KUANTAN: From 2026, the Pahang Skills Development Centre will offer a permanent way inspection certificate programme for an easier path to employment with the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

Students will be taught about track maintenance, inspection and safety.

A training site will be built opposite the campus in Semambu here.

Pahang Skills deputy executive director 1 (education and technical) Nasrul Rahman Abdullah said the new training facility would be the first to cater to the ECRL.

"China's Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College (LRVTC) has been appointed by China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd to help us train skilled workers for the mega rail project.

"A team from LRVTC, including nine lecturers in the railway field, visited Pahang Skills last month.

"For the programme, a 200m double track will be installed at the training site, with the groundbreaking planned next month and completion set for June next year.

"The facility will include a warehouse, training centres and a simulation-based model.

"The facility will be built based on specifications provided by LRVTC and CCC-ECRL," he said after a briefing by Pahang Skills executive director Mahadir Abdul Raffar on the new programme.

Nasrul Rahman said once the ECRL began operations in 2027, a few batches of permanent way inspectors will be needed in the first year.

"Our first intake of 50 students will begin in January 2026. Applications will open in the fourth quarter next year.

"Upon completing the 12-month programme, students will receive certification from Pahang Skills."

Mahadir thanked the Pahang government for agreeing to pay for the RM2.5 million training facility.

"Students living in states that the ECRL covers will be interested in the programme.

"We are excited to be part of the ECRL and to be entrusted to ready the manpower for the industry."

The 665km-long ECRL costing RM50.27 billion will cover Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, through to the Klang Valley.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/1102343/pahang-skills-ready-permanent-way-inspectors-ecrl-maintenance