Unknown to most Malaysians, a railway line along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia already exists and it is unviable, a group of Pakatan Harapan MPs said today.

In a joint statement, the five MPs said the unviable nature of the railway line raises questions on the need for Putrajaya to embark on the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project, which will cost taxpayers RM55 billion.

The MPs said Petronas currently operates a 77km railway line that stretches from Kerteh in Terengganu to Gebeng in Pahang.

This represents the most important industrial stretch along the East Coast.

One of the five MPs, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, was a senior officer in Petronas between 2005 and 2007 and he oversaw the Petronas' rail operations at that time.

Rafizi's knowledge of the matter led to the five to conclude that as of 2012, the railway line has not been in operation because it cost too much to transport Petronas' goods by rail.

"In view of this, there is no logical basis to prove that the ECRL will provide an economic multiplier effect to justify an RM55 billion loan for the project," the MPs said.

They argued that Putrajaya has thus far failed to provide any detailed report on how the ECRL would benefit the country.

This was despite the feasibility study for the project having been completed in 2012, according to media reports.

"As long as the (feasibility study) report is not tabled in Parliament and presented to the public, any statement from the Najib administration to support the project will not be transparent.

"If the project can indeed bring economic multiplying effects, then the feasibility study should not be hidden," the MPs said.

The joint statement was signed by Rafizi, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen, Kuala Krai MP Hatta Ramli and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming.