge trains because any technical or human error in switching track points at junctions could result in serious accidents. It is also not feasible to continue operating metre-gauge rolling stock as they are being phased out worldwide and are being replaced by standard-gauge rolling stock. It would therefore be difficult to undertake repairs and obtain spare parts for outmoded rolling stock.
India, which has the biggest railway network in the world, began its track conversion operations (narrow-gauge to standard-gauge) about 15 years ago, and the process is now more than 95% complete. It would make a lot of sense for the Malaysian government to just take a look at India and see how they have done it in their country, and perhaps invite their railway experts to Malaysia to advise accordingly.
Prof S. Venkateswaran
Kuala Lumpur