Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed railway will connect the two mega metropolises (Malaysia and Singapore) through a 90-minute journey. The distance is now covered in 4 hours, by personal cars. In order to accelerate the project implementation, after signing the bilateral agreement that sets the railway operation and construction principles, the first consultancy teams were announced this year.
Announced in 2013, the USD 16 billion project consists of the construction of a 350-km double railway designed for speeds of over 300 km/h that will cross 5 cities, and of a bridge between the two countries, across Johore Strait, built 25-m above the water level. 15 km of the total line length will be built in Singapore, while the remaining 335 km, in Malaysia. 8 railway stations will also be built and designed to integrate all local public transport systems to provide seamless services. To advance the project from design to implementation, in December 2016, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan signed the bilateral agreement setting the initiation of construction works and the commissioning of the railway in 2026. “We are looking forward to its implementation according to schedule and we think that we will be able to deliver it according to the timeline we’ve committed to, between the two sides,” Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
Both governments have committed to develop, build and maintain the civil infrastructure and stations on the territorial segments. Works will be carried out by InfraCos; in Malaysia, MyHSR, and in Singapore, Land Transport Authority. This year, both countries will announce the joint tender for a private-assets company (AssetsCo) that will design, build and maintain rolling stock and associated systems (railway, energy, signalling and communications works).
Regarding the operation, two separate private operators will be established. The tender on the establishment of OpCo Domestic will be announced and the operator will provide transport services in Malaysia. Both countries will announce a joint tender for the international operator (OpCo International), to operate KL-Singapore Express services and for cross-border services operator (between Iskandar Puteri and Singapore).
The development partner of Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR was already announced in 2017, as well as the conclusion of the contract for engineering studies. Thus, LTA has selected AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd to elaborate the advanced engineering studies (AES) to finalise the design of the railway in Singapore. The contract includes the delivery of design services for Jurong East terminus station, tunnels and a bridge across Jahore Strait.
Also, MyHSR Corp and LTA have selected WSP Engineering Malaysia consortium including Mott MacDonald and Ernst & Young Advisory Services, as joint partner for the development of Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR. The consortium will develop the technical and safety standards, separated by the joint assistance team MyHSR and LTA, and will be responsible for the elaboration of documents for the following tenders of the project. “With the collective expertise and extensive experience of the consortium in HSR projects internationally, MyHSR and LTA will be able to kick-start the preparation of upcoming joint tenders for this strategic project,” LTA chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping said.
by Pamela Luica
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