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PM Lee, Mr Najib to witness signing of high-speed rail agreement

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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Putrajaya today for the annual Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat with Malaysian PM Najib Razak.

Both PMs will witness the signing of a bilateral agreement for the high-speed rail linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement yesterday.

The 350km high-speed rail line, first mooted in 2013, has been billed as a "game changer" for both countries.

It will shave travel time by land between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes, compared to more than four hours by car.

The signing of the agreement is a culmination of intensive bilateral discussions since the 2013 Leaders' Retreat, and furthers the good progress made by both countries since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in July, the PMO statement said.

"It also demonstrates the two governments' commitment to the project, which will boost connectivity, strengthen economic ties and enhance people-to-people linkages when completed," the statement added.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan will sign the agreement.

Construction is expected to start in 2018, with trains running by 2026.

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