Viable ways to share KL-S’pore high-speed rail costs, revenue

I refer to the letter “Will high-speed rail to KL be worthwhile for S’pore?” (April 18).

The proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail is at an advanced stage of discussion, and a memorandum of understanding will be signed by Malaysia and Singapore this year, yet some Singaporeans are not convinced that the project is viable.

The cross-channel rail link between England and France is a good example of how the cost and revenue structures of the high-speed rail joint venture could be set up and shared by both countries to address such concerns.

To help ensure the project’s viability, I believe that both countries should share, for instance, the construction cost and recurring operating costs of the rail line from Kuala Lumpur to Johor and of the Kuala Lumpur station.

Singapore should pay for the rail line from Johor to Singapore and for the Jurong East station, and Malaysia should pay for all the other stations.

The costs of the trains, rolling stock, depots and depot maintenance in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore should be paid by the respective countries.

The revenue from the rail services within Malaysia should go to Malaysia, and the revenue from the rail services to and from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur should go to Singapore.

There should also be an equal number of train runs per day in both directions, for the direct service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and for services between Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

I hope the two governments will work around these financial bases and formulas.