HIGH SPEED RAIL
I
n 2010, the Government of Malaysia launched
the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)
with the objective of transforming Malaysia into
a high income nation by 2020. Under the Greater
Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (GKL/KV) National
Key Economic Area (NKEA), the Southern Corridor
High Speed Rail (HSR) was one of the Entry
Point Projects (EPPs) that aimed to improve the
economic dynamism of Malaysia’s capital city as
well as livability rankings relative to other global
cities.
Currently, the Kuala Lumpur- Singapore route
is serviced by three main modes of transport: air,
road and an existing intercity rail network. The
routes relevant for the Southern Corridor HSR
saw strong growth in terms of passenger-km of
travel, with the total travel market growing from
5.47 million passenger-km in 2005 to 7.45 million
passenger-km in 2011.
There is a need to improve connectivity
between the two countries, as currently daily
traffic congestion is acute and far exceeds the
capacity of the Causeway and Second Link, with
the current infrastructure provisions.
The primary objective for the construction
of the HSR is to reduce the travel time between
Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes by
COVER FEATURE
By Land Public Transport Commission
(http://www.spad.gov.my/projects/high-speed-rail)
strengthening the link between two of Southeast
Asia’s most vibrant and fast-growing economic
engines. In addition, the HSR presented an
opportunity to open up and rejuvenate smaller
cities in Peninsular Malaysia by connecting them
to the two major metropolises. The HSR is an
efficient and safe mode of transport which results
in dramatic travel time savings.
The Project
Once operational, the HSR would serve as the
fastest point-to-point mode of public transport
travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The
HSR is seen to be in line with the transformation
of the nation as it links two urban agglomerations
to meet growing demand, catalyzing economic
growth and enhancing long term economic
competitiveness while improving the quality
of life of its people. The HSR will connect five
intermediate stops in Malaysia to Singapore,
following a coastal route.
The stations that have currently been
identified are the terminus station in Kuala
Lumpur at Bandar Malaysia (announced at the
Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in 2014),
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