ALOR GAJAH, Jan 21 — Construction of the dual track for the Gemas-JB Sentral, Johor Baru Electric Train Service (ETS) begins this month, said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin.

He said the project, carried out through an allocation from the Transport Ministry and expected to be ready in four years, would open a new southern route for residents in the area.

"To date, the last ETS station in the south is Gemas and we find there is high demand for ETS to several south-bound stations.

"The route will boost the number of passengers using ETS and turn the service into a popular alternative in the future,” he told reporters after a working visit by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron to the Pulau Sebang/Tampin Train Station here today.

Prior to this, the media reported that the construction of the 192 km twin tracks project which is estimated to cost RM9.4 billion was held up due to several  factors, including its design and public feedback .

In the meantime, Idris said the Melaka government hoped the KTMB service network would be expanded to the state with the construction of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) station in Durian Tunggal here in the future. — Bernama