The Southeast Asian Singapore and Malaysia terminated a multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project after the two countries failed to reach agreement after Kuala Lumpur sought changes because of the economic corona pandemic. The on-again, off-again 350 kilometers (218 mile) high-speed rail link would have cut travel time between the centres down to about 90 minutes versus more than four hours by car. 

Singapore said a multi-billion-dollar high-speed rail link between the city state and Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpurhas been terminated. According to a statement from Singapore’s transport ministry on Friday, Malaysia has allowed the high-speed rail project “to be terminated and has to compensate Singapore for costs that the city has already incurred in fulfilling its obligations.

The development came just after a December 31 deadline for the second and final extension of the suspension of the project, which was first mooted 10 years ago and given the green signal in 2013. In June, the Southeast Asian neighbours had agreed to put the development, which has already incurred multiple suspensions, on hold again amid a discussion around costs. 

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