The Transport Ministry wants the northern and southern electrifieddouble-track railway projects to be expedited by as much as half theoriginal timeframe, so as to boost local economic activity.Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said project consultants have beenasked to see if the projects could be completed in three years instead ofsix.They are also to see if work on both the northern and southern lines canbegin simultaneously.The northern double-tracking project is from Ipoh to Padang Besar(338.8km). The southern line is from Seremban to Johor Baru (297km).A start date has not been determined as the proposal needed fine-tuning.Instead of waiting for the consultants to finalise their proposal, Dr Lingsaid contractors should join the planning now so work could begin soonest."Let everyone be a part of the preliminary work...so we can shorten thepreparatory phase. There is no need for the ministry to review theconsultant's report and then only give it to the contractors."Dr Ling was speaking at a Press conference at his ministry here.He said under review were certain parts of the track that neededre-alignment as existing lines were too curved. Sharp curves would preventthe electric trains from running at their high speeds of 160 to 180kilometers per hour, he said.Re-alignments would pose problems to about 10 per cent of areas affectedby the project."Some people and homes might be displaced but they are only in a fewplaces."He named Bukit Berapit in between Taiping and Kuala Kangsar, Bagan Seraiand Tanjung Rambutan on the northern line, and Tampin on the southernline.More than 50 overhead road bridges would also be built so motorizedtraffic would not be disrupted by the trains.The Indian Railway Construction Company will build infrastructure for thenorthern line. The southern line has been awarded to the China RailwayEngineering Corporation.Each project is estimated to cost RM6 billion, according to past reports.Payment would include a barter trade in palm oil.Japan's Mitsui Corporation will provide the systems, such astelecommunication and signaling."The sooner the project starts, the better for the economy, he said,adding that even oil palm smallholders would benefit when India and Chinastarted buying oil palm."Double-tracking can increase the number of train services a day by fivetimes, compared to a single track.DRB-Hicom and Mitsui are undertaking the central project which runs fromRawang to Ipoh, worth RM4.2 billion.

24 August 2001Business Times