KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 1 -- The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) could begin carrying passengers as early as mid-December, ahead of its original January 2027 launch target.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on September 23 that the government wants to see the ECRL completed before committing to other high-speed rail projects in the country.

Stretching 665km, the electrified rail network is set to transform travel between the East Coast and the Klang Valley, linking Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor via Terengganu, Pahang and the Greater Klang Valley.

Here's what we know so far about the ECRL and how close it is to opening:

1. How fast is the ECRL, and where will it run?

The ECRL network is being developed in two phas...