BulletTrain dropped

[jpatokal]

It's alive again -- the proposal to extend the ERL (aka "KLIA Ekspres") from KLIA to Johor Bahru and on to Singapore, theoretically allowing a 90-minute trip. This was floated when the airport link was originally built, but it died a quiet death back then... probably the most comprehensive article at Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBFNLAGeq1tM&refer=
):
YTL Corp., which owns the railway from Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the capital city, said it's in talks for a rail link to Singapore which may produce an agreement in two years.

The company plans to take the rail unit public to raise between 6 billion ringgit ($1.6 billion) and 8 billion ringgit to fund the project when it gets the concession for the new rail link to Singapore, an island-state at the southern tip of Malaysia 188 miles (300 kilometers) from Kuala Lumpur. ...

"This is one project that everybody knows can work. Our government is very serious about this and they're encouraging us to look at it." ...

"It's a little tricky with the causeway and the extra political wrangling in Kuala Lumpur, and how these would play into that,'' said David Cohen, an economist at Action Economics in Singapore. "It just makes it a little more complicated and I wouldn't look for any quick resolution.''
The last paragraph is a masterpiece of understatement -- the fundamental problem here is that Singapore doesn't really want anything that could improve Malaysia at its own expense (cf. the bridge, transport links to Senai airport, etc), and it's telling that (Singaporean paper) Today's article is titled Track's not cleared for new S'pore-Kuala Lumpur train link (http://www.todayonline.com/articles/128602.asp). :(

[jpatokal]

Curiouser and curiouser (http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Monday/Column/BT580827.txt/Article/):
A NEW player is proposing to build an alternative high-speed train service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with stops in Seremban, Malacca and Johor Baru.

Jalur Mudra Sdn Bhd, which is eyeing the project, said its "maglev" or magnetic levitation trains will run along the route of the North-South Expressway.

"With speeds of up to 500km per hour, we can cover the entire route of about 350km within an hour," said company chairman Datuk Rashidi Mohd Noor. [...]

"We believe this is a viable and cheaper alternative as it involves no land acquisition," he said.

He said if approved, the dual-elevated maglev train tracks could be built in the median point of the Nouth-South Expressway within two to three years.


Jalur Mudra appears to have the rights to the Chinese low-speed maglev they're proposing for JB. However, the high-speed maglev tech in question comes from Germany's Transrapid, and the license given to China for the Shanghai-Hangzhou link was supposed to be nontransferrable...? :confused:

[GWR]

March 27, 2007 20:29 PM
Malaysia Govt Still Considering YTL Bullet Train Proposal

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- The government is still considering the YTL Corp Bhd's RM8.1 billion proposal to build a high-speed rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy today.

"The government has not made a final decision. We are still looking at the proposal," he told reporters after attending the MCA presidential council meeting here, Tuesday.

Chan, who is also MCA deputy president, was commenting on a news report that YTL would commence work on the project by year-end.

The report also said the proposed private finance initiative bullet train project was expected to be ready by end-2009.

Asked when the government was expected to make the decision, Chan said: "We don't want to set a time frame as the government has to thoroughly evaluate the project."

The report, which quoted a company official, also said the Malaysian and Singapore governments had given the thumbs-up for the project.

It said YTL has started work on the design and track laying (DTL) plan, which would include a prototype design quite similar to the bullet trains in Japan and Taiwan and would submit to the respective agencies for approval in the next four to six months.

The official also said the DTL plan was handled by experts who would also be studying details of environmental preservation and would involve minimal relocation of people along the stretch.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=253543

[GWR]

July 08, 2007 16:48 PM
EPU In Final Stage Evaluating Kuala Lumpur-Singapore Bullet Train Proposal - Chan

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister's Department is in the final stage of evaluating the proposed RM8 billion bullet train project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said.

"From the technical aspect, we (Transport Ministry) have given our inputs. The EPU is in the last lap of perusing the proposal paper.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the government's investment arm, had completed the social impact study," he said when asked on the progress of the high-speed train project mooted by YTL Group.

YTL, a public-listed conglomerate, had proposed to develop and finance the project which could cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to merely 90 minutes instead of the current eight hours.

YTL conducted a feasibility study and had submitted its findings to the government for consideration. If the project receives the government nod, it would be implemented under the Private Financing Initiative.

Asked on "The Edge Weekly" report that the project was facing stiff opposition from "some quarters" in the government as YTL had sought an annual subsidy to the tune of RM1 billion from the government, Chan said he was not aware of such a request from the company.

He said the government was studying the project proposal carefully and had not made a decision yet.

-- BERNAMA


http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=272007

[GWR]

Doesn't sound very convincing, does it?:

October 19, 2007 19:23 PM

KL-Singapore Bullet Train Proposal Still Being Discussed, Says Chan

SINGAPORE, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said Friday the proposal to build a bullet train track between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is still being discussed by the parties concerned.

"It is still being discussed, by the proposer and some of the departments of the Malaysian government," he told reporters here after chairing the 9th Meeting of the Special Working Group on the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link project.

He declined to say whether the government had made any decision on the project, reiterating that "it is still being discussed".

In June last year, YTL Corp proposed a RM8-billion high-speed train connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore that will shorten travel time to only 90 minutes.

-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

[GWR]

2007/12/06
YTL Corp confident of KL-Singapore bullet train project
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Thu.:

YTL Corp Bhd, which has submitted the proposal for a bullet train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to the government, is confident of securing the project as it will be beneficial to the public, group managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh Sock Ping said here today.
“The proposal, currently being evaluated by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, can also increase the value of properties in Kuala Lumpur.

“I am confident (to secure the project) because everybody wants it. The Malaysian government is pragmatic and at the end of the day if the public wants it, why not?,” he said.

Yeoh was speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony between subsidiary YTL Construction (Thailand) Ltd and Lehman Brothers Investments Pte Ltd.

He said the bullet train that connects Paris and London has been able to increase the value of properties in these cities and a bullet train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore may well give the same impact.
“There is a 700 per cent difference in property value between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I think a bullet train will cut down this gap. Let’s say if it cuts down to 260 per cent, you will be richer by RM5 billion (in values of properties),” he said.

Yeoh, however, declined to say when the group expects to get an answer from the government.


http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20071206180436/Article/index_html

[GWR]

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/2/25/business/train.jpg
[Photo: The Star - Siemen’s Sprinter Desiro VT642 in San Diego on the light rail line between Oceanside and Escondido. The regular train operation started last month, carrying about 11,600 people a day.]

Siemens banks on niche in energy-efficiency train
By LOONG TSE MIN

ACCORDING to the United Nations, 90% of the world's population will be in cities by 2030.

By the end of 2008, 50% of people in the world would live in cities, said Siemens AG's Industry Division Mobility chief executive officer Dr Hans-Jorg Grundmann.

This “megatrend”, together with climate change, meant that demand for clean, green and efficient mobility solutions would grow, Grundmann told reporters from 12 countries who were flown to San Diego, California, for a press briefing recently.

Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd senior vice-president (sector rail transportation systems) Tim Hunter said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur that energy efficiency was a major differentiator for Siemens, especially considering the total cost over the lifecycle of a transportation project such as a railway line.

Hunter's department recently completed the electrical works for the double-tracking rail project from Rawang to Ipoh. http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=18773&postcount=50

“The total cost of running the system over its entire lifecycle could be as much as three times the initial capital investment,” he said.

Siemens' green technologies that provide energy savings and reduced maintenance costs can provide up to a substantial 30% savings on total cost, Hunter said.

Energy efficiency would also become more important as fuel prices rise and concerns grew for climate change and preservation of the environment, he said.

According to Hunter, Siemens Malaysia is bidding for the systems part of the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project.

The RM12.5bil project's main contractor is a Gamuda Bhd-MMC Corp Bhd joint venture.

At present, Siemens was interested “in all projects, in innovative projects,” Hunter said, adding that there was a push within the group for expansion of the mobility division in Asia.

Siemens was also interested in YTL Corp's proposal for a high-speed train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, he said. He, however, noted that the project was still at the developmental stage. http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1761

Siemens would offer its electrical high-speed train, the Velaro, that can reach a maximum speed of 350km per hour on a 1.4m gauge (the distance between the rails) track, versus existing tracks in the country which have rails that are 1m apart.

Factors in favour of the project, despite its short distance of only about 325km, is a quicker travel time of 1½ hours versus four hours by plane or car.

This would introduce new “journey opportunities” that would generate a lot of commercial possibilities and potentially higher property prices in the capital along the route and in Singapore.

Siemens' Velaro train has most recently been put into service for a high-speed link between Madrid to Barcelona in Spain, a distance of 670 km, in April last year. http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=19846&postcount=11

Hunter added that Siemens spent about 1.14 billion euros, or RM5bil, a year on research in the mobility sector alone.

Among the energy-saving technologies developed by Siemens in the context of city travel is the “Sitras SES”.

Sitras SES is an energy storage system for mass transit. It is capable of feeding up to 40% of the energy generated in braking mode back into the power supply system.

The returned energy from regenerative braking can be used to feed vehicles that are accelerating at the same time.

The difference in the Sitras system and that of its competitors is that the energy could also be used to run escalators, lifts and air-conditioners, as well as for other power requirements.

However, green technologies that have been developed are not universally deployed, said Hunter.

“It depends on the pricing and demands of the city authorities and governments and their decisions,” he said.

The KL International Airport's Express Rail Link (ERL) system that was supplied by Siemens uses an early version of regenerative braking technology. However, the ERL system was completely different from the Sitras SES, said Hunter. http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=3146

At present, Siemens is the leading supplier of light rail vehicles in the US and every third light rail system in North America comes from Siemens.

The mobility division of Siemens announced on Jan 31 an order from Denver, Colorado, valued at about US$184mil. The order was for another 55 Siemens type SD 160 light rail vehicles.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/25/business/20322530&sec=business

See also post on Japanese development of energy-efficient trains:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=16183&postcount=18

[GWR]

YTL boss: Bullet train project is environment-friendly
By Adeline Paul Raj
Published: 2008/04/12

YTL Corp Bhd, a construction and energy group, says the government is supportive of its plan to build a bullet train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore as it makes economic sense.

It is also a project that the people seem to want, managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said.

"This project is economically viable, so I think the government will listen to the people and put this project on an urgent basis again.

"Nobody looks at it as a mega project, an artificial project, that you do for prestige," he told reporters after launching the YTL-organised Climate Change Week 2008.

When pressed by reporters as to when he expects to get the greenlight for the project, he said: "I think the government is supportive of this project. We'll see."

The previous transport minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, had said in January that the government was conducting a social impact study on the project, said to be about RM8 billion, because it involves land acquisition.

"We are for it (the project)," he'd told Reuters in an interview then.

YTL's bullet train plan involves travel time between KL and Singapore being cut to just 90 minutes compared with existing trains which take about seven hours.

Yeoh said the bullet train project would not only save the government "tens of billion ringgit" on fuel subsidies over the long term, but would also cut down the country's carbon emission significantly.

"This is an environment-friendly project," he remarked.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Saturday/Nation/ytlg.xml/Article/

[GWR]

April 13, 2008 16:48 PM
No Decision Taken On KL-Singapore Bullet Train Project, Says Nor Mohamed

KEPALA BATAS, April 13 (Bernama) -- The government has not made a decision on the RM8 billion Kuala Lumpur-Singapore bullet train project, said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

"The project has yet to materialise," he told reporters after presenting financial aid to 134 families, whose homes were damaged when a storm lashed their village on Thursday, here today.

He said this in reaction to a newspaper report on a protest by the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad Workers Union (KPPKTMB) over the proposed project, to be built by YTL Corporation.

YTL Corporation had proposed the project for the bullet train service to cut down travelling time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes.

On Umno's elections in December, Nor Mohamed said he would not contest any post.

Asked if there are nominations for him, he said: "I will not accept".

--BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

[GWR]

I would say that the second of these two reports is probably the one to take most notice of, given the fact that it is now known that the Deputy PM is likely to take over as PM at the end of this year:

April 14, 2008 20:18 PM
Posers Arise Over Viability Of KL-Singapore Bullet Train Project

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- The proposed multi-billion ringgit high speed train linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, which has received mixed reaction from the public, will face tough financial challenges as well as require government support to ensure its success.

Proponents point out that it will be a boon to the business community, the most likely major users of the service.

But with many priority areas requiring the government's attention and support, the question is whether the government should give it the green light and provide resources for it.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was firm on this matter Monday, stressing that any risk concerning the proposed "bullet train" project should be borne by the private sector and not have strong government funding.

"There is a proposal (on the project). But it has got to be a private sector initiative, it cannot be a project that has strong government funding. The risk has got to be carried by the private sector," he told reporters after attending a meeting with Barisan Nasional senators, MPs and state assemblymen here.

Asked if the bullet train project should stop at Iskandar Malaysia and not proceed to Singapore, Najib said: "We have to wait until the government decides. The government has not made any formal decision yet."

He explained that such a project proposal usually goes through the Economic Planning Unit to have its viability assessed and to see whether it has strong socio-economic benefits.

Asked if the government will decide any time soon on the project, he said: "I don't know. It depends whether the proposal is ready to be considered by the government."

Sunday, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the government has not reached any decision on the project.

He said this when asked to comment on the viability of the RM8 billion bullet train proposed by conglomerate YTL Corporation Bhd, which is expected to cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes.

Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was against federal government funds being used for the project as he reasoned that there are many problems faced by the people that have yet to be resolved.

The cost should be entirely borne by the private sector, he stressed Sunday.

OSK Research analyst Chris Eng pointed out that most railway projects in the world take a long period of time to break even or recover the initial capital investment cost.

"There is an element of risk when you take into account the depreciation and financing cost. However, the project can still be profitable if you are to look into its daily operational basis," Eng said in a phone interview with Bernama.

He felt that despite it being a private sector initiative, the government may still have to take an active role in the high speed train project especially as difficulties may arise in terms of financing in the initial stage of operation.

Eng saw the demand for the high speed train service coming mostly from business travellers looking to avoiding the hassle of boarding aircraft with all the time spent waiting at the airports and the clearance procedures.

Europes Eurostar train service linking Britain, France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel posted its first profit last year after 14 years.

Also, few details have emerged regarding the project proposed by YTL, apart from price tag of over RM8 billion.

However, the majority opinion is that for the project to go ahead, the Federal Government's support will be required in such matters as obtaining soft loans, providing subsidies or compulsory acquisition of land for the track.

A thorny issue is the likelihood of protests over the compulsory acquisition of land along the route as many landowners are unlikely to give up their land without a fight or asking for high compensations.

Meanwhile, rail service provider KTM Bhd managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah has been quoted as saying that the project is not suitable for now as such a service can be provided by the state-owned rail company itself if a number of infrastructure projects are developed.-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

April 14, 2008 19:49 PM
Bullet Train Risk Must Be Borne By Private Sector, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Any risk concerning the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore bullet train project should be borne by the private sector and not have strong government funding, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.

"There is a proposal (on the project). But it has got to be a private sector initiative, it cannot be a project that has strong government funding. The risk has got to be carried out by the private sector," he told reporters after attending a meeting with the Barisan Nasional members of the Dewan Negara, Dewan Rakyat and State Legislative Assemblies at Putra World Trade Centre here.

He said this when asked to comment on the viability of the RM8 billion bullet train proposed by conglomerate YTL Corporation, which is expected to cut travelling time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes.

Sunday, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the government has not reached a decision on the project.

Asked if the bullet train project should stop at Iskandar Malaysia and not proceed to Singapore, Najib said: "We have to wait until the government decides. The government has not made any formal decision yet."

He said this type of project usually goes through the Economic Planning Unit to have its viability assessed and also to determine on the socio-economic benefits.

Asked if the government will decide soon on the project, he added: "I don't know. It depends on whether the proposal is ready to be considered by the government."

-- BERNAMA

Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

[GWR]

April 22, 2008 21:56 PM

Govt Drops Plan For High Speed Bullet Train Project, Says EPU Chief

PUTRAJAYA, April 22 (Bernama) -- The cost factor was the main reason the government decided not to go ahead with the high-speed bullet train link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore proposed by YTL Corp Bhd.

"The letters on the decision were sent to parties such as YTL and the relevant agencies in early April," said Economic Planning Unit (EPU) director-general, Datuk Seri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob, told Bernama here Tuesday.

He said the government would have to bear a significant cost based on the financial model that was submitted by YTL.

"Based on the financial model submitted by YTL, the government has decided not to go ahead with the bullet train (project)," he said, without elaborating on the amount the government has to bear.

YTL has proposed the RM8 billion project which would take 90 minutes to travel between the two capitals from about seven-and-a-half hours now.

It was earlier reported that the government has allowed YTL to do a feasibility study and it (YTL) came back to say the project was feasible.

The plan for a high-speed train between the two cities, spanning about 300km, was proposed in late 1990s, but garnered strong interest last year after the government invited companies to come up with ideas for privately-funded projects.

-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

Although The Star prefers to say "put on hold". Would it thus be allowed to go ahead if the private sector stumped up more dosh for the project itself?:

KL-S'pore bullet train derailed by high cost

PETALING JAYA: The proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore multi-billion ringgit bullet train project has been put on hold due to the high cost.

Economic Planning Unit director-general Datuk Seri Sulaiman Mahbob confirmed that the Government had shelved the project but refused to elaborate further.

“The Government will not go ahead with the project because the financial model submitted involves a significant cost to be borne by the Government,” he said when contacted.

He declined to reveal how much the Government would have to bear. He also refused to take further questions on the matter of the bullet train.

The RM8bil train, proposed by YTL Corp Bhd in 2006, was capable of travelling at 350kph and cutting the travelling time between the two cities to 90 minutes.

YTL managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh had earlier said that it was an environmentally friendly project and would save the Government “tens of billions of ringgit” in fuel subsidies in the long term.

Yeoh was reported to have said that the Government was supportive of the project.

A feasibility study was carried out last year but the Government said it also wanted to carry out a social impact study as the project required land acquisition.

The project was first proposed by YTL to then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the late 1990s soon after the completion of the high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and the KL International Airport. YTL owns half of the KL-KLIA link.

Dr Mahathir rejected the project because it was not suitable.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/22/nation/20080422213928&sec=nation