Singapore, Malaysia sign landmark HSR deal
The High Speed Rail (HSR) project will have eight stations in total, and is expected to be completed in 2026.
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project is now a step closer to reality, after the bilateral agreement for the much-anticipated project was officially signed yesterday (13 December), reported Channel NewsAsia.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak witnessed the signing ceremony in Putrajaya, with Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan as the signatories.
According to PM Lee, Singapore and Malaysia both have a strong political will to ensure the success of the HSR, adding that the monumental project will improve how the two countries interact and do business.
“It gives both sides greater stake in keeping relations strong and positive,” he said.
The HSR is targeted to be completed by 2026, and both countries are committed to this deadline, said Mr Najib.
“It’s about 10 years, but as you know, (given) the size of this project, the complexity of this project, 10 years is a relatively short period of time, which means we have to work very closely together,” he noted.
The HSR project will also require the construction of a bridge over the Straits of Johor with a height of 25m above sea level.
The 350 km rail line, of which 15 km lies in Singapore and 335 km in Malaysia, will have eight stations in total. Singapore’s terminus will be situated in Jurong East, while the other end will be at Bandar Malaysia. The other six stations are located at Iskandar Puteri, Batu Pahat, Muar, Ayer Keroh and Seremban.
After the signing of the agreement, both parties will call for a joint tender for an international firm to operate the KL-Singapore express service and the cross-border shuttle service from Iskandar Puteri, while Malaysia will appoint a firm to run the local service within the country.
Next year, the two countries will also call another tender for a privately financed assets company to run and maintain the rail assets. A committee comprising representatives from both sides of the causeway will also be formed to oversee aspects of the HSR project that might affect cross-border services.
Furthermore, each government will be responsible for constructing and maintaining the civil infrastructure and stations within their own territories. For Singapore, this will be undertaken by the Land Transport Authority, while Malaysia will tap its MyHSR Corporation.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
