Anthony Loke: RTS Link not delayed, buffer time needed for safety approvals

Johor Bahru — Malaysia and Singapore jointly announced that the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will begin operations in February 2027, rather than starting unilaterally, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Loke clarified that the project was not delayed, but additional time was required to permit an independent safety consultant to conduct a final evaluation and to obtain technical approvals from authorities in both countries.

Both Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) were involved in this approval process. After considering these factors, both parties informed their respective authorities and agreed that commencing operations in February would allow thorough execution of all processes, according to Loke.

While physical work on the RTS Link station and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex building was already completed, the critical phase from October to December focused on testing and commissioning the system before it was handed over to the operator by December 31. Loke emphasized that the government wanted to avoid rushing the process due to its cross-border nature, safety concerns, and expected daily passenger usage.

He indicated that the government remains confident the service would commence in February 2027, with all approvals expected from APAD and LTA. Previously, RTSO had stated that system testing and trial runs were targeted for completion by December 31, with passenger services expected in February 2027, differing from the earlier expectation of operations starting in January.