Kota Kinabalu – Kudat Railway

Kota Kinabalu-Kudat rail project is a proposed railway connecting the capital of Sabah to the northern tip of Borneo.

The 175km railway would be used for transporting agricultural products from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu, and there is also a port and industrial parks planned for Kudat.

Kudat District is at the northern tip of the island of Borneo, and there are beaches other islands off the coast. Kudat has potential to become a tourism drawcard if it had easy access by rail from Kota Kinabalu.

A preliminary study for the project is expected to commence in 2025. The Kota Kinabalu – Kudat Railway is not part of the Trans-Borneo Railway proposal.

Kota Kinabalu – Kudat Railway map

[Map of Kota Kinabalu – Kudat Railway.]

News archive

2024

Proposed railway line from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu: A mountain to climb – [21/10/24]
“The following are facts extracted from our research on the status of the proposal”.

3,000 acres for Kudat International Port and Industrial Park – [10/09/24]

Sabah tourism and travel agents’ association wants govt to build railway in state – [31/03/24]
“Satta chairman Datuk Seri Winston Liaw said the state was in need of a moderate-speed railway of 150kph to link Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau for tourism and logistics purposes.”

2021

Railway tracks between Kota Kinabalu and Kudat at planning stage – [09/12/21]
“An allocation of RM1 million has been provided for this study under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). This research project will be implemented early next year 2022”.

2019

Study on proposed RM5.2 bln KK-Kudat railway routes – [17/04/19]
“The Infrastructure Development Ministry through the Sabah Railways Department is in the process of preparing the terms of reference (TOR) and initial study on routes to implement the proposal for 175km railway track from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat.”

Is Sabah rail project just empty talk, Musa asks Warisan govt – [16/04/19]
“Former CM questions current government’s plan to extend railroad from the state capital to Kudat.”

2018

Rail link to Kudat in 3 years – [28/10/18]
“The State Government plans to upgrade the railway service and system in Sabah, including extending the route from the present Kota Kinabalu-Tenom to Kudat and other major towns in two to three years from now.”

2017

By rail to Kudat and S’kan – [21/03/17]
“Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said efforts to enhance rail services will be continued to meet the expectations of the public who are constantly demanding better, reliable and more effective public transport services.This includes a Federal Government RM1m feasibility study on providing rail services to Kudat and Sandakan.”

Study being done on Sabah railway expansion towards Kudat, Sandakan – [20/03/17]