The Klang Valley's transit-oriented development map gained a new pin this month. MRT Corp and IJM Land have unveiled The Linque, a roughly RM600 million GDV scheme of 586 serviced apartment units built directly above and connected to Cochrane MRT Station on the Kajang Line. For buyers and renters tracking the slim band of KL launches that genuinely sit on top of a rail station rather than five minutes' walk from one, The Linque is the most consequential transit-led residential launch of the year.

The project, by the numbers

According to the New Straits Times, The Linque comprises around 586 serviced apartments, curated retail space and direct covered connectivity to Cochrane MRT Station, with an estimated gross development value of RM600 million. The development is delivered under a joint venture signed in December 2025 between MRT Corp and IJM Land, with the development order for the site submitted on 10 June 2026.

The Cochrane plot has been on the watch-list for years; EdgeProp.my reports that residents will reach the station's concourse via a dedicated passenger lift, eliminating the rain-soaked walk that has historically blunted the value of so-called transit-adjacent projects. The development is MRT Corp's first TOD initiative in the Klang Valley as a direct development partner, marking a shift from purely facilitating land transactions to taking equity exposure in residential delivery.

Specific unit sizes, pricing tiers and launch dates have not yet been disclosed; the partners have indicated those will follow once design and authority approvals are finalised. Malay Mail notes the site sits within walking distance of major Cheras retail and lifestyle anchors, including MyTOWN Shopping Centre, IKEA Cheras and Sunway Velocity.

Why this matters for KL buyers and renters

Property within 500 metres of a rapid-transit station has consistently shown rent premiums and slower vacancy than equivalent stock further out, and for tenants - particularly young professionals in fintech, healthcare and government roles around the city centre - direct station access is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a hiring requirement for many employers seeking to attract talent that does not own a car. For owner-occupiers, the same connectivity supports stronger resale liquidity, because the buyer pool widens beyond car-owners to renters, young couples and small expatriate households.

Cochrane itself is a mature interchange node. Sunway Velocity Mall, MyTOWN, IKEA Cheras and the pedestrian network linking Cochrane and Maluri stations already give the address a meaningful catchment of retail, F&B and grocery - a stronger amenity base than most fresh KL launches deliver on day one. The Kajang Line runs through the heart of KL's office spine, putting workplaces in Bukit Bintang, KLCC (one transfer at Tun Razak Exchange) and Bangsar South within a 20-30 minute commute without a car. For tenants on RM4,000-RM7,000 monthly incomes, that combination is precisely the affordability bracket where transit access converts directly into household savings.

For investors, the address sits in an already-priced corridor. Existing nearby stock such as One Cochrane Residence transacts at roughly RM672-RM2,119 psf depending on tower and view, according to PropertyGuru listings. That sets a useful psf benchmark for buyers weighing The Linque once it opens its show unit: a premium for direct in-building station connection is reasonable, but a runaway premium is not.

The TOD premium - and its price

Transit premiums work both ways. The 15-30% appreciation gap often quoted for TOD properties versus non-TOD comparable stock is enticing on paper, but it is also priced in at launch. Buyers comparing The Linque against a 10-minute-walk alternative will pay a meaningful psf premium for the covered direct connection - the question for each buyer is whether the rental yield and resale liquidity at exit justify the entry price.

Serviced apartments on commercial titles also carry higher quit rent and assessment rates than strata residential, and electricity and water are billed at commercial tariffs. For an owner-occupier, those running costs can erode the savings from not owning a car. The maths is project-specific and worth running before booking. Financing terms also tend to be stricter on commercial-title serviced apartments: margin of finance can drop from 90% to 80% with several banks, and tenure is often capped earlier.

Editorial commentary

Rummah News reads The Linque as a structural shift, not just another launch. MRT Corp moving from land-owner to development partner sets a template for the under-utilised parcels around the rest of the Kajang and Putrajaya line stations. If The Linque sells well, expect more direct MRT Corp-led TODs at Maluri, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and along the planned MRT3 Circle Line as those stations come on stream. The longer-term consequence for buyers is more genuine transit-integrated stock in KL - and, eventually, downward pressure on the rent premium currently enjoyed by the small set of existing TOD landlords.

The risk to monitor is execution. MRT Corp is not a traditional developer; IJM Land is doing the heavy lifting on delivery. The joint structure has merit, but TOD construction above an operating station carries delivery and noise-mitigation complexities that can stretch timelines. Buyers should ask hard questions about construction sequencing - particularly whether the station concourse and lift integration are programmed to complete before or after the residential VP. A residential handover with a half-finished station link is the worst-case outcome for early movers.

Practical takeaway

Wait for the disclosed unit mix and psf before benchmarking; The Linque's value depends heavily on whether it enters at sub-RM1,300 psf or premium bands above that.
Compare against existing nearby TOD stock - Sunway Velocity's residential phase, Trion@KL, M Vertica - for a realistic rent and resale yardstick.
If you are buying to let, model rental yield at current Cochrane-area asking rents minus 5-10% to absorb a soft-launch correction.
Use the Rummah loan qualifier to size your loan before committing, and remember serviced-apartment titles can attract stricter financing margins than strata residential.
Track the latest Cheras transaction prints on Rummah to anchor what the area is actually clearing at, not what brochures suggest.
Confirm the commercial-tariff implications with your conveyancing lawyer; quit rent, assessment, electricity and water can add several hundred ringgit a month to running costs.

Closing

The Linque puts a 586-unit stake in the ground for direct MRT-integrated living in KL. Whether it becomes a template for the next decade of Klang Valley launches - or a cautionary tale on TOD pricing discipline - will be answered in 2027 and 2028 as registrations open and the show unit lets buyers walk the actual covered link to the station for themselves.