Singapore, Malaysia hold RTS Link emergency response exercise ahead of planned February 2027 opening

Once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) becomes operational next year , each train will carry more than 600 passengers and run at short intervals — with a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction — leaving little room for error, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann.

"By executing the response plans correctly and swiftly, we will be better prepared to save lives, minimise damage and restore normalcy quickly," the second minister said in her closing address at the Malaysia-Singapore cross-border joint field training exercise on Wednesday (Oct 28).

The field training exercise (FTX) on Oct 27 involved Malaysia's Royal Malaysia Police, Border Control and Protection Agency, Fire and Rescue Department, Ministry of Health, and Malaysian Armed Forces; and, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Police Force, and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

During the FTX, participants were tested on their operational readiness and inter-agency coordination.

This includes the interoperability of both countries in ensuring timely and effective joint management of a complex emergency scenario that might occur on the RTS Link train and tracks.

Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Malaysia's National Security Council (NSC) said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the scenarios included joint firefighting operations, medical emergency and casualty evacuation, as well as coordinated cross-border emergency response.

Sim also revealed in her speech that operational agencies from both countries have been building joint plans since 2023 — developing clear frameworks, laws and operational protocols that guide how frontline responders handle cross-border incidents once the RTS Link service begins.

During the exercise, Malaysia's operations centre at Bukit Chagar also maintained real-time communications with ICA's integrated operations centre.

"This enabled both countries to establish a joint situation picture and communicate their action plans to each other. In any crisis, accurate and timely information is the foundation for an effective response to mitigate the safety or security threat," Sim said.

Both MHA and NSC pointed out that the exercise underscores the strong ties and close cooperation between agencies from the two countries in ensuring safe, secure and reliable cross-border travel when the RTS Link service commences.

They also noted that both countries have put in place the necessary domestic legislation for the operationalisation of the RTS Link, which covers the management of cross-border incidents.

Malaysia passed its RTS Link Bill on Feb 12 , while Singapore passed its Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-Location) Bill on May 5 .

The closing ceremony on Wednesday was co-officiated by Malaysia's Minister of Home Affairs Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

新柔地铁系统（RTS Link）明年投入运营后，每列火车将搭载超过 600 名乘客，发车间隔短，高峰时段每小时单向运力可达 10,000 名乘客，几乎没有出错的余地，内政部第二部长沈颖表示。

“通过正确、迅速地执行应对计划，我们将能够更好地拯救生命、最大限度地减少损失并迅速恢复正常秩序，”第二部长在周三（10 月 28 日）马来西亚-新加坡跨境联合实地训练演习的闭幕致辞中表示。

10 月 27 日的实地训练演习 (FTX) 涉及马来西亚皇家警察、边境管制和保护机构、消防和救援部门、卫生部和马来西亚武装部队；以及新加坡移民和关卡局 (ICA)、新加坡警察部队和新加坡民防部队。

在实战演习中，参与者接受了作战准备和跨部门协调能力的测试。

这包括两国在确保及时有效地联合管理RTS Link列车和轨道上可能发生的复杂紧急情况方面的互操作性。

新加坡内政部和马来西亚国家安全理事会周三发表联合声明称，这些方案包括联合消防行动、医疗紧急情况和伤员疏散，以及协调的跨境紧急响应。

Sim还在演讲中透露，自2023年以来，两国的运营机构一直在制定联合计划——制定明确的框架、法律和操作规程，以指导RTS Link服务开通后一线应急人员如何处理跨境事件。

演习期间，马来西亚位于武吉查卡的作战中心也与ICA的综合作战中心保持实时通信。

“这使得两国能够建立共同的形势图景，并相互沟通行动计划。在任何危机中，准确及时的信息都是有效应对、减轻安全威胁的基础，”沈先生说。

内政部和国家安全委员会都指出，此次演习凸显了两国机构之间在确保RTS Link服务开通后跨境旅行安全可靠方面所保持的紧密联系和密切合作。

他们还指出，两国都已制定了必要的国内立法，以实施RTS Link，其中包括跨境事件的管理。

马来西亚于 2 月 12 日通过了 RTS Link 法案，而新加坡于 5 月 5 日通过了跨境铁路（边境管制共址）法案。

周三的闭幕式由马来西亚内政部长赛夫丁·纳苏蒂安·伊斯梅尔共同主持。