Rail system works on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link have reached the halfway mark, with track installation from Malaysia expected to reach Singapore’s Woodlands North station by July this year.
RTS Operations (RTSO) project director Zahrin Abdul Gani provided this update on 26 February 2025 during a briefing session on the latest developments of the cross-border rail project.
“In the coming months, our key focus will be on critical systems including trackwork, rolling stock (the trains), traction power and the seamless integration of signalling and control systems,” Mr Zahrin said.
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The 4km rail link connecting Singapore’s Woodlands North station to Johor’s Bukit Chagar station is scheduled to begin passenger service by the end of 2026.
Track installation, which began at the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Bahru last September, has made steady progress. More than 65 percent of track work at the depot has been completed, including the installation of track linings, rail tracks, and fastening components.
System installation works, including signalling and communications systems, are set to commence in phases from March this year.
Civil infrastructure reaching completion
The RTS Link project has achieved several construction milestones in recent months.
In January 2024, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim marked the completion of a 17.1-metre-long “drop-in span” that connects the closest marine viaducts of both countries.
This concrete structure links Malaysia’s Pier 47 and Singapore’s Pier 48 above sea level, representing a significant step in the project’s progress.
Civil infrastructure works on the Singapore side have reached approximately 65 percent completion, matching the progress on Malaysia’s end, according to Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit Corporation.
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Depot and station development
Media representatives were given a first look at the Wadi Hana Depot, located over 1km north of Bukit Chagar station.
The 14-acre (56,656m²) facility will feature seven parallel tracks for train maintenance, repair, and storage. Trains for the RTS Link will be provided by Chinese company CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.
Construction of the Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine (ICQ) facility next to Bukit Chagar station is also underway.
When completed, the RTS Link will allow passengers to clear immigration authorities only at their point of departure, creating a more streamlined travel experience.
Easing Causeway congestion
The RTS Link aims to ease traffic congestion on the Causeway by transporting up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
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Trains will run from 6am to midnight, with four-minute intervals during peak hours and 30-minute intervals during off-peak periods.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke previously stated that at least 35 percent of human traffic at the Causeway will be absorbed by the RTS Link once operations begin.
Fare determination pending
When asked about potential fares for the cross-border service, RTSO CEO Dr Ahmad Marzuki Ariffin said there is “no information to disclose as of yet,” adding that fares will be announced closer to the start date.
Dr Marzuki later clarified that the determination of fares will consider various factors, including the difference in currency exchange rates between Malaysia and Singapore.
“There is a process taken into account to determine the fare, not to mention it involves two countries. For now, we cannot share any information but the matter will be announced next year,” he said.
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The announcement on fares is expected to be made by the leadership of both countries in 2026.
Project timeline
The RTS Link project has faced several delays since its inception. Originally scheduled for completion in 2024, the project was suspended multiple times after Malaysia’s change of government in 2018.
Despite these setbacks, the project is now firmly on track for completion by the end of 2026, with passenger service expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Work to connect the RTS Link to the Thomson-East Coast Line at Woodlands North station will begin this year, according to a joint statement by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, Malaysia’s Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, and RTSO.
The RTS Link is estimated to cost RM10 billion (approximately S$2.9 billion), with Singapore bearing 61 percent of the cost.
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