Study on trans-Asia railway almost ready

Study on trans-Asia railway almost ready

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A study on building a Trans-Asia railway line from Singapore to Kunming in China will be ready by June, Malaysia's national Bernama news agency reported yesterday.

The cost of the study, some five million ringgit (US$1.3 million), was borne by Malaysia after the project was approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995, the news agency quoted Malaysian Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik as saying.

The study would be the basis for implementing the project, Ling told Malaysia's parliament after an opposition legislator raised questions.

He said the study covered topography, detailed engineering designs, estimated cost of tracks and choice of routes.

Four routes were being considered, all beginning in Singapore and passing through Malaysia, Ling said.