The Trans-Borneo High-Speed Rail is a proposed railway network that would connect Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia) on the island of Borneo.
This ambitious project, which was first suggested in 2015, by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to then Indonesian president Joko Widodo, aims to significantly improve connectivity and boost the region’s economy.
While it’s still in the proposal stage, it has attracted significant interest from various parties.
The Brunergy Utama Trans-Borneo Railways proposal
The project gained considerable attention in April 2024 when a Brunei-based company, Brunergy Utama Sdn Bhd, announced a US$70 billion (RM330 billion) proposal.
Their plan involves a two-phase implementation spanning over 1,600 kilometers with trains reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h.
The first phase would link major cities on the western coast from Pontianak, West Kalimantan, to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
This phase covers cities like Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak, with Kota Kinabalu, Kimanis / Papar, Beaufort and Sipitang in Sabah.
For the Indonesian side, it covers Sambas, Singgawang, Mempawah and Pontianak while it would connect Bangar and Bukit Panggal in Brunei.
The second phase would extend into North and East Kalimantan, connecting the main route to Samarinda and Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara.
This route will start Bukit Panggal, and move down through Long Seridan and Bekalalan in Sarawak, before covering Kalimantan’s Long Bawan, Malinau, Tanjung Selor, Tandjungredeb, Pengadan, Lubuk, Tutung, Bontang, Samarinda and ending in Balikpapan.
The company’s plan designates the Tutong district in Brunei (Bukit Panggal) as the central hub which connect all 24 stations.
Feasibility and Implementation
The Malaysian government, through Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, has clarified that the project remains a proposal and has not been awarded to any company.
However, the minister confirmed that a local consultant had been appointed to conduct a 12-month feasibility study for the Sabah and Sarawak segments, with an allocated budget of RM7 million. The budget was allocated in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
This study, which began in June 2025, is a crucial step in evaluating the project’s viability. It will analyze technical, commercial, socio-economic, and operational aspects, with a report expected by the third quarter of 2026.
The study’s key deliverables will include recommendations for a strategic plan, implementation schedule, and timeline.
If the feasibility study is positive, plans for the Trans-Borneo High-Speed Rail to be a reality could be on the cards although the cost would likely be high given Borneo’s challenging terrain. The current quoted price is said to be RM63.3 billion.
Nonetheless, shall the project become a reality, the Trans-Borneo High-Speed Rail could be one of Southeast Asia’s largest cross-border transport projects, improving not only connectivity within Borneo, but also likely to indirectly develop rural areas in Borneo.
News and information source: Brunergy Utama, EdgeProp, Railway-Technology, NST
