INGENIEUR
Figure 2: Travelling time from KL to Singapore comparison between KTM, Bus, Plane and HSR6
The main objective of this study is to identify
the risks and vulnerabilities imposed on the high
speed rail system caused by local conditions
including topographical, geological and climate
change of the proposed HSR route in Malaysia.
The study also aims to evaluate how the
infrastructure design can satisfy all the operational
requirements given the climate impact issues. In
carrying out this study, critical literature reviews
were carried out. The data of Malaysia HSR are
derived from SPAD, and the data of weather are
supplied by Malaysian Meteorological Department
in order to study the impact of climate change
and operational requirement to the design of the
infrastructure. The risks due to climate change
have then been analysed for potential actions
proposed to mitigate the impact.
Climate, Geography and Lessons Learnt
Malaysia is divided into two parts, Peninsular
Malaysia and East Malaysia (refer to Figure 3),
which are separated by the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia however is further split
into two parts, the west and east coasts, by the
Titiwangsa Mountains. The climate in Malaysia is
dominated by two monsoon regimes namely the
northeast monsoon and southwest monsoon.
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The northeast monsoon circulates during the
months of December, January and February,
which is Malaysia’s wettest season and the period
where the most flooding occurs. Meanwhile the
southwest monsoon occurs between the months
of May and September, the drier period for the
whole country leading to droughts in this period.
Being in the equatorial zone and a tropical
country, the average temperature throughout the
year is constantly high (26°C) plus high humidity.
Malaysia also has very heavy rainfall which is
more than 2500mm per year.
“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal
and since the 1950s, many of the observed
changes are unprecedented over decades
to millennia” 6 . According to the Malaysia
Meteorological Department7, earth surface
temperature records have clearly indicated that
the climate of the earth is warming, with the rise
due to the increasing concentration of greenhouse
gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. Thus in the
next 50 year, Malaysia will experience higher
temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, rising
sea levels and more frequent extreme weather
events ranging from drought to floods.
The famous Malaysian rail jungle (east coast
line) (refer to Figure 4), which is operated by
National Malaysia Railway (KTM) was disrupted
for almost six months due to the massive flood