Rail transport of goods and passengers...

helps to take the load off highways and expressways.

Coming back from the north, off the beaten track of the North-South Expressway, like the chance of striking lottery, we were stopped at Pondok Tanjong railway crossing to allow a very long goods train to pass. It was travelling very slowly, around 40 kph, and some of the goods appeared to be sugar, based on the inscription, ‘MSM and Gula Perai’.

I missed the chance of counting the number of containers. However, I was given the chance at Kamunting railway crossing... yes we met again! While waiting, I actually counted the number of TEUs (don’t mean to be funny, but cannot help each time I come across this description, to remind myself not to think in Cantonese!) were 76! They were set in two containers each, which obviously were meant for 38 trailers to continue to their final destinations.

My mind started to compare rail transport and road transport, and would conclude that we had been missing a lot in neglecting rail transport. Having been to the Benelux countries of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, and enjoyed their efficient railway systems, which seemed so smooth in operation even cutting across different countries, I wonder why we waited until now for double-tracking to be put in place. Lack of funds? Yeah, like what YB Lim Kit Siang just posted, Rm500 million in commission seemed ok in defence contract. Where was MACC (ACA) when we needed you? Even if legally right, it would have been morally wrong.

Link