Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link)

The Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System, or the RTS Link, is a light rapid transit line currently under construction. The line is conceived as a high-volume shuttle service connecting Woodland North station in Singapore with Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, without intermediate stops.

The RTS Link is supported by co-located immigration facilities located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar. Passengers will clear customs of both countries at their point of departure before boarding the train.

Following delays incurred during the planning stage, the line is now expected to open by end-2026. The total project cost is estimated at RM10 billion (S$3.24 billion).

RTS Link at a glance

-Rapid transit system between Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) and Woodlands North (Singapore)

-Approximately 4 km long: 2.7 km in Malaysia, 1.3 km in Singapore

-Served by 8 sets of 4-car light metro trains; maintenance depot at Wadi Hana (Malaysia)

-Co-located customs at each end

-Operated by an SMRT-Prasarana joint venture

-Maximum capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction

The Line (LTA Press Release)

The RTS Link will have the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, which translates to an additional capacity of 60,000 users crossing the Causeway during peak hours. To facilitate passenger flow, it will have co-located Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities in both Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North. Passengers travelling in either direction will clear both Malaysia and Singapore authorities at the point of departure, and need not go through immigration clearance again at the point of arrival. The RTS Link’s capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) is much higher than the average 300 (pphpd) that the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Tebrau Shuttle is ferrying today. The KTMB Tebrau Shuttle services to Singapore will cease six months after the RTS Link passenger service begins, targeted by December 2024.

The RTS Link will cross the Straits of Johor via a 25m-high bridge, linking the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru to the RTS Link Woodlands North Station in Singapore (See LTA Annex A). For economies of scale, the RTS Link will utilise the same four core systems (trains, signalling system, communications system, and Integrated Supervisory Control System) as Singapore’s upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). Heavy maintenance will be outsourced to the TEL Operator – SMRT Trains – at the TEL’s Mandai Depot, though there will also be a light maintenance facility at Bukit Chagar.

Each country will appoint an Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) to fund, build, own, maintain, and renew the civil infrastructure and stations within their respective territories. Malaysia’s InfraCo will be Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, while Singapore’s InfraCo will be LTA. Both Governments will jointly appoint an operating company (OpCo) to own, design, build, finance, operate, maintain and renew the RTS Link’s operating assets (e.g. trains, tracks, systems). The OpCo will pay a concession fee to the two countries in exchange for the right to collect fare revenue from operating the RTS Link. Fares will be set commercially by the OpCo, and will not be regulated by the two Governments.

Both Governments agree that for the first concession period, which will cover the first 30 years of operations, the OpCo will be a joint venture between a Malaysian company and a Singaporean company. Both Governments welcomed the exchange of letters between the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, LTA, and SMRT Corporation Ltd, recording their commitment for Prasarana and SMRT to form a Joint Venture (JV) Company to be the OpCo for the first concession period. The companies have committed to incorporate the JV by 30 June 2018, and to sign the concession agreement by 30 September 2018. Subsequent concessions will be awarded through open tender.

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 CIQ 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): Original planned signing of JV Co date; Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced 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 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 per cent 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 change of Government in Malaysia and COVID-19 situation.
2020 (30 Jul): Signing of restated Bilateral Agreement (Resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System Link Project)
2020 (22 Nov): Start of RTS Link construction in Malaysia (Station and ICQ Building)
2020 (26 Nov): Award of Contract T232 for RTS Link construction (Stations, Tunnel and CIQ Building)
2021 (22 Jan): Start of RTS Link construction in Singapore (Contract T232)
2021 (29 Jan): Award of Contract T235 for RTS Link construction (Viaduct and Tunnels)
2021 (12 May): Announcement of award of nine contracts (4 core systems, 5 non-core systems) by RTS Operations Pte Ltd
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)

Fares

TBA. Fares will be set commercially by RTS Operations Pte Ltd, and will not be regulated by the two Governments.

Train Service

Journey time between Woodlands North & Bukit Chagar station would be about 5 minutes, with train frequency at 3.6 minutes during peak hours and 6 minutes during off-peak hours.

The peak vehicle requirement (i.e. most number of trains required at peak hour) is 6 trains when operating at 3.6-minute frequencies.

Rolling Stock

Main Article: RTS Link Rolling Stock

The RTS Link is a double-tracked line electrified to 750V DC via a third rail. The line is served by 8 four-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trainsets based at Wadi Hana Depot, Johor Bahru.

As a light rapid transit line, the rolling stock will be similar to that used on the Ampang and Sri Petaling lines in Kuala Lumpur, and the Jurong Region Line in Singapore. According to technical information released by MRT Corp, the four-car trains have a normal capacity of 605 passengers, and a maximum crush load capacity of 1,069 passengers.

Trains will be built to Standard gauge (1,435 mm) and limited to a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h. Each car will feature a single wheelchair space. Trains will also be driverless, using an Automatic Train Control system.

On 12 May 2021, RTS Operations announced that the contract for RTS Link Rolling Stock was awarded to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd.

Jun 26,2024