China’s Belt and Road Initiative is developing towards closer connectivity in Southeast Asia. One of the projects is the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). This project spans 665 km from the west coast of the peninsular Malaysia to the East Coast Economic Zone, and it is over halfway built. It is scheduled for completion in 2026.
Executed by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), this project also needs strong diesel locomotives for track laying and construction logistics. CRRC Ziyang did the first batch of six such locomotives.
The standard gauge six-axle locomotives can run 100 km/h, are 22 m long and weigh 150 tonnes. Locomotives were tested at the Kuantan track-laying base in Malaysia.
