Delayed RTS Link could face early crowd test if it opens near Chinese New Year or Hari Raya, analysts say
Analysts say border clearance and ticketing will also need to keep up to allow smooth passenger service during a holiday surge.
Experts warn that opening the delayed Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link during holiday periods, such as Chinese New Year or Hari Raya, could put its passenger-handling arrangements to an early test. Opening the train system immediately before a holiday may not be ideal, as operations beyond the trains must be ready to handle large numbers of passengers.
Prof Lee Der-Horng, a fellow of Singapore’s Academy of Engineering, emphasized the need for comprehensive testing of the entire passenger journey, not just the trains, to ensure smooth operations. He cautioned that safety certification alone does not guarantee a smooth opening, pointing to potential crowd management issues.
Dr David Ng of the Institution of Engineers Singapore agreed, noting that problems are more likely to arise at stations than on the trains. He suggested that the service should have been run for some time before a holiday peak to familiarize staff and passengers with the arrangements. Prof Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences suggested that having the RTS Link operational, even if just newly opened, would be better than not having it at all during holiday periods when demand for transport to Malaysia generally exceeds supply.
The delay in the RTS Link's opening has been attributed to various factors, including testing, certification, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The experts believe that the revised timeline is reasonable, given the complexity of a cross-border train system and the project's history of interruptions and scope changes.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
