A consortium of Aecom Singapore, Aecom Perunding and SA Architects has won a contract worth S$52.8m ($42.7m) to carry out an architectural and engineering consultancy study on the proposed high-speed line between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
The governments of Singapore and Malaysia have also agreed to equally share the cost of the rapid transit system link study, according to Channel News Asia.
Under the deal, the consortium will be responsible for developing alignment options for the RTS Link, as well as carrying out detailed design on the preferred route, which will be finalised by the Iskandar Malaysia Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC).
Other companies shortlisted for the contract include Arup Singapore, CPG Consultants, France’s Egis Rail, Jurong Consultants, Meinhardt Infrastructure, Mott MacDonald and TY Lin International.
In February 2013, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur agreed to build a new high-speed rail link by 2020, in a bid to improve connectivity between the two countries.
The new rail link is expected to cost between MYR20b ($6.4bn) and MYR30bn ($9.6bn), and should reduce the 315km rail journey between the cities from six hours to around 90 minutes.
It currently takes around six hours by train to cover the 315km distance between the two cities, and closer to four hours by car.
Details about the project costs, the route and construction schedule are yet to be revealed.
