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.