I thought they will do the HSR till Iskandar Puteri and then put in an extension to Jurong as a separate package. It is a bit of a surprise they decided to put the whole thing together. Anyway, 1 down, 2 more to go ie BTS and RTS. Still, take all these with a pinch of salt. A MOU is just more serious than a gentleman's agreement but short of a formal agreement. It is only a statement of intentions as the basis of agreement.
The HSR proposal was first mentioned by the 2 PMs way back in 2010.
And it took 6 long years for each sides to do their studies and whatnots to come to this MOU.
But then again, this is only the first starting point and you still have to wait for the formal works contracts to be signed which is scheduled in 2018.
Just be hopefully that everything will be on schedule.
Noticed that both Najib and his minister keep saying about " open, transparent and fair tender", perhaps they believe everyone is expecting the usual otherwise.
It was mentioned commuters need to only go through one checkpoint at the point of departure, not at the point of arrival. Does that mean if one travels from SG, he or she only needs to go thru immigration at the SG side, and just walks out upon reaching any of the stations along the HSR route? If so, there will be good news.
Nothing new on this aspect la.
If you have ever travel on the KTM train to KL departing from the old Tg Pagar Railways station, it was done this way too.
So after you have entered the train, even when the train is still within SG, you are technically in MY already.
Also mentioned was a shuttle service from SG to Iskandar Puteri. I'm surprised by this. But this perhaps shows the important position of Iskandar Puteri. For those who don't wish to spend so much on the HSR, at least there is the bus to get there.
SG only interested in the SG/KL express route and it is this route that will ultimately goes all the way to China and they probably knowing that the shuttle service will surely lose money.
Hence you can see mentioned in this MOU, the shuttle service, which stops at 6 stations between KL and SG, will be operated separately and probably by MY exclusively.
Makes sense to have the shuttle as an interchange for the domestic service. Else the domestic service will be useless. Great job by Khaw and Auntie Josephine.Well at least there is a shuttle service to Iskandar Puteri from SG. They won't plan this for nothing. Lose money or not remains to be seen....
HSR aside, my quite wild prediction is that, come 2026 or 2030, HDB 4-room BTO flats will be 65-70 sq m and cost on average S$600-700k. Many commoners have to suck it up to pay for it in their entire lifetime. Those not happy with this will use the shuttle to live in Iskandar instead at cheaper costs. Those who work around Jurong (by then many offices and commercial stuffs will be there) will be especially attracted to live in Flagship B of Iskandar also.
Some think wrongly that the SG government will not allow this as it will lower SG's property prices and economy. That's not true. The government will be more than happy for the poorer commoners to go away so they have fewer problems and complaints to take care of! And since these Singaporeans are still working in SG, they can still continue to boost the economy. Nothing is lost. In fact, there's everything to gain for the country.
Better still, if need be, the government might want us to use the hospital services in Iskandar at cheaper costs while SG continues to attract the rich to live here. I always think a strong and well-known hospital such as Gleneagles won't be so stupid to build in Medini if the place is so dead like now. They must know something that we don't. Maybe SG government has a part to play in this also!
I think it will all work out well finally. Both countries just got to maintain the momentum. It's a win-win situation for both SG and Johor.
Well at least there is a shuttle service to Iskandar Puteri from SG. They won't plan this for nothing. Lose money or not remains to be seen....
It was mentioned commuters need to only go through one checkpoint at the point of departure, not at the point of arrival. Does that mean if one travels from SG, he or she only needs to go thru immigration at the SG side, and just walks out upon reaching any of the stations along the HSR route? If so, there will be good news.
Also mentioned was a shuttle service from SG to Iskandar Puteri. I'm surprised by this. But this perhaps shows the important position of Iskandar Puteri. For those who don't wish to spend so much on the HSR, at least there is the bus to get there.
Anyone know where is the exact location of the HSR station in Iskandar Puteri?
This type of luxury travel will bleed the respective governments and operators for the first 10-15 years.
I can still see and hear many people ( esp sinkies ) around me putting down on Nusajaya and calling it a Ghost Town. Gone are the days when I can enter from Tuas at 1pm and first to the counter, speed all the way into Puteri Harbour for a loop and back into Singapore within 30 minutes just for a cruise because the traffic has gone up considerably over the years. Now we can only go to Malaysia for a fast spin after 1am on Sunday.
The Malaysia Minister has previously announced it is confirmed to be to the left of the CIQ in 2nd link.
oh so close to SG? I remember reading it will be at Gelang Patah (spelling?) side.