AssetsCo tender launched for Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail

THE tender for a company that will help develop key parts of the high-speed rail linking Singapore and Malaysia has been launched, with the winning bid to be chosen by the end of 2018.

This company, called the assets company (AssetsCo), will responsible for designing, building, financing and maintaining all rolling stock, as well as designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining all rail assets such as trackwork, power, signalling and telecommunications for the high-speed rail network.

In addition, the privately-held company will also take charge of coordinating the system's network capacity for operations and maintenance needs.

In a joint statement, SG HSR and MyHSR - respectively, the Singapore and Malaysian companies in charge of developing the rail project - said that the tender is aimed at identifying an AssetsCo which will "provide a solution that prioritises safety and security, availability and reliability, proven technology, operations flexibility, customer-centric design, value for money, and collaborative project implementation with MyHSR Corp and SG HSR".

A double-track line linking the two cities is expected to accommodate a design speed of 350 kilometres per hour.

SG HSR's managing director Rama Venkta described the launch of the tender as a major milestone in the high-speed rail project.

"We are heartened by the enthusiastic response from the market for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR so far. Their feedback at the two industry briefings has been valuable in helping us design the parameters of the AssetsCo tender. We look forward to receiving high-quality competitive bids in the coming months," he said.

The tender is open to all companies regardless of geographic location.

Bidders for the tender have up to and including June 29, 2018 to submit proposals to SG HSR and MyHSR Corp, and submissions will be evaluated for their technical solution, commercial robustness, financial sustainability and price.

A tender briefing will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 23, 2018.

The governments of both countries signed a bilateral agreement on Dec 13, 2016, to embark on the project. The high-speed rail is expected to begin operations by Dec 31, 2026 and is expected to trim travel time between the two terminus cities to just 90 minutes.