Trans-Borneo Railway preliminary alignment proposed, project undergoing feasibility study

KUCHING (Nov 28): A preliminary alignment has been proposed for the Trans-Borneo Railway, which is currently undergoing a feasibility study led by the federal Ministry of Transport.

Deputy Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said the first interim report was presented on Oct 30 and the study is scheduled for completion next June.

“Since the study commenced in June 2025, two technical workshops have been conducted with our counterparts from Sabah’s relevant agencies to review findings and coordinate planning.

“A preliminary railway alignment has been proposed, which will be further refined in the study,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

Dr Jerip added the study is also exploring the possibility of integrating the railway with the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) to ensure seamless connections between Trans-Borneo Railway services and local public transport.

“This integration is expected to improve accessibility within Greater Kuching and Kota Sentosa and enhance overall connectivity across the region,”’ he said.

He was responding to Wilfred Yap Yau Sin (GPS-Kota Sentosa), who had asked about the ministry’s initiative in developing a comprehensive traffic management and public transport strategy for Greater Kuching.

The Deputy Minister said there are several ongoing initiatives for public transport and traffic management in Kota Sentosa being implemented within the Greater Kuching area.

“Among them is the KUTS Phase 1, which covers Kuching and parts of the Kota Sentosa area. This phase includes the introduction of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system and feeder bus services to enhance last-mile connectivity and improve public transport accessibility,” he said.

Dr Jerip said plans for the Red Line under KUTS in future includes an extension to Mile 12 of the Kuching–Serian Road, with further expansions to be considered in subsequent phases.

He said the state ministry is implementing various initiatives under the Sarawak Integrated Transport Master Plan (SITMP), which outlines long-term strategies to develop an integrated, efficient, and sustainable transport system, including enhancements to traffic management across the state.

“Under this framework, the Ministry of Transport is implementing initiatives such as the KUTS, the introduction of modern low emission bus services, and the development of lorry terminals and multimodal transport hubs to promote seamless and sustainable mobility,” he said.

Aligned with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the SITMP focuses on addressing traffic congestion, road safety, and public transport connectivity through key areas such as integrated transport hubs, digitalisation of transport systems, green and low-carbon mobility, regulatory and policy strengthening, as well as logistics infrastructure development to enhance connectivity and economic competitiveness.

“All transport projects and programmes—including infrastructure improvements, public transport enhancement and smart mobility initiatives—are planned and implemented in line with the SITMP and the ministry’s strategic plan, reflecting our commitment to developing an integrated, efficient, and sustainable transport system for the people of Sarawak,” he said.

In addition, the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme, known as BAS.MY, is already operational in Greater Kuching, providing modern, affordable, and reliable stage bus services, including routes serving Kota Sentosa.

To improve traffic efficiency, the state Ministry of Transport is also implementing smart traffic light systems at critical and busy intersections.

“These systems will include Transit Signal Priority (TSP) features at intersections along the ART line, which will be centrally managed through an operation control centre to regulate traffic flow and ensure smoother ART and vehicles movement across the network,” added Dr Jerip.