PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – The Asean Express, a cargo train connecting Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China, has returned to Malaysia after a 14-day journey to Chongqing, China. The train was greeted at its final stop, the Kontena Nasional Inland Clearance Depot (KNICD), at 11am on Thursday, July 11.
This marks the successful completion of the Asean Express’s first trip to Malaysia. The train, carrying 20 wagons of 40m containers, began its journey on June 27.
On its inbound journey, the train transported sodium sulphate from China, used in detergent production. During its outbound journey, the train carried food products to Thanaleng, Laos, and China.
“This is the first inbound trip; we hope there will be many more trips between these countries,” said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Chief Operating Officer Mohd Zain Mat Taha.
He noted that the one-way journey takes about nine days, crossing through Thailand, Laos, and then into China.
The schedule for the next cargo train and its frequency is yet to be confirmed. However, KTMB Corporate Planning Head Abdul Salim Shah Abdul Aziz mentioned that they currently expect about two to three trips per month. As the service grows, the aim is to run daily trains, he added.
The Asean Express is expected to boost trade connectivity between Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China, offering a faster mode of transportation. It takes nine days for goods to reach China by train, compared to 14 to 21 days by sea.
