TWO planned rail projects connecting Singapore to its northern neighbour Malaysia will not be operational before 2020, according to the prime ministers of both countries.
Local broadsheet The Straits Times reported that Malaysian leader Najib Razak and Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong held their annual leaders’ retreat in Singapore yesterday to discuss various issues, including a high-speed rail system and MRT connection.
It was announced that the terminus for the high-speed rail linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 90 minutes will be built in Jurong East, in the up-and-coming business area of Jurong Lake District.
The idea was first mooted in 2013 and intended to begin operations in 2020, but a new target date will be announced by the end of 2015. Najib was quoted as saying that the design and tender processes would take one year each, and another five years for construction.
At the same time, the MRT extension into Malaysia’s Johor Bahru is likely to materialise only after 2020 as Malaysia has not appointed a station site.
The idea was raised in May 2010, but the completion date was pushed from 2018 to 2019 as Singapore decided to lengthen the Thomson Line, which will connect to the Johor Bahru line.
At the earliest, the Singapore-Johor Bahru line will be finished by 2020, said The Straits Times.
