Sarawak unveils main route for Trans-Borneo Railway linking key divisions and ports
Deputy Transport Minister Jerip Susil told the Sarawak legislature that a feasibility study confirms a main railway alignment crossing major divisions and connecting several seaports, with extensions into Brunei and Indonesia.
In a session of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil presented the findings of a federal feasibility study on the Trans-Borneo Railway. The recommended main alignment runs across the Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri divisions, then proceeds into Brunei before re-entering Sarawak through Limbang. The study, finished on Aug 7 by the Ministry of Transport, concluded the project is technically viable and strategically valuable, offering seamless links to major ports—including Kuching, Tanjung Manis, Bintulu, Samalaju and Miri—and to airports and logistics hubs across Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.
It also highlighted potential rail connections into Indonesia’s Kalimantan region. Authorities plan a phased rollout, selecting priority corridors according to one outlet demand, economic benefits, affordability and land-acquisition conditions. The federal government is now reviewing the report to decide on funding, governance and implementation frameworks.
Why it matters
The railway could boost regional trade and integration by connecting key economic centers across Borneo.
In this story
