JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System Nears Completion Milestone, Set for 2026 Launch

JOHOR BAHRU — The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, a 4-kilometer rail connection, has reached a significant milestone, with construction on the Singapore side about 65% complete and passenger service set to begin by December 2026. As of December 31, 2023, the project has achieved 65% completion on the Malaysian side as well.

In a joint statement, the transport ministries of both countries celebrated a recent accomplishment: the installation of a 17.1-meter concrete span linking the Singapore and Malaysian sections of a viaduct across the Strait of Johor. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commemorated this milestone on January 11 at a ceremony on the strait.

Once operational, the RTS Link will facilitate smoother travel for up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, significantly easing congestion at the Causeway. Operated by the joint venture RTS Operations, a collaboration between Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysia’s Prasarana, the service will run from 6 a.m. to midnight, with four-minute intervals during peak hours. The project aims to hand over completed infrastructure to RTS Operations by December 2024 for rail system installation.

Among the construction challenges was the precision installation of a 340-tonne connecting span over the strait, which required the use of steel beams and hydraulic jacks at a height of over 26 meters above sea level. Additionally, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) reports that customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) facilities are advancing well at Woodlands North, with progress on the rail viaduct and tunnels.

The co-located CIQ facilities at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar stations will streamline immigration, allowing passengers to clear customs at their departure point only.

The project symbolizes the commitment of both nations to enhancing connectivity and was a central part of PM Lee’s official visit to Johor, where he and PM Anwar also signed a memorandum of understanding for a Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone to bolster trade and economic integration.