SEAToday.com, Bandar Seri Begawan- Brunei-based infrastructure company, Brunergy Utama Sdn. Bhd., has announced a proposal for Trans-Borneo Railways (TBR) that would connect three countries, namely Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah), and Brunei Darussalam.

Brunergy Utama, which started as an oil and gas company before switching to infrastructure, unveiled the project on the weekend, saying the Trans-Borneo Railways will span 1,620 kilometers from the western to the eastern side of Borneo, running through the three Southeast Asian nations located on the big island known for rich nature, oil and coal resources and palm plantation.

The TBR project is planned to be built in two phases. Phase one of construction will aim to connect the economic powerhouses of the western coastline cities to the east. Phase two will then break into North and East Kalimantan to connect the main line with Samarinda and Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Both lines will connect in the Bruneian district of Tutong, serving as the central hub for the TBR. 

According to the proposal, there will be four terminals serving as the main hubs of the high-speed rail network along with a total of 24 stations, and the bullet train is planned to travel at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. The project is reportedly estimated to cost 70 billion US dollars.

The project's outlook, including participation from Malaysia and Indonesia, is still unclear.