ECRL Port Klang Section D EIA Open for Comment Until 2 December: What Factory Owners Near Northport and Westports Should Check
The EIA for ECRL Section D, the 25km rail link from Jalan Kastam to Northport and Westports, is on public display until 17 November, with written comments to DOE until 2 December. What factory, warehouse and land owners along the corridor should check.
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Key Takeaways
- The Department of Environment (DOE) has put the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for ECRL Section D, the rail link from Jalan Kastam station to Northport and Westports in Port Klang, on public display from 19 October to 17 November 2026.
- Written public comments are accepted until 2 December 2026. In Klang, the report can be inspected at the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) headquarters until 17 November.
- Section D is a 25km stretch that puts ECRL's standard gauge track beside KTMB's existing metre gauge line to both ports. Media Selangor reported that construction started in July 2026, with the Gombak to Port Klang alignment due for full operations in January 2028.
- Owners and tenants of factories, warehouses and container yards near the corridor should check the alignment drawings, the construction impacts on access, drainage and noise, and send specific written comments before the deadline.
- An EIA display is an environmental review, not a land acquisition notice. If land is needed, acquisition runs through the land office under its own legal process.
What happened
On 24 October, Klang mayor Abd Hamid Hussain invited the public to review the EIA for the last stretch of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Klang. Speaking after MBDK's full board meeting at Bangunan Sultan Alam Shah, he said it is "the ECRL's second schedule EIA report for the proposed Section D that stretches from Jalan Kastam to Northport and Westport, Port Klang", and that it is open for inspection at MBDK headquarters until 17 November (The Star). He also said the ECRL's freight connections can "improve the movement of goods too, strengthen supply chains and expand market access for manufacturers".
The DOE notice, published on 19 October under the project title "East Coast Rail Link Section D Development from Jalan Kastam to Northport and Westport of Port Klang", sets the full timeline: the report is displayed from 19 October to 17 November 2026, and written public comments are accepted until 2 December 2026. Media Selangor pointed out the gap between the two dates: the exhibit at MBDK ends on 17 November, but feedback can still be sent to DOE until 2 December.
A Second Schedule EIA is the type DOE opens to public comment during a display period before it decides on the report. For anyone who owns or rents industrial property between Port Klang town and the two ports, this is the formal window to see what the project plans near their site and to put concerns on record.
What Section D is
Section D connects the ECRL's Jalan Kastam station in Port Klang directly to the two container ports.
- Scope: In February 2025 the Transport Ministry changed Section D to a 25km twin track so that ECRL and KTMB trains can run separately (Media Selangor).
- Contract: In August 2025, Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) signed Supplementary Agreement 7 with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). MRL chief executive Darwis Abdul Razak said it covers a 25km track and "will involve the construction of meter gauge and standard gauge simultaneously on the route", side by side, to reach Northport and Westports (Bernama).
- Land and port works: The Edge reported in August 2025, citing sources, that Section D would mainly pass through private land, and that the scope included rail-mounted gantries to lift containers onto trains and a short bypass of less than half a kilometre so KTMB trains can travel between Westports and Northport without returning to Jalan Kastam (The Edge).
- Timeline: Media Selangor reported in July 2026 that construction on the 25km Section D had started, and that the Gombak to Port Klang alignment is expected to be completed in December 2027, with full operations from January 2028 (Media Selangor).
On the main line, MRL says ECRL commercial services begin on 12 December 2026, and each freight train can carry about 45 wagons, or 90 TEUs (Malay Mail). We covered the opening date and the 2028 cargo link in our earlier report on ECRL cargo to Port Klang.
Why it matters for factories, warehouses and yards in Port Klang
Port Klang's industrial belt depends on lorries. Container hauliers, bonded warehouses, open storage yards and factories that import raw materials all move boxes between their sites and the port gates every day. Rail works along the routes to the ports can change that daily routine in three ways.
During construction. Temporary road diversions, site access points and work zones near your gate affect how 40ft trailers turn in and out, when you can schedule loading, and how staff get to work.
After opening. A rail link that runs right into Northport and Westports, with gantries that lift containers straight onto trains, gives shippers an alternative to trucking cargo between the east coast and Port Klang. For importers and exporters near the ports, that can widen the choice of routes from 2028.
For land and leases. Buyers and tenants will ask what the corridor means for a particular lot, so owners who know the answer are better placed in a negotiation. As a baseline, JPPH-registered transactions for Klang and Port Klang in the 24 months to August 2026 show 143 industrial land deals at a median of RM10.15 million, or RM90 psf of land, and 69 detached factory deals at a median of RM14.9 million, or RM270 psf of land. The registered factory rent median is RM1.43 psf per month across 780 tenancies. See Klang and Port Klang transaction prices and rents for the breakdown by type.
What to look for in the EIA
An EIA report normally sets out the project description, the existing environment, the expected impacts during construction and operation, and the mitigation and monitoring the project commits to. For an industrial site near the corridor, these are the parts worth reading first:
| Section of the report | What to look for | Why it matters to an industrial user |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment drawings | Whether your lot, access road or drain outlet sits inside or next to the works | You need lot level clarity before you sign a lease, buy or plan an extension |
| Construction phasing | Which periods works are planned near you, and the working hours | Loading schedules, shift times and delivery windows |
| Traffic management | Temporary closures and detours for heavy vehicles | Turning space and route length for container trailers |
| Drainage | Changes to drains, culverts and outlets near the line | Port Klang is low lying, and blocked drains raise flood risk |
| Noise and vibration | Predicted levels near buildings and how they will be monitored | Sensitive machinery, labs and cold rooms |
| Mitigation and monitoring | What the project commits to and who to contact | The basis for your written comment and for any later complaint |
If you are comparing sites in the port belt, our guide to Port Klang industrial zones: Westport, Northport and PKFZ explains how each area differs in use and access.
Practical next steps
- View the report before 17 November. Go to MBDK headquarters at Bangunan Sultan Alam Shah, Jalan Perbandaran, Klang, or use DOE's official channels listed in the notice. Bring your title details (lot number and mukim) so you can match them against the drawings.
- Mark your site on the alignment plan. Note the distance from your boundary to the works, and any access road, drain or utility line you share with the corridor.
- Write to DOE by 2 December. Keep it short and specific: your name and contact, lot number or address, what your business does on site, the impact you expect and the mitigation you want, for example keeping a lorry access open during working hours.
- Tenants: tell your landlord. Check what your tenancy says about access, disruption and repairs, and agree who raises which concern.
- Buyers: add the corridor to your due diligence. For any lot near the line, read the relevant EIA pages, run an official land search and ask the land office whether any acquisition notice has been issued.
FactoryHub is dedicated to helping every client find the right factory or warehouse. If you own or rent near Jalan Kastam, Northport or Westports and want to talk through what Section D means for your site, contact Peter Tan (REN 12771) at 016-666 6872 or Jason Low (PEA 1478) at 012-288 1834, or see our Port Klang industrial property agent page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ECRL Section D?
Section D is the 25km stretch of the East Coast Rail Link that connects Jalan Kastam station in Port Klang directly to Northport and Westports. It runs ECRL's standard gauge track side by side with KTMB's existing metre gauge line, so the two rail services can operate separately. Media Selangor reported that construction started in July 2026.
Until when can I view and comment on the Section D EIA?
According to the DOE notice, the report is on display from 19 October to 17 November 2026, and written public comments are accepted until 2 December 2026. In Klang, the report can be inspected at MBDK headquarters until 17 November. After that date you can still send written comments to DOE until 2 December.
Does the EIA display mean my factory land will be acquired?
No. The EIA display is part of DOE's environmental review of the project. If any private land is needed for the line, acquisition is a separate legal process handled by the land office, with its own formal notices to the registered owner. If you are unsure, check the alignment drawings in the EIA and ask the land office directly.
When will ECRL freight trains reach Northport and Westports?
Media Selangor reported in July 2026 that the Gombak to Port Klang alignment is expected to be completed in December 2027, with full operations from January 2028. ECRL commercial services on the main line begin on 12 December 2026. Direct rail access into the two ports depends on Section D being completed on schedule.
Should I wait before buying or renting a factory near the Section D corridor?
Not necessarily, but you should check how close the lot is to the works before you commit. Read the alignment drawings in the EIA, run a land search and ask how construction will affect access in the months you plan to move in. A site that is clear of the works can still benefit from rail access to the ports from 2028.
Area contact: Ms Teh Seok Hoon covers the area in more depth on the Northport and Bandar Sultan Suleiman industrial property page of her own site, with its estates, roads and the rent and sale market.
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