The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project will be commissioned by 2026, regardless of how fast builders can complete the project, said Land Public Transport Commission chairperson Syed Hamid Albar.

This was because Malaysia and Singapore have agreed on the 2026 date and other procedural matters that must be respected.

Syed Hamid was officiating China High Speed Railway Experience Cube, organised by China Railway Corporation and supported by the Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.

Earlier, China's ambassador Huang Hui Kang had told the event that China Railway Corporation could complete the HSR project in just five years, instead of ten.

"Five years is enough for China to build high speed railway from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in coorperation with Malaysia and Singapore. Ten years (is) too long," said Huang.

He said China Railway Corporation had plenty of experience after building and operating 22,000km of high speed railways.

At the press conference later, China Railway International chairperson Yang Zhongmin however clarified that Huang was merely referring to construction times in China.

"From how I understood, Huang spoke of the railway situation in China. We can build something in such scale or larger scale within five years, from the date the decision made to completion of the project.

"We have numerous experience with such projects being completed within a short period," he added.

'We have a good chance of winning bid'

The HSR was envisoned to shorten travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes.

Currently, the international tender process is underway and a decision is expected soon.

Among the bidders are China High Speed Railway Consortium, which is led by eight Chinese state-owned corporation, including China Railway Corporation, China Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of China.

The consortium will respect the arrangement of both Malaysia and Singapore in term of the construction timeline, said Yang.

"(No matter) how they formulate the construction plan, we will go according to the plan," said Yang, who is also China Railway deputy chief engineer.

Yang is confident the China Consortium had a better chance in securing the tender based on its track record and competitiveness.

When asked on the cost and expected returns of the project, Yang declined comment.

The High Speed Railway Experience Cube, which allows the public to experience high speed rail travel in virtual reality, will be on display at KL for three months.