KL-Singapore rail link users to pay under RM400 per round trip: M’sia public transport authority

KUALA LUMPUR — A round trip from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on the new high-speed rail (HSR) link will cost users less than RM400 (S$147.85), Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal has said.

According to the Business Times, Mr Mohd Nur Ismal said the pricing would be affordable for all types of passengers — including those who are tourists or on business trips.

“We foresee a much lower average price to make the HSR project feasible. It would cost less than RM200 for a single trip. Although the return on investment will take a longer time, the operator will have several options to recoup its investment in the project.

“The company will be allowed to take on yield management similar to how an airline operates. This is one area we are looking at it and it will not be strictly regulated like our LRT (light rail transit) and train services,” he was quoted as saying by the financial pullout of the News Straits Times.

Mr Mohd Nur Ismal also said the HSR is expected to give a “massive boost” to the local tourism industry as tourists could be offered a visit to both Malaysia and Singapore “as one package”.

The planned high-speed rail link is expected to cover 300km between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and cut travel time to just 90mins. Seven stops have been identified in Malaysia, namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keruh, Batu Pahat, Muar and Nusajaya. The project’s actual cost has not been announced, but reports have placed it as possibly ranging from RM24 billion to RM72 billion.

Japan has been actively lobbying to be a partner in the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail project, but other countries such as China and South Korea are said to have approached Malaysia as well. MALAY MAIL ONLINE