KUCHING (Nov 13): The federal Ministry of Transport is currently in the process of appointing consultants for the feasibility study of the Trans-Borneo Railway project, said Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
The state Deputy Transport Minister said these consultants will conduct the study, funded by the federal government, to evaluate and determine the potential railway models for implementation in Sarawak and Sabah.
“The financial models of the Trans Borneo Railway, which are part of the feasibility study scope, will be determined once the feasibility study is completed.
“The duration of this feasibility study project will take 12 months,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here this morning.
He was responding to a question from Baru Bian (GPS-Ba Kelalan) on the proposed Trans-Borneo Railway project.
Dr Jerip said the Ministry of Transport Sarawak will be representing the Sarawak government on both the technical and steering committees, collaborating with its federal counterpart, relevant federal agencies and statutory bodies, and the Sabah government to coordinate and oversee the study.
“Other committee members from the Sarawak government include representatives from the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit, Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development, Public Works Department Sarawak, Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development, and the Land and Survey Department Sarawak,” he added.
He said among the scopes of the feasibility study include the technical scope, which involves operational characteristics, cost, alignment, stations and depot locations, and stakeholder management; and commercial scope involving strategic vision and value proposition, demand estimation, high-level implementation model, risk and challenges, and stakeholder engagement.
“There is also the socio-economic scope involving economic case for Trans Borneo Railway Project, national economic and social impact, catalytic impact of transit nodes, high-level narratives and stakeholder engagement; and project funding where the scope is to propose project funding or financing structures, phased payment approach by Government of Malaysia, financial model, and benchmarking with other rail operators,’’ he said.
