KL-Singapore High Speed Rail; one-way trip to cost around RM200, round-trip roughly RM400 – report

hitachi bullet train

Ticket prices for a one-way trip between KL and Singapore on the proposed KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) line could cost commuters “less than RM200,” according to a report by the News Straits Times, citing Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Return trip tickets, on the other hand, could cost “under RM400” to “accommodate all market segments, including business and leisure travellers,” according to Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal, CEO of SPAD. “We foresee a much lower average price to make the HSR project feasible. Although the return on investment will take a longer time, the operator will have several options to recoup its investment in the project,” he added.

In Singapore, prices are expected to hover around S$80-90 (RM215-RM242) for a trip, though it is unclear as to whether or not said fare includes a return journey. Also, the proposed pricing structure is said to mirror that of an airline system where a surge/drop in demand for tickets will affect the overall fare on a daily basis.

Hitachi Super Express

When completed, the Singapore terminus is expected to be located in Jurong East with the surrounding location earmarked for transformation into the Lion City’s second central business district (CBD). Meanwhile, the Malaysian terminus to be situated in Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besi.

The 330 km-long line was earlier marked for completion in the year 2020 but a reassessment by Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, has resulted in an open date. With that said, reports are in that the 2020 due date is possible with China offering to complete the project in five years, should it be awarded the contract.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Gregory Sze

An “actor” by training, Gregory Sze realised that he has had enough of drama in his life. Following his number one passion (acting was actually number two), he decided to make the jump into the realm of automotive journalism. He appreciates the simple things in life – a simple car with nothing but back-to-basics mechanical engineering and minimal electronics on board.

 

Comments

  • 1MDB (Malas Dolop Bodoh) on May 13, 2015 at 9:47 am

    What a joke. They think money grows on trees is it? The UMNO peole are so corrupted that they fail to realise RM400 is a lot of money to most people. What if whole family go? Father, mother and 3 kids? Rm2000 just to go Singapore?

    Somemore, UMNO don’t think about their own bangsa. Most of my Malay buddies have 4 to 5 kids. So, how now? 7 x 400 = Rm3000 just to go to Singapore?

    Come on UMNO, pakai hotak sikit.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 117 Thumb down 36
    • BYDer on May 13, 2015 at 10:08 am

      yayaya, like my colleague rite, he has got 10 children, own mother and inlaw mother and grand mother well the grandpa left years ago, but the point is, they all go to singapore by High Speed train would cost them like how much again? 10xRM400 for children round trip, 2xRM400 for mother”s” , wifey and ownself would be 2 x RM400, Grand total = 4000+800+800 = RM5600 just to go to singaporeee not sure if the father”s” want to follow or not…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 6
      • Same L0rrrr on May 13, 2015 at 11:00 am

        High speed railway ain’t cheap, go find out in China, Japan, Germany yourself.

        Got a big family to go Singapore? you better get them into our Innova and drive through the bridge.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 10
      • Same L0rrrr on May 13, 2015 at 11:52 am

        Yes prices of transport can be high but ladies undergarments in Malaysia is one of the cheapest in the world.

        Don’t lah complain so much about high speed train. Spice up your love life and buy your gf or wife some new lingerie. I can give you good discounts.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 13
      • Lpost on May 13, 2015 at 1:07 pm

        Luckily u was born in malaysia not in nepal or myanmar & now pretend like a german…hahaha.. What a pity..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 32
    • BNaik on May 13, 2015 at 10:17 am

      By the time whole Malaysian will reach RM10k minimum salary.

      No problem Ah jib jamin…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 3
    • nutter on May 13, 2015 at 10:28 am

      Hei racist bodoh.

      MCA and MIC also the same and part of BN. If you want to criticize dont just target one race or party.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 52
      • Mana MCA and MIC??? on May 13, 2015 at 10:36 am

        Brader, MCA and MIC as we all know, got no say. Just puppet in BN

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 37 Thumb down 3
        • MCA and MIC banayak Ada on May 13, 2015 at 11:56 am

          So what you are saying is that the MCA and MIC people are useless stupid idiots who cant do anything for their people

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 0
          • George Abdul on May 13, 2015 at 1:45 pm

            You get more thumb up because under BN all same under the same boss Useless.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
        • Lpost on May 13, 2015 at 12:50 pm

          Umno & DAP are stupid. Umno likes to make money disappear & DAP likes to make tis country like “peninsular china”

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 16
      • Rm500 mil plane on May 13, 2015 at 11:12 am

        No wonder why people can buy RM500 plane and still have 6 other personal lanes in the hangers.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
    • care to think? on May 13, 2015 at 10:32 am

      Drive la mangkuk.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
    • What has UMNO got to do with this?

      The article is about SPAD’s estimate based on the cost of development.

      The high speed rail is not the only link to Singapore. If you cannot afford and have many kids take the bus lah.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 6
    • Lpost on May 13, 2015 at 12:45 pm

      Just cancel this project. UPEN has rejected this YTL proposal previously as not needed by country & rakyat, and now approved by gov with Stupid SPAD to waste money.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
    • With that price range, I think they mainly targeting business trip or individual passenger.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • carlies on May 13, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      I think better to make this statement clear.

      the RM200 or RM400 is the estimated fare to directly enter to Singapore island from KL for single and round trip respectively. It is same as the flight you take from KLIA to Changi.

      What about if we take the flight from KLIA to Senai and you can see the fare is almost cut half or at least 70% of it only.

      This is clear that once touching the Singapore island i.e. HSR station in Jurong East or Changi Airport everything can rise up double easily!

      Singapore government won’t make the fare cheap and it’s not Malaysian government. Travel everyday for work from KL to SG is a day dream unless you got ultra high pay! Why? SG gov won’t let you earn $ there and stay in cheap place (Malaysia). Of course they try to lock their high income people or expat there, spend there, stay there. Else, their retail drop, property drop, business drop, people take cheaper flight in KLIA…..

      They won’t benefit the Malaysian people like you and me.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 3
    • DonkeyKong on May 13, 2015 at 6:25 pm

      It’s obviously targeted for people who want to travel to Singapore by an alternative transport compared to flight. If you can’t afford this train fee, obviously you can’t afford a flight either. Just drive a car across the causeway then. This project will be a boon to business travelers who need to shuttle between KL and Singapore regularly. It’s not a cheap minibus ride for banglas and indons to pack up.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
      • Shikamaru on May 19, 2015 at 12:47 pm

        Definitely.. consider this as an alternative to flight.. in other places of the world, speed train always cost higher that any other transportations.. in average, flight from london to paris about $90.. the eurostar train would cost you ~$200!.. u want faster & luxury, u pay higher la.. flight also faster but not that fast if you sum up the boarding & arriving time.. safety risk also lower compare than by flight.. simple comparison, u want luxury living u stay at mandarin oriental or hilton la.. if u cant afford just take any budget hotel.. did u also want to blame the gov for that different hotel star huh?? what a stupid-lazy-unmotivated people la u.. u takda money for ticket flight, u simply naik bas la go to KL.. work for it, make a better living by your own.. y people simply blame others just because they cant afford something.. most people think too big to change the world but never even a little effort to change their own-self..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • I rather walk to singapore if it is RM400. The price should be half of that.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 6
  • 1MDB (Malas Dolop Bodoh) on May 13, 2015 at 9:49 am

    For Singaporean, it is so cheap because their GDP per Capita is 2nd highest in the world. Their GDP per capita is 5x more than Malaysia. What this literally means is that, if you are earning RM5000 here, the person, with the same job in Singapore is earning RM25,000 there. So, for them, take this train is peanuts.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 3
    • BYDer on May 13, 2015 at 10:11 am

      Singaporen can afford private jet de unless they wanna enjoy our “scenery” here along the railway…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • nutter on May 13, 2015 at 11:53 am

      If worship singaporean and singapore so much why not go n live there. You can work as thier bitch.

      5x salary but also 5x cost of living and cost of housing. Go ask aingaporean lah what they think.
      U r a typical stupid mentality person always heroworshiping sing and kissing thier ass

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 21
      • stupid nutter brainless scum on May 15, 2015 at 2:06 am

        Singapore high cost of living is artificially inflated by the highest car prices in the world. But you don;t need a car in singapore as the public transport is very efficient.
        Everything else is cheaper and higher grade over there including fuel. A plate of chicken rice is only $2.50.
        You can become my bitch and I will teach you more.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Same L0rrrr on May 13, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Lingerie in Singapore is more expensive than Malaysia. Infact ladies in Singapore come to Malaysia to buy undergarments.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Areyousure on May 13, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Yay, I can work in Singapore and stay with my family in KL.
    20 days X RM400 = RM8,000 for transport each month, lol…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
    • RM10k Just to holiday on May 13, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Unlike Singaporeans, Malaysians can only go to Bukit Tinggi or Janda Baik for a holiday.

      Family of 5 will cost RM2000 on this train. Hotel is about RM500 per night in Singapore. Stay 4 nights, another RM2000.

      Makan, another RM3000.

      Just to holiday in neighbour Singapore, it will cost you about RM10k

      Thank you BN for giving us such a super strong currency.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 1
      • 4G63T DSM on May 13, 2015 at 12:17 pm

        Aiyaa… they didn’t build this for Malaysians lah.

        They built this for Singaporeans.

        Yes high speed rail is expensive, my normal 1 hour ride on the TGV 1st Class is Euro 120 + 19%VAT . But unless and until Malaysian have such strong currency, it would be out of reach most malaysians.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • dodgeviper88 on May 13, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Haha their reason to price so high is to protect airplanes, then why you build the high speed trains to begin with? In China a 3 hour HST ride only cost 100 yuan, covering distance equivalent from KL to Krabi.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • kadajawi (Member) on May 13, 2015 at 10:05 am

    RM 200? That’s what I pay for a train ticket from one end of Spain to the other… roughly 1000 km. Are they insane?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • kumar on May 13, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Rather take the plane or drive myself.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Bomoh on May 13, 2015 at 10:14 am

    I work in KL and earned RM2000, my girlfriend work in Singapore earned $2000. My salary only and afford to ride 10 time but she can ride 25 time…i rather take bus to visit her..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
  • C.P.MOHAN on May 13, 2015 at 10:33 am

    HSR benefits wealthy country and cronies more.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • totti on May 13, 2015 at 10:33 am

    This is a problem in Malaysia.

    Most of the public transport monopoly by the cronies and charges sky high rate to all the poor rakyat.

    look at the KTM, from Bangi to mid valley cost you more than RM 3 ringgit ++. if you have a family of 4 then to and fr will cost you RM 30.

    Just imagine if you go to KLCC with transit to LRT.(2 trains) This will cost you RM 50++ per family.

    What is the advantage with a good transport system if the rate like a rocket high?

    Fu….. the cronies that bring higher construction cost and getting guarantee return like Plus, IPP, Astro…..etc.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 1
  • Sparcov on May 13, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Crazy price. The most is RM 250 that i willing to pay.

    Reason, Any HSR can car at least 300 passenger one way based on 5 car train. 300 x RM 200 = RM 60,000 for 90 mins ride. Compare with flying on plane with seating capacity for ATR-600, 72 seating @ RM 250 one way average = RM 18,000

    Both based on 100% load.

    In long run, Train is more expensive than plane????

    I can board from Subang and reach Singapore Changi and change to MRT to everywhere I like.

    Flying time from Subang to Sg = 1 hour 25 mins average.

    And what happen if I get cheaper air ticket???

    I suggest 1 way KL-SG price at below RM 150 to make it more viable and affordable to the user.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • dingdong on May 13, 2015 at 11:00 am

    From Seoul to Busan with high speed train only about RM 150-170..same distance from KL to Sg, i cannot see why they put RM 200 as one way. some more average salary in Seoul is about RM 12,000

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • MacchaGreen on May 13, 2015 at 1:18 pm

      They built this for Singaporeans. Avg salary much higher therefore the price is ‘justified’.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh. on May 13, 2015 at 11:03 am

    This news is effectively guaranteeing Chinese train will be used.

    No way using Japanese or European train can this price be achieved.

    Just to compare, Shanghai-Nanjing 300km trip costs around 150 yuan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • BLUR SOTONG on May 13, 2015 at 11:13 am

    Malaysia Please Walk the talk not talk the walk . Sendiri build sendiri shiok mentality is in the govt head . Me as a Malaysian has difficulty using our local transport. KLIA and KLIA 2 awesome infrastructure but lowly or lacking user experience

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • It is not suppose to be on May 13, 2015 at 11:16 am

    The fast train is not cheap and it is not design to be cheaper than bus fare.for far distance, flying is still the cheapest per km cost in the world. It is expected that the price will go around rm200 to those who knows. Actually rm200 is consider good price. I will definitely take the train if i have to go to Singapore for a meeting. It will safe me a lot of money since taxi+aifare cost is higher that that. Plus longer time required to go to airport+checkin+security+fly time+customs+taxi before i manage to gey to customers office in Singapore. It is practical for a day business trip. If i want to balik kg in JB, i will probably just take the bus still, no rush.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • sirimusa on May 13, 2015 at 11:21 am

    You have to bear in mind that you are paying RM400 for the fastest, most efficient, most luxurious and safest way to Singapore.

    I think it’s fair to charge RM400. It’s a high speed train for God’s sake. And it takes 90 minutes.

    If you can’t afford it, you can drive, fly, take the bus.

    There’s still a lot of options.

    So don’t bad mouth everybody saying it’s stupid. Not everyone has to get to Singapore in 90mns. It will mostly be businessmen, people who have emergencies, people who have to do a one day trip.

    Otherwise, all the other cheaper options are available.

    You must look at HSR as an extra option to reach Singapore. And the quickest. Too expensive, use something else.

    It’s like a car. Not everybody is going to buy a BMW. You have many choice. But it doesn’t mean you can insult people who buy BMW!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 10
    • tokmoh. on May 13, 2015 at 12:51 pm

      Well, the difference is, people buy BMW with their own money is ok, but this is RM 40 billion of taxpayers’ money at stake. There is no room for failure.

      With BMW, u rosak Banyak Masuk Workshop, lantak ko la, duit ko sendiri, jangan memekik GST sudey. Berani pakai BMW, berani tanggung.

      Personally, RM 150 per one way trip is the ceiling price I find reasonable.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
  • elson on May 13, 2015 at 11:32 am

    dont mistake , blame the currency not the price , look it just cost 80-90 SGD, which 2 way ticket only cost 160 for sgd, is ok for Singapore people , but when convert to here is a big amount

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • lokcy on May 13, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Those train are for those that earn SGD not for us normal Malaysian who work in Malaysia. For us you can take bus which is like RM80-150 per ticket.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • kckuni on May 13, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Better abort this project as it only benefits cronies and sporean… with tax payer money.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • paparazi on May 13, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    dumb question, with insurance?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kanna on May 14, 2015 at 10:34 am

    Some of you lads need to see the big picture. The idea behind the project again is not for daily or family commute. In any country infrastructure is build to spur economic growth. This case along the southern region, realestate, give jobs to constuction companies, tourism, MICE). The target market is here is business traveller who will save on time and hotel cost stying in the republic, 1st world country tourist (EU/SG/US/AU) conversion rates) and single travelers. I can leave sg at 5pm and be in time for my reunion dinner in subang at 7. No more 5 hour travel and 3 hour jams. Overseas travellers are used to pay at this cost for last minute departures. So the key here is the price point to recover capital cost in the long term and keep a decent operational function running in short term. There will always be a high speed/high cost non-stop train KL-SG and a moderate speed/moderate pricing intercity train. Plus you might have have early birds and group promo. So be hopeful of that benefit to us general public. I am sure the analyst is aware if price is too high capacity would be low, breakeven would be tougher. The key question for me here is at that price point how many people in Muar will be able to afford it. It will also push up realestate in a small town beyond the local affordability. But I guess i am at least hopeful it would reduce jams and increase airline competition. But its a double edge sword….As for corruption since SG will be vested i dont think much oppurtunity will be available, but there will still be some as usual.. So try not to associate this with political parties and hinder the overall development. I would be screwing ourselves in the long run. I rather money being spent here that some useless project or complex. By the way i am not vested in this project in anyway. Just a malaysian citenzen would like to see his country progress…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • I still take the bus……. Save money

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • thinko on May 17, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    High price for high speed train..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • SotSotUser on May 18, 2015 at 12:07 am

    Not sure about other country but if compare to Japan, it is quite cheap.

    For example, Tokyo to Kyoto one way trip is around RM380. If Malaysia round trip from southern part to northern part only within RM400, it is quite cheap.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • justaflellowmalaysian on May 18, 2015 at 2:54 am

    Dear fellow malaysians,
    Before jumping to conclusions, please be advise to research more on high speed train ticket prices all over the world.
    Yes, it is very expensive.For example, from tokyo to kyoto (513km) it will cost you ¥13,720 (£101, $161) = around RM411.96 one way. And you can look around TGV and other high speed train. pretty much all are expensive. Cheers!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • If you cannot afford rm400 per trip to SG for holiday then I dont think you can enjoy much in Singapore either.

    HSR is build for business traveller and mid high income holiday maker not for daily commute to Cari makan in Singapore. If this is the case who wanna work in KL

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • FLY LA on Nov 27, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Airasia/Malindo can get like Rm90 per trip.

    Maybe if KL-SG RM100~RM120 per trip for the train should be reasonable.
    From Spore-KL ~SGD70 per trip

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required