A Chinese consortium will next year participate in bidding for a high-speed railroad linking Singapore and Malaysia, marking another step in China's ambitious strategy to export its high-speed railway technologies to South-east Asia. China Railway Rolling Stock's media office confirmed the move.

The consortium - consisting of eight companies, including CRRC, China Railway Construction Corporation, China Railway Signal & Communication and Export-Import Bank of China - covers the design, construction, telecommunication, financing, operation and maintenance sectors of the rail network.

A joint tender for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project was issued by the Malaysian and Singaporean government-owned utilities MyHSR Corporation and SG HSR on Dec 20.

According to a joint statement released by the two companies, the potential bidder would be responsible for the design, construction, financing, operating and maintenance of rolling stock and railway system for the double-track line with a designed speed of 350kmh.

A researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission's Institute of Comprehensive Transportation, Feng Hao, said: "Judging by these companies's size and resources, they will form the largest group to build a high-speed rail network outside China if they win the bid next year."

A tender briefing will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 23, and proposals are to be put forward by June 29. Submissions will be evaluated based on technical merit, commercial strength, financial sustainability and price. The preferred bidder will be selected by the end of next year.

The governments of Malaysia and Singapore signed a bilateral agreement late last year to begin the project. According to the agreement, the high-speed rail link is expected to become operational by Dec 31, 2026, and will cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes, down from about fours hours by car.