Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Link Plan Draws Global Interest
Malaysia plans to spend $50 billion over the next seven years on the development of a network to include both urban rapid transit and high-speed rail, and global construction firms are ready to help. A 150-kilometer urban mass rapid-transit system is already under construction, with a slated 2017 opening. A high-speed-rail system linking Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, planned for a 2020 launch, will go out to bid in late 2014. “We expect this to be a very transparent, open bidding system in which companies from all over the world are free to participate,” stated Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in July.
The battle for business has started. Malaysia’s MMC Corp. teamed with Gamuda Bhd to oversee construction of the $7-billion rapid-transit line and is looking to team with Chinese and European system integrators for the high-speed-rail line. YTL Corp. Bhd may team with Spanish bullet-train makers Talgo or CAF. Other potential joint ventures include the UEM Group Bhd and Ara Group with Spanish Talgo as well as Global Rail with Canada’s Bombardier and China Railway Group.