PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: A legally binding bilateral agreement that paves the way for the implementation of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High-Speed Rail (HSR) project was signed by both countries on Tuesday (Dec 13).
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak witnessed the signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya. The agreement was signed by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
The bilateral agreement came after the two neighbouring countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 350km rail project in July. Of the entire rail system, 15km will lie in Singapore and 335km in Malaysia.
Under the agreement, it was revealed that the HSR lines in Singapore and Malaysia are to be linked by a bridge over the Straits of Johor with a height clearance of 25m above the water level.
Slated for completion in 2026, it will have eight stations between Singapore and Malaysia with the two terminal stations at Jurong East in Singapore and Bandar Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The other six stations will be at Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri.
Map of the preferred alignment of the KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail.
SEAMLESS TRAVEL
The HSR is expected to cut travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes. Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities will also be co-located at Singapore, Bandar Malaysia and Iskandar Puteri. This means that international passengers will only need to undergo both Singapore and Malaysia CIQ clearance at the point of departure.
Singapore and Malaysia will call for a joint tender for an international operator to run the KL-Singapore express service and the cross-border shuttle service between Iskandar Puteri. Meanwhile, Malaysia will also put up a tender for a domestic operator to run the domestic service within the country.
Another joint tender for a privately financed assets company to operate and maintain rail assets will also be called by the two countries next year.
After the signing of the agreement, a bilateral committee comprising representatives from both countries will be formed to manage aspects of the project which might impact cross-border services.
Both governments will each take responsibility for developing, constructing and maintaining the civil infrastructure and stations within their own countries. It will be undertaken by MyHSR Corporation and the Land Transport Authority in Malaysia and Singapore, respectively.
The joint tender for the system will open in the fourth quarter of next year and the two countries are expected to make a decision on who to award the rail system to by the end of 2018.
A Joint Development Partner (JDP) will also be appointed in early 2017 to assist in the development of the HSR project after a tender was called in August this year.
The JDP will provide advice on operational, technical and procurement matters relating to the high speed railway systems and operations.
