Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link)

The Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System or Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) is a planned  4 km cross border rapid transit system that would connect Woodlands, Singapore, and Johor Bahru, crossing the  Straits of Johor. The 4-km rail link is expected to ferry up to 10,000 passengers per hour.

The rapid transit system will have two stations, with the Singapore terminus located at Woodlands North Station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar Station. Both stations will have co-located Singaporean and Malaysian customs, immigration, and quarantine facilities.

When built, the RTS Link will be the second rail link between the two countries after the KTM intercity Shuttle Tebrau, and the first high-capacity international metro system to be built. The RTS Link is expected to replace the railway line and shuttle train services between JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint. 

When first announced in 2010, the Singapore terminus of the route will be at Woodlands North station, connecting with the Thomas-East Coast Line (TEL). The Malaysian terminus will be at Bukit Chagar near JB Sentral, connecting with the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) station for intercity rail services. Immigration facilities will be co-located on both sides of the border, such that passengers will clear customs of both countries at their point of departure.

Initially, the line was planned to use the Thomson-East Coast Line’s systems, including its signaling system, rolling stock, communication system, and integrated supervisory control system, to reap economies of scale. This would mean that the rolling stock will be the Kawasaki-Sifang CT251, operating in a four-car formation and based out of Mandai Depot in Singapore. However, this remains to be confirmed, with Malaysia proposing on October 2019 to use a Light Rail Transit system instead to reduce project costs.

Originally, the line was projected to be opened by 31 December 2024. This deadline was pushed back to end-2026 due to early delays in reaching project milestones, and additional complications brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A signing ceremony, attended by both Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia, has been scheduled for July 30, 2020.

Timeline & History

• May 2010: Plans announced for a Rapid Transit System Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru
• June 2011: Singapore terminus confirmed at Woodlands North, interchanging with Thomson Line
• May 2012: Preliminary Engineering Study carried out by Aecom
• September 2015: Malaysia terminus confirmed at Bukit Chagar
• July 2016: Phase 2 Engineering Study carried out
• 2016 (13 Dec): High bridge chosen for Johor Strait crossing, Thomson-East Coast Line’s systems adopted
• 2017 (31 Jul): Timeframe of December 2024 set, intention to appoint joint venture company
• 2017 (25 Sep): SMRT, Prasarana sign MOU to form joint venture company
• 2018 (16 Jan): Bilateral Agreement signed
• 2018 (31 Jan): Contract T232 for RTS Link construction published (Stations, Tunnel and CQI Building)
• 2018 (09 Feb): Prasarana, SMRT accepted Letter of Offer jointly issued by SG/MY governments, to form a joint venture company (JV Co) before 30 June 2018
• 2018 (01 Jun): Originally planned to sign of JV Co date; Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the delay of signing till 30 June 2018.
• 2018 (30 Jun): Deadline of forming of JV Co lapsed, with Malaysia considering replacing its joint venture partner
• 2018 (28 Sep): Contract T235 for RTS Link construction published (Viaducts and Tunnel)
• 2018 (30 Sep): Deadline of appointing JV Co as RTS Link operator (OpCo) through a Concession Agreement (CA) with LTA and the government of Malaysia lapsed
• 2018 (28 Dec): Malaysia requests deadline extension to 28 Feb 2019 to confirm the JV Partner
• 2019: Original projected start of construction work
• 2019 (28 Feb): Malaysia requests further deadline extension to 31 Mar 2019 to confirm the JV Partner
• 2019 (31 Mar): Deadline for calling of the joint tender
• 2019 (01 Apr): Malaysia requested for 6 more months to deliberate on the RTS Link project
• 2019 (21 May): 6-month suspension of RTS Link project till 30 Sep 2019.
• 2019 (Sep): Further 1-month suspension of RTS Link project till 30 Oct 2019, at the request of Malaysia.
• 2019 (31 Oct): Malaysia confirms its decision to proceed with RTS Link construction; revised project cost of RM3.16 billion (S$1.03 billion) – 36 percent less than the original.
• 2019 (4 Nov): Another 6-month suspension to 30 April 2020, for Malaysia to detail its proposed changes to the RTS Link
• 2020 (2 May): Further 3-month suspension to 31 July 2020 at Malaysia’s request, citing a change of Government in Malaysia and COVID-19 situation.
• 2020 (30 Jul): Signing of restated Bilateral Agreement
• 2021 (Jan): Projected start of construction
• 2025: Projected commissioning and testing phase
• End-2026: Projected Opening of RTS Link; ceasing of KTMB Shuttle Tebrau (within 6 months of RTS Link opening)

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