MyHSR Corp chief executive Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal said the HSR was supposed to share part of the Express Rail Link’s (ERL) track.
However, higher costs, a more complex agreement and a potential safety risk have led the Government to look at a dedicated HSR line instead.
“Using the ERL track for HSR, it becomes natural for Putrajaya to be in (the alignment).
“But after looking at certain feedback from technical experts, the Government decided to go for a dedicated HSR line,” he told The Star.
Talks are ongoing between Singapore and Malaysia for the 350km project before an international tender for it is expected to open late next year.
This would mean that the next HSR stop after KL would be Seremban.
Mohd Nur said HSR trains would travel at faster speeds than ERL coaches, which move at top speeds of 160kph now.
This, he said, would mean both trains would have to be coordinated for the same track.
Aside from paying ERL Sdn Bhd for using the track, he added that the line would also have to be modified to take HSR trains.
It is not yet known how fast trains on the KL-SG line will travel at, but most in the world now go at speeds of up to 350kph.
Mohd Nur said that while track-sharing with HSR trains was common in European countries, there was a risk of accidents.
“The number of accidents is very low, but the risk is always there,” he said.
Asked what the effects of this move would be, he said it would mean shorter travel times for riders going between KL and Seremban.
However, he said Putrajaya riders could connect with the HSR when its Malaysian terminus was built at Bandar Malaysia.
“The ERL track runs alongside Bandar Malaysia. Once we have this (HSR) service, we will talk to the Government to introduce a Bandar Malaysia stop for ERL,” he said.
The Bandar Malaysia terminus will replace the current Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Sungai Besi.
-thestar online.
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