After attending a key site visit session for the proposed Kempas-Pasir Gudang Southern Commuter Station and Line, State Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh provided additional updates on the Kempas-Pasir Gudang commuter service line, which he stated requires meticulous planning for the future of public transport in southern Johor as well as strategic collaboration from various agencies.
Representatives from the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, RAC, Johor Bahru City Council, Pasir Gudang City Council, Johor Public Transport Corporation, and Handal Indah Sdn Bhd also attended the visit.
“Previously, the 40-kilometre railway line connecting Kempas Baru and Pasir Gudang was only used for cargo movement from the port.”
“Now, the government and KTMB intend to open passenger services on this route, including the development of several medium-sized stations for passengers to board and disembark,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
“This service is expected to reduce travel time between Pasir Gudang and other destinations, such as Kempas or JB Sentral.”
“According to the proposal so far, the 25-kilometer journey by train takes 30 minutes, compared to over an hour by car during peak hours. This will help to alleviate traffic congestion in the Pasir Gudang, Masai, Tampoi, and surrounding Johor Bahru areas,” he added.
When combined with the Southern Commuter project, it will complete a broader train network in Johor Bahru, the Harbour area, and potentially other connections, such as the RTS Link (to Singapore), as part of the expansion of the passenger rail network in southern Johor.
“This means that the Pasir Gudang rail serves as a mobility backbone for local workers, students, and visitors, rather than just cargo.”
He stated that the cargo rail line has been upgraded, including track improvements, signalling systems, and safety structures, to make the infrastructure more capable of supporting passenger and cargo services.
“This makes the launch of passenger services cheaper and faster, because there is no need to build a completely new track,” he stated.
The Pasir Gudang railway passenger station is scheduled to open in February 2026 under Phase 1 of the project.
The main focus is to ensure that all planning and construction processes are on schedule to realise this much-awaited transport facility as soon as possible.
Discussions and on-site inspections are critical to ensuring that sustainable infrastructure projects benefit local residents to the fullest extent possible.
He added that the Pasir Gudang cargo station’s conversion to a passenger network is more than just a repurposed structure.
“It is a strategic location for connecting communities, reducing congestion, and expanding the passenger rail network in southern Johor. Residents in the area may benefit from increased social, economic, and daily mobility,” he ended his statement.
