JB-Singapore RTS Link passenger service delayed to February

Johor Baru passengers will await the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link passenger service until February, according to the train service operator, RTSO. The revised schedule is contingent upon concluding final systems tests, trial runs, and obtaining safety certifications from independent assessors and regulatory bodies in both Malaysia and Singapore.

RTSO anticipates completing all system tests and trial runs by December 31, followed by safety certification and regulatory approvals. Once these procedures are finalized, the passenger service is expected to commence in February 2027. The Singapore Land Transport Authority and the Transport Ministry have been notified of the postponed timeline.

The infrastructure works have been completed in both countries and are on schedule to permit passenger service once the remaining testing and commissioning activities are finished. The RTS Link, a cross-border rail service linking Johor Baru, Malaysia, and Woodlands North, Singapore, aims to alleviate congestion at the causeway and enhance connectivity between the two cities.

The service will see a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction and boast a journey duration of approximately five minutes between the two stations. Co-located Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine facilities at both stations will enable commuters to complete immigration clearance at their departure point. RTSO is a collaboration between subsidiaries of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and SMRT Corporation Ltd.