ASIA: Almost 400 participants from 165 supply, consultancy, finance and operating organisations attended an industry briefing organised by Kuala Lumpur – Singapore high speed line project promoters MyHSR Corp and Land Transport Authority on July 5.
The event in Singapore was held to provide information and seek feedback on the tender for the appointment of an Assets Company which is scheduled to be called in the fourth quarter of this year. The AssetsCo would be responsible for designing, building, financing and maintaining railway systems and rolling stock for the 350 km high speed line, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2026.
MyHSR CEO Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal said it was ‘essential that we explore all opportunities for innovation to ensure that the project is implemented in the most efficient manner.’
The two governments have appointed MyHSR and LTA as he Infrastructure Companies which will design, build, finance and maintain the civil works on their respective territories. The InfraCos will also jointly appoint the privately-financed AssetsCo through a ‘sustainable and robust’ PPP providing ‘value for money based on whole-life considerations’. The AssetsCo would make the railway systems available to the future long-distance, Malaysian domestic and cross-border shuttle Operating Companies, in return for availability payments from the InfraCos which would be designed to cover its capital expenditure and maintenance and renewal costs. The OpCos would also lease rolling stock from the AssetsCo.
‘We are pleased with the strong interest from companies all over the world’, said LTA Chief Executive Ngien Hoon Ping following the briefing. ‘We look forward to receiving quality bids from various consortia.’
