Association of Southeast Asian Nations

THE SINGAPORE-KUNMING RAIL LINK PROJECT

26 September 2007

FACT SHEET

The Singapore-Kunming Rail Link (SKRL) project was proposed at the Fifth ASEAN Summit in December 1995. The SKRL is a flagship project of the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC). Towards Seamless Regional Rail Transport An SKRL feasibility study examining six alternative routes to link Singapore to Kunming, China, was completed in August 1999. All six routes have a common sector from Singapore to Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur.
Proposed SKRL Route Alternatives
Study Route 1 Cost (US$ bn) 1.8 Length (km) 5,382 Missing Links 431 Countries Involved Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam Myanmar, Thailand, China Lao PDR, China Lao PDR, China Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Thailand Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Thailand

6.0

4,559

1,127

3 4 5 6

1.1 5.7 1.1 1.1

4,259 4,164 4,481 4,225

531 1,300 616 589

Ang to Tan Ap-Mu Gia for further linking with Vientiane is also being undertaken. In December 2006, the ADB approved a US$60 million loan to Viet Nam to assist in the rehabilitation of the HanoiLao Cai section and a US$42 million loan to Cambodia to assist in the rehabilitation of Cambodia railways that include sections of the SKRL route. The ADB is also undertaking a detailed design study on the Phnom PenhLoc Ninh sector with financing from China. China has made progress on the Chinese sectors of the SKRL, including the YuxiHekou route (Eastern portion), the YuxiMohan (Middle portion) and the Dali-Ruili (Western portion). Construction of the YuxiMengzi railway is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The feasibility study of the Dali-Ruili railway has been completed. The Republic of Korea has completed a US$1.2 million feasibility study on the SKRL portion linking Bangkok to Yangon.

Route 1 which connects Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and China, was selected by the ASEAN Transport Ministers for its high social and economic impact. It will cost an estimated US$1.8 billion to construct. Its 5,382 km length includes the missing links from Poipet to Sisophon, and from Phnom Penh to Loc Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the spur lines from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau and from Vientiane to Vung Anh. Routes 2 to 6 will be considered for implementation in national rail plans or other railway network projects, such as the Trans-Asian Railway. Latest Developments The SKRL project has seen steady progress: Cambodias construction of the missing links, guided by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for SKRL, is on schedule. Viet Nam completed a feasibility study on the Ho Chi Minh CityLoc Ninh missing link and is negotiating with Cambodia for the location of rail connection points. A feasibility study for a spur link from Vung

For more information on the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link project, contact Mr. Gary Krishnan (garykrishnan@aseansec.org) of the Bureau for External Relations & Coordination of the ASEAN Secretariat. Please visit www.aseansec.org for more information on the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation and its projects.

2007/AEC/010

SKRL Route

Issued by the Public Affairs Office of the ASEAN Secretariat, 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia Tel: (62 21) 726 2991, 724 3372 Fax: (62 21) 739 8234, 720 0848 www.aseansec.org

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