MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR) of Malaysia and Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore will be calling for a joint tender on 22 August 2016 to appoint a Joint Development Partner (JDP) to assist in the development of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project.

The JDP is expected to provide project management support, technical advice and procurement advice relating to the high speed railway systems and operations. The JDP will also develop the technical and safety standards to be adopted for the project.

Through international tenders, an assets company (AssetsCo) will be appointed to provide and maintain the HSR trains and its associated systems (e.g. track, power, signaling and telecommunications), while two train operating companies (OpCos) will be appointed to operate the HSR services. An OpCo International will operate the cross-border services (i.e. the Express Service and the Shuttle Service), while an OpCo Domestic will operate the Domestic Service within Malaysia.

The JDP will also assist the Joint Project Team established between Singapore and Malaysia with the preparation of documents for the forthcoming tenders relating to the joint aspects of the project, such as the appointment of the AssetsCo and OpCo International.

The tender is open to firms who have advised on large public private partnership infrastructure projects including HSR projects of similar size and complexity or firms with experience in providing project management, technical, commercial or legal advisory services relating to HSR and/or rail projects of ≥200km of track.

The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR is a strategic project between the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore that aims to facilitate seamless travel between the two capital cities, enhance business linkages, and connect the peoples of both countries closer together.

As we reported last month, the Governments of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 9 July 2016 which captured the key points of agreement on the project, including the technical parameters, commercial model, customs, immigration & quarantine clearance, safety & security matters, regulatory framework and project management approach. As part of the next phase in project preparations, the Malaysia and Singapore governments have tasked the MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd and Land Transport Authority, Singapore respectively to implement the project.

The railway will be about 375 km with all the stations designed to integrate with the local public transport systems to ensure seamless connectivity. The trains will run at a top speed of more than 300km/h.

The total project investment is estimated at MYR43 billion (US$10.6 billion).

Both Governments agreed that the HSR will have eight stations – the termini in Bandar Malaysia and Singapore, and six intermediate stations in Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri.