China bidding for key high-speed rail line in Southeast Asia
Updated: 2016-05-26 16:46
(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
File photo shows attendants pose for a photo beside the models of a high speed train during the China High Speed Railway on Fast Track exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 13, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] |
China is bidding for a high-speed railway in Southeast Asia as the country is eyeing the third key high rail projects overseas after the Jakarta-Bandung and Moscow-Kazan high speed rail.
This comes as Sheng Guangzu, general manager of China Railway Corporation, wrapped up a three-day visit to Malaysia on Wednesday to promote the bid for a high-speed rail link connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Led by China Railway Corp, the Chinese consortium also includes China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, China Railway Construction and China Railway Signal & Communication Corp. Members of the consortium are discussing details on how to carry out the project.
"China has the world's most advanced and well-organized management system for its high-speed rail, with a series of measures to guarantee its safety," Sheng said in Kuala Lumpur, trying to introduce China Railway's rich experience to Malaysian authorities.
Sheng also brushed off concerns over the safety on China's high-speed railways, citing a research by International Union of Railways (UIC) that put China's railways with one of the best safety track records worldwide.
A source from China Railway was also quoted as saying that the Chinese consortium is getting an upper hand, given its relatively low construction costs and its appealing investment plans.
The construction of the 350-kilometer railway, the first high-speed rail project in Southeast Asia, is estimated to cost 74.5 billion yuan ($11.3 billion). Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Germany's Siemens and French company Alstom also have expressed interest to bid on the international tender for the rail project.
The rail link, once completed in 2020, is expected to cut travel time between the Malaysian capital and the Lion City to 90 minutes, compared with 3 hours by air and 7 hours by conventional rail line.
In March, China Railway announced it was investing $2 billion to build a regional center in Bandar, Malaysia, which is close to the proposed site for the terminal of the high-speed line. Analysts suggest that China Railway's recent acquisition of stakes in Bandar will pave the way for the ongoing bidding process.
Last June, China and Russia reached an agreement to build a high-speed railway line linking the capital city, Moscow, with the city of Kazan, marking China's first high-speed rail deal abroad.
- New high-speed railway to link central, eastern Chinese cities
- China proposes to build world's 2nd longest high-speed rail line in India
- High-speed trains would be even better with quiet cars
- Malaysia favors China on high-speed rail project: Media
- Chinese firm, Kenya sign deal to extend high-speed railway
- China has world's largest high-speed rail network
- Indonesia high-speed rail project not halted, ministry says
- Indonesia denies it has halted China-built high-speed project
- World's first high-speed train line circling an island opens in Hainan
- New high-speed railway to open in eastern China
- 2,000 refugees relocated on first day of major police operation
- No sign of EgyptAir plane technical problems before takeoff
- Chinese students at U. of Iowa accused of online cheating
- US Justice Dept. seeks death penalty for South Carolina shooter
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Fireworks light up Shanghai Disneyland
- VR, robots, mini drones: Highlights of big data expo in Guiyang
- Top 10 saving countries in the world
- Men vs. Machine: different robots in daily life
- Following Alibaba, its online merchants now eye listings
- Traditional dresses for Yugur women in Northwest China
- Students pose for graduation photo with performance
- Kids climb vine ladder in 'cliff village' in Sichuan
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |