Singapore–Johor Bahru RTS Link
RTS Link Alignment
Type	Light rapid transit
Station Count	2
Line length	4 km (MY: 2.7km; SG: 1.3km)
Termini	Bukit Chagar Woodlands North
Depot	Wadi Hana (Johor Bahru)
Operational Data
Operator	RTS Operations Pte Ltd
Rolling stock	CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd LRT Vehicle (8 four-car trainsets)
Electrification	750V DC (3rd rail)
Track gauge	1435 mm
Opening	End 2026

The Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System, or the RTS Link, is a light rail system currently under construction. The line connects Woodlands North station in Singapore with Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, without intermediate stops.

The RTS Link is supported by co-located immigration facilities located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar. Passengers will clear customs of both countries at their point of departure before boarding the train. When completed, the line is expected to significantly improve cross-border connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

Following delays incurred during the planning stage, the line is now expected to open by end-2026. The total project cost is estimated at RM10 billion (S$3.24 billion).

At a glance

Rapid transit system between Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) and Woodlands North (Singapore)
Approximately 4 km long: 2.7 km in Malaysia, 1.3 km in Singapore
Served by 8 sets of 4-car light metro trains; maintenance depot at Wadi Hana (Malaysia)
Co-located customs at each end
Operated by an SMRT-Prasarana joint venture
Maximum capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction

Route Alignment

The Singapore terminus of the RTS Link is located at Woodlands North, adjacent to the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) station of the same name. The Malaysian terminus is located at Bukit Chagar near JB Sentral, connecting with the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) station for intercity rail services. Co-located immigration facilities were built adjacent to both terminus stations, such that passengers could clear customs of both countries at their point of departure.

The total length of the line is 4 km (1.3 km in Singapore, and 2.7 km in Malaysia). Most of the route was constructed on overground viaducts, except for a short underground section leading to Woodlands North station. The rail depot is located at Wadi Hana, north of Bukit Chagar station.

Each country would be responsible for the funding, construction, ownership, maintenance, and renewal of the civil infrastructure within its borders.

RTS Link Alignment Overview (MRT Corp Media Briefing Nov 2020)

Artist’s Impression of RTS Link Viaduct (Image: LTA)

Stations

Co-located immigration facilities will be built adjacent to both stations, such that passengers will clear customs of both countries at their point of departure.

Station	Transport Connections
Woodlands North	Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), local bus services
Bukit Chagar	KTM Intercity, local bus services

On the Singapore side, Woodlands North station will be located within the upcoming Woodlands Regional Centre, a 100-hectare commercial hub with both residential developments and mixed-use industrial developments. There were initial plans to build an integrated transport hub there, but these plans are likely to have been shelved.

On the Malaysia side, Bukit Chagar station and its adjacent ICQ complex are a part of the Southern Integrated Gateway, the main transportation hub of Johor Bahru which also includes Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex and JB Sentral railway station. A mixed development (including an integrated transport hub) is also being planned directly adjacent to Bukit Chagar station, but as a private development unaffiliated with the RTS Link project.

Timeline & History

May 2010: Plans announced for a Rapid Transit System Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru
June 2011: Singapore terminus confirmed at Woodlands North, interchanging with Thomson Line
May 2012: Preliminary Engineering Study carried out by Aecom
September 2015: Malaysia terminus confirmed at Bukit Chagar
July 2016: Phase 2 Engineering Study carried out
2016 (13 Dec): High bridge chosen for Johor Strait crossing, Thomson-East Coast Line’s systems adopted
2017 (31 Jul): Timeframe of December 2024 set, intention to appoint joint venture company
2017 (25 Sep): SMRT, Prasarana sign MOU to form joint venture company
2018 (16 Jan): Bilateral Agreement signed
2018 (31 Jan): Contract T232 for RTS Link construction published (Stations, Tunnel and CIQ Building)
2018 (09 Feb): Prasarana, SMRT accepted Letter of Offer jointly issued by SG/MY governments, to form a joint venture company (JV Co) before 30 June 2018
2018 (01 Jun): Original planned signing of JV Co date; Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced delay of signing till 30 June 2018.
2018 (30 Jun): Deadline of forming of JV Co lapsed, with Malaysia considering replacing its joint venture partner
2018 (28 Sep): Contract T235 for RTS Link construction published (Viaducts and Tunnel)
2018 (30 Sep): Deadline of appointing JV Co as RTS Link operator (OpCo) through a Concession Agreement (CA) with LTA and the government of Malaysia lapsed
2018 (28 Dec): Malaysia requests deadline extension to 28 Feb 2019 to confirm the JV Partner
2019: Original projected start of construction work
2019 (28 Feb): Malaysia requests further deadline extension to 31 Mar 2019 to confirm the JV Partner
2019 (31 Mar): Deadline for calling of joint tender
2019 (01 Apr): Malaysia requested for 6 more months to deliberate on the RTS Link project
2019 (21 May): 6-month suspension of RTS Link project till 30 Sep 2019.
2019 (Sep): Further 1-month suspension of RTS Link project till 30 Oct 2019, at the request of Malaysia.
2019 (31 Oct): Malaysia confirms its decision to proceed with RTS Link construction; revised project cost of RM3.16 billion (S$1.03 billion) – 36 per cent less than the original.
2019 (4 Nov): Another 6-month suspension to 30 April 2020, for Malaysia to detail its proposed changes to the RTS Link
2020 (2 May): Further 3-month suspension to 31 July 2020 at Malaysia’s request, citing change of Government in Malaysia and COVID-19 situation.
2020 (30 Jul): Signing of restated Bilateral Agreement (Resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System Link Project)
2020 (22 Nov): Start of RTS Link construction in Malaysia (Station and ICQ Building)
2020 (26 Nov): Award of Contract T232 for RTS Link construction (Stations, Tunnel and CIQ Building)
2021 (22 Jan): Start of RTS Link construction in Singapore (Contract T232)
2021 (29 Jan): Award of Contract T235 for RTS Link construction (Viaduct and Tunnels)
2021 (12 May): Announcement of award of nine contracts (4 core systems, 5 non-core systems) by RTS Operations Pte Ltd
2024 (11 Jan): Completion of 17.1m long connecting span between Malaysia’s Pier 47 and Singapore’s Pier 48
2025: Projected commissioning and testing phase
End-2026: Projected Opening of RTS Link; ceasing of KTMB Shuttle Tebrau (within 6 months of RTS Link opening)

Groundwork

On 24 May 2010, at a Leaders’ Retreat attended by Singapore and Malaysian leaders, both countries agreed to pursue a Rapid Transit System Link between Johor Bahru and Singapore, enhancing connectivity between the two countries. The rapid transit system link will be integrated with public transport services in both Johor Bahru and Singapore, with co-located Customs, Inspection and Quarantine facilities on the Singapore side.

In June 2011, Singapore confirmed that it would site the RTS Link’s terminus at Woodlands North, interchanging with the future Thomson Line. Around the same time, discussions in Malaysia called for several stations in Johor Bahru, but no official plans were pursued.

In May 2012, a consortium of AECOM Singapore, AECOM Perunding and SA Architects was awarded a US$42 million contract co-funded by Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) for a design and engineering consultancy for the RTS Link. The study was to determine the technical parameters and options for a convenient and cost-effective system that would be integrated with public transport services at both ends.

In September 2014, the Malaysian Ministry of Rural and Regional Development’s chairman stated that the RTS Link’s terminus would be sited at Bukit Chagar, over potential sites such as Tanjung Puteri and JB Sentral. However, it was only in September 2015, four years after Singapore, that the Malaysian Minister of Transport confirmed the Bukit Chagar plan, paving the way for the Phase 2 Engineering Study, intended to develop the detailed engineering design for the rapid transit system project.

At a joint news conference between Singapore and Malaysian leaders on 13 December 2016, a high bridge was chosen for the crossing of the Johor Strait, clearing the way for a bilateral agreement by the end of 2017. A decision was also made to adopt the Thomson-East Coast Line’s systems to reap economies of scale. As such, the RTS Link’s signalling system, rolling stock, communication system and integrated supervisory control system will be identical to that used on the TEL.

On 31 July 2017, at the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia, it was announced that passenger service on the RTS Link will begin by December 2024. Both governments also intend to jointly appoint an operating company to design, build, finance, operate, maintain and renew the RTS Link operating assets like trains, tracks and systems. On 25 September 2017, SMRT and Prasarana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture company for the RTS Link.

First Bilateral Agreement & initial contracts (2018)

On 16 January 2018, the landmark Bilateral Agreement was signed between the Singapore and Malaysia governments to proceed with the RTS Link project. Key points of agreement on the RTS Link, including the technical, safety and security requirements, commercial, financing, procurement and regulatory frameworks, as well as customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements, were indicated in this legally-binding agreement.

On 31 January 2018, the first civil engineering tender was published by Singapore: Contract T232 for the Construction of Station, Tunnels and CIQ Building for Rapid Transit Systems (RTS) Link.

On 9 February 2018, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) and SMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT) accepted a Letter of Offer jointly issued by Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the two companies to form a joint venture company (JV Co) to operate the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) by 30 June 2018. The JV Co will design, build, finance, operate, maintain and renew the RTS Link operating assets such as trains, tracks and systems.

In the wake of the 2018 Malaysian general election, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to the RTS Link despite efforts to reduce its national debt. In end-July 2018, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that a working paper would be presented to the Malaysian Cabinet for cost approval, and reaffirmed commitment to the 2024 deadline despite the delays.

On 28 September 2018, the second civil engineering tender was published by Singapore: Contract T235 for the Construction of Viaduct and Tunnels for Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

Delays and more delays

On 14 January 2019, Transport Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan mentioned that the RTS Link completion date would likely be delayed beyond the original target of 31 December 2024. Deadlines that had been set in the bilateral meeting in 2018 were extended as soon as they were negotiable – the first until September 2018, then December 2018, then February 2019.

On 1 April 2019, Malaysia announced that it was seeking a six-month suspension to re-evaluate key parameters of the project, with a focus on reducing the cost of implementation. The following week, on 8 April 2019, a joint press conference between Transport Ministers Loke Siew Fook and Khaw Boon Wan announced that a “supplemental agreement” was being worked out to temporarily suspend the project for 6 months.

The supplemental agreement was signed on 21 May 2019, with Malaysia paying S$600,000 of abortive costs to Singapore. A new deadline of 30 September 2019 was inked, after which the project was to continue. Malaysia would have to pay more than S$66 million if it decided to terminate the RTS Link project by then.

On 28 September 2019, Malaysia announced that it had sought a further one-month suspension to 31 October 2019, which had been granted by Singapore the day before. This time, Malaysia needed more time to study the project’s financial risk to the government. Singapore’s Ministry of Transport confirmed this in a media statement 2 days later, while adding that Singapore reserved the right to claim any additional costs incurred beyond 30 September 2019 should Malaysia request any further extensions of the suspension period.

On 11 October 2019, Malaysia announced its intention to proceed with the RTS Link as a long-term solution to cross-border traffic. This announcement was delivered as part of its 2020 Budget speech, in addition to committing RM85 million to enhance enhancing vehicle and traffic flow at the CIQ Complexes at both land crossings.

On 31 October 2019, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced that the RTS Link would proceed, with proposals to amend the project and reduce costs by 36 per cent, from the original RM4.93 billion to RM3.16 billion. Key features include the involvement of the developers/owners of the Bukit Chagar land to waive land costs, and to use a medium-capacity rail system (similar to Singapore’s Jurong Region Line (JRL) and Malaysia’s Ampang and Sri Petaling lines) to reduce operating costs, rather than the heavy rail system that the Thomson-East Coast Line is based on. Malaysia added that Prasarana Malaysia would remain as the joint venture partner for the RTS, who would consult with SMRT to finalise the terms of the joint venture.

Shortly after the firm decision to continue with the RTS Link, Singapore confirmed on 4 November 2019 that it had agreed to a further six-month suspension to 30 April 2020, at the request of Malaysia made on 29 October. While the decision to proceed had been made, Malaysia was not yet ready to share the details of their proposed changes with Singapore, which meant that Singapore was unable to make a thorough assessment of the technical and commercial feasibility of the proposal.

No financial costs was incurred for this round of extension. However, due to the extent of proposed amendments (e.g. technical requirements), the Bilateral Agreement signed in 2018 would have to be restated and resigned. Thus, a total of 3 agreements had to be signed by the end of the suspension period:

Restated Bilaterial Agreement
Joint Venture Agreement between Singapore’s SMRT Corporation and Malaysia’s Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to constitute a joint venture Operating Company (“OpCo”)
Concession Agreement for the Singapore and Malaysian Governments to appoint the OpCo as the RTS Link operator

On 2 May 2020, both Singapore and Malaysia confirmed a further three-month suspension to the RTS Link project, at Malaysia’s request. The change of government in Malaysia and ongoing travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic were cited as reasons for the slowdown of discussions. Singapore also indicated that this was ‘third and final’ extension, and expected to sign all three key agreements (RTS Link bilateral agreement, SMRT-Prasarana Joint Venture Agreement, and Concession Agreement, as elaborated above) by 31 July 2020.

On 12 July 2020, the Johor Menteri Besar disclosed that the RTS Link train depot would be built at Wadihana in Johor Bahru, instead of using the Mandai Depot in Singapore. The bilateral agreement was also on track to be signed by later that month, with construction work expected to begin in November. Further details were announced on 21 July 2020 by Malaysian Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, announcing that the construction would commence in January 2021, with a revised opening date of end-2026. All these details were confirmed on 30 July 2020, when the Restated Bilateral Agreement was signed at the Causeway and witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries, along with

Several major changes over the original Bilateral Agreement signed in 2018 include:

Old Bilateral Agreement (Jan 2018)	Restated Bilateral Agreement (Jul 2020)
Heavy rail system relying on Thomson-East Coast Line infrastructure	Medium-capacity rail system similar to Singapore’s Jurong Region Line (JRL) and the Ampang and Sri Petaling lines in Malaysia’s Klang Valley region.
Thomson-East Coast Line subsystems (e.g. signalling system, rolling stock, communication system and integrated supervisory control system) to leverage economies of scale	Independent railway subsystems fully decoupled from Thomson-East Coast Line
Trains based at existing Mandai Depot, with light maintenance facility at Bukit Chagar	New 2.83ha depot to be constructed in Wadi Hana (Johor Bahru). Expected to offer between 400 to 500 job opportunities for locals.
Appointed infrastructure company to fund, build, own, maintain and renew the civil infrastructure and stations in its territory up to the international boundary; Malaysia—Prasarana Malaysia Berhad Singapore—Land Transport Authority	Appointed infrastructure company to fund, build, own, maintain and renew the civil infrastructure and stations in its territory up to the international boundary; Malaysia—Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn Bhd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd) Singapore—Land Transport Authority
Estimated cost of RM4.93 billion (Malaysia contribution) No estimate for Singapore cost provided	Cost split at 61:39 between Singapore and Malaysia Malaysia: Estimated cost of RM3.719 billion (~S$1.22 billion) contribution from Malaysia, inclusive of ~RM500 million to construct the depot in Johor Bahru. Singapore: About S$1.91 billion
Estimated completion by end-2024	Estimated completion by end-2026

In addition, the Singapore-incorporated company RTS Operations Pte Ltd was designated as the Operating Company (OpCo) for the RTS Link. The company is formed by a Joint Venture Agreement between the Singapore JV shareholder, SMRT RTS Pte Ltd, and the Malaysia JV Shareholder, Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd. Both shareholders are subsidiaries of parent companies SMRT Corporation Ltd and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad respectively.

formed by a Joint Venture Agreement between Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and SMRT Corporation.

RTS Operations Pte Ltd, a Singapore-incorporated company, would design, build, and finance the RTS Link operating assets including trains, tracks, and systems. It would also operate and maintain the RTS Link for the first 30-year concession period, as granted by the Concession Agreement signed by both Singapore and Malaysian governments.

The existing KTMB Tebrau shuttle will cease operations within 6 months of the opening of the RTS Link.

Construction begins

Construction of the RTS Link in Johor Bahru began on 22 November 2020, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of Bukit Chagar RTS Link station. During the ceremony, Malaysia officials also announced that 40 per cent of the infrastructure costs borne by the Malaysia government for the project will be set aside for bumiputera contractors, including companies in Johor.

Construction for the RTS Link in Singapore began on 22 January 2021. Contract T232 for the construction of the RTS Link Woodlands North station, associated tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building was awarded to Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd at a contract value of S$932,800,000 in November 2020.

The Line (LTA Press Release)

The RTS Link will have the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, which translates to an additional capacity of 60,000 users crossing the Causeway during peak hours. To facilitate passenger flow, it will have co-located Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities in both Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North. Passengers travelling in either direction will clear both Malaysia and Singapore authorities at the point of departure, and need not go through immigration clearance again at the point of arrival. The RTS Link’s capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) is much higher than the average 300 (pphpd) that the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Tebrau Shuttle is ferrying today. The KTMB Tebrau Shuttle services to Singapore will cease six months after the RTS Link passenger service begins, targeted by December 2024.

The RTS Link will cross the Straits of Johor via a 25m-high bridge, linking the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru to the RTS Link Woodlands North Station in Singapore (See LTA Annex A). For economies of scale, the RTS Link will utilise the same four core systems (trains, signalling system, communications system, and Integrated Supervisory Control System) as Singapore’s upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). Heavy maintenance will be outsourced to the TEL Operator – SMRT Trains – at the TEL’s Mandai Depot, though there will also be a light maintenance facility at Bukit Chagar.

Each country will appoint an Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) to fund, build, own, maintain, and renew the civil infrastructure and stations within their respective territories. Malaysia’s InfraCo will be Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, while Singapore’s InfraCo will be LTA. Both Governments will jointly appoint an operating company (OpCo) to own, design, build, finance, operate, maintain and renew the RTS Link’s operating assets (e.g. trains, tracks, systems). The OpCo will pay a concession fee to the two countries in exchange for the right to collect fare revenue from operating the RTS Link. Fares will be set commercially by the OpCo, and will not be regulated by the two Governments.

Both Governments agree that for the first concession period, which will cover the first 30 years of operations, the OpCo will be a joint venture between a Malaysian company and a Singaporean company. Both Governments welcomed the exchange of letters between the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, LTA, and SMRT Corporation Ltd, recording their commitment for Prasarana and SMRT to form a Joint Venture (JV) Company to be the OpCo for the first concession period. The companies have committed to incorporate the JV by 30 June 2018, and to sign the concession agreement by 30 September 2018. Subsequent concessions will be awarded through open tender.

Alignment Updates & Bukit Chagar Station Configuration

On 22 November 2020, a groundbreaking ceremony of the RTS station in Bukit Chagar was conducted. Updates on the RTS Link alignment as well as the planned platform configuration at Bukit Chagar were given in a virtual media briefing.

RTS Bukit Chagar Station Platform Configuration (MRT Corp Media Briefing Nov 2020)

RTS Bukit Chagar Station Artist Impression – Arrival Platforms (MRT Corp RTS Link Public Inspection)

RTS Bukit Chagar Station Artist Impression (MRT Corp Media Briefing Nov 2020)

Preview of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (#RTS) Link

Construction stages

Land Transport Authority (Singapore):

Contract T232 for the Construction of Station, Tunnels and CIQ Building for Rapid Transit Systems (RTS) Link
Awarded to Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd at a contract value of $932.8 million.
Construction commenced on 22 Jan 2021.
Contract T235 for the Construction of Viaduct and Tunnels for Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link
Awarded to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) at a contract value of around $180 million. Construction expected to commence in 2nd Quarter of 2021.

RTS Operations Pte Ltd:

On 12 May 2021, nine contracts were announced to have been awarded by RTS Operations Pte Ltd for RTS Link Systems. These are:

Core Systems
Rolling Stock – CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd
Signalling & Platform Screen Doors – Siemens Mobility Sdn Bhd and Siemens Mobility Pte Ltd
Communications System – Sapura Rail Systems Sdn Bhd
Integrated Supervisory Control System – Sapura Rail Systems Sdn Bhd
Non-Core Systems
Trackwork – CHEC(S) – CHEC (M) Joint Venture
Traction Power Supply – Pestech Technology Sdn Bhd
Uninterruptible Power Supply – EEB–CRECM Joint Venture
Automatic Fare Collection – MSI Global Pte Ltd
Depot Equipment and Service Vehicles – EEB–CRECM Joint Venture

Fares

TBA. Fares will be set commercially by RTS Operations Pte Ltd, and will not be regulated by the two Governments.

Train Service

Journey time between Woodlands North & Bukit Chagar station would be about 5 minutes, with train frequency at 3.6 minutes during peak hours and 6 minutes during off-peak hours.

The peak vehicle requirement (i.e. most number of trains required at peak hour) is 6 trains when operating at 3.6-minute frequencies.

Rolling Stock

Main Article: RTS Link Rolling Stock

The RTS Link is a double-tracked line electrified to 750V DC via a third rail. The line is served by 8 four-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trainsets based at Wadi Hana Depot, Johor Bahru.

RTS Link trains (MRT Corp RTS Link Public Inspection)

As a light rapid transit line, the rolling stock will be similar to that used on the Ampang and Sri Petaling lines in Kuala Lumpur, and the Jurong Region Line in Singapore. According to technical information released by MRT Corp, the four-car trains have a normal capacity of 605 passengers, and a maximum crush load capacity of 1,069 passengers.

Trains will be built to Standard gauge (1,435 mm) and limited to a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h. Each car will feature a single wheelchair space. Trains will also be driverless, using an Automatic Train Control system.

On 12 May 2021, RTS Operations announced that the contract for RTS Link Rolling Stock was awarded to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd.

Initial plans to use Thomson-East Coast Line trains (Click to expand)

Initially, the line was planned to use the Thomson-East Coast Line’s systems, including its signalling system, rolling stock, communication system and integrated supervisory control system, to reap economies of scale. This would mean that the rolling stock will be the Kawasaki-Sifang CT251, operating in a four-car formation and based out of Mandai Depot in Singapore. An additional light maintenance facility would be built at Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru.

However, this was changed to a Light Rail Transit system entirely based at the new depot in Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru. This move was intended to reduce project costs and increase local employment opportunities, and was included in the bilateral agreement on the Resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System Link Project signed in July 2020.