5th.January 2010
Recently, it was reported that a Chinese rail company has been invited to Malaysia to do some feasibility project proposals for high speed trains from KL to JB, KL to Kuantan and a Maglev train from Butterworth to Georgetown.
Tourism Melaka will like to express our opinion that a proposal be made for a Maglev train from KLIA to Melaka or from Tampin to Melaka. This Maglev train if built, will encourage visitors to visit historic Melaka upon arrival from KLIA or from Tampin via high-speed train from KL.
The benefit for Malaccans will be good as more visitors will travel to enjoy the sights and sounds of Malacca. At the same time, Malaccans can work in Kuala Lumpur but stays in Malacca as travel time will be in mere one hour.
We need to think out of the box for 2010. Happy New Year 2010 to everyone.
Here is the news report about the train proposals.
Chinese railroad company eyes projects in M'sia
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3, 2010): Malaysia will work with Tangshan Railway Vehicle Compang, which rolled out the China-made bullet trains late last month, to carry out three rail projects estimated to cost RM1 billion in the country.
According to a report in Nanyang Siang Pau today, the projects are a track for magnetic levitation (maglev) trains between George Town and Butterworth and two high-speed rail links -- between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru and between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan -- that allow trains to reach 350km per hour.
The report said Tangshan Raiway Vehicle Company, a unit of China CNR Corporation Ltd, has been invited by MRailways International Sdn Bhd, to explore rail opportunities in Malaysia.
Sources said MRails has received a letter of authorisation from Tangshan Railway Vehicle last month for the proposed maglev rail project in Penang on a joint-venture basis.
Apart from the George Town-Butterworth maglev rail project, Tangshan Railway Vehicle also intends to undertake the Kuala Lumpur-Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan high-speed rail projects.
The two high-speed rail links being planned are similar to the 1,068km Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway that went into service last month.
Dubbed the bullet trains of China, the trains operating the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway can reach 350km per hour.
The three projects, if implemented, can be completed in three to five years.