Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link passenger service delayed to February 2027

All system tests and trial runs are expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2026.

A train undergoing testing for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link on Jun 15, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: Passenger services on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are now expected to begin in February 2027, with system tests and trial runs expected to be completed by the end of this year.

RTS Operations (RTSO), the operator of the cross-border rail service, announced the revised timeline on Friday (Oct 2).

“Taking into account the expected duration of works and the estimated duration required for safety certification from a third party and approval by both Grantors, passenger service is currently expected to commence in February 2027,” RTSO said.

It added that it expects all system tests and trial runs to be completed by Dec 31, 2026.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less “Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS Link,” said RTSO, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Singapore's SMRT Corporation. The 4km rail link, which will connect Singapore’s Woodlands North Station to the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru, was initially expected to begin service at the end of 2026. Once operational, the cross-border rail service will have a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with the journey between the two stations expected to take about five minutes. Customs, immigration and quarantine facilities will be co-located at both stations, allowing passengers to clear immigration at their point of departure.

“Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS Link,” said RTSO, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Singapore's SMRT Corporation.

The 4km rail link, which will connect Singapore’s Woodlands North Station to the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru, was initially expected to begin service at the end of 2026.

Once operational, the cross-border rail service will have a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with the journey between the two stations expected to take about five minutes.

Customs, immigration and quarantine facilities will be co-located at both stations, allowing passengers to clear immigration at their point of departure.

MISSED MILESTONES, PROJECT SUSPENSION

Plans for the RTS Link were first announced in 2010 as a joint project between Singapore and Malaysia.

The neighbours signed a legally binding agreement in January 2018, aiming to complete the project by Dec 31, 2024.

However, the original deadline was pushed back following several missed milestones and a suspension in April 2019 due to Malaysia requesting time to review the project.

Work on the RTS Link officially resumed in July 2020, with several key differences, including a change to the depot used on Malaysia's side.

The rail link also shifted to a standalone Light Rail Transit system instead of leveraging Singapore's Thomson-East Coast Line MRT system as initially planned.

The project completed its first test run in December 2025. In mid-August this year, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the station and rail infrastructure on his country’s side were completed, and the final testing phase was ongoing.

Authorities hope the new rail link will ease traffic conditions on the Causeway, which is one of the world's busiest border crossings.

It is also expected to have a significant impact on the economic front, shaping consumer spending, tourism flows and business competitiveness in the retail and F&B sectors.

A study commissioned by the Singapore Business Federation, Restaurant Association of Singapore and Singapore Retailers Association projected that Singapore residents would spend S$1.05 billion (US$810 million) more a year in Johor Bahru once the RTS Link opens.

Johor Bahru visitors, in comparison, are expected to spend S$756 million more in Singapore annually.

The study also projected a 51 per cent increase in outbound trips by Singapore consumers, adding 11.2 million Singapore-to-Johor Bahru round trips a year.

Trips in the other direction are expected to grow by 3.3 million.

An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

所有系统测试和试运行预计将于 2026 年 12 月 31 日完成。

2026年6月15日，一列列车正在进行柔佛新山-新加坡捷运系统（RTS）连接线的测试。（资料照片：CNA/Zamzahuri Abas）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：柔佛新山-新加坡快速交通系统（RTS）连接线的客运服务预计将于2027年2月开始，系统测试和试运行预计将于今年年底完成。

跨境铁路服务运营商RTS Operations（RTSO）于周五（10月2日）宣布了修订后的时间表。

RTSO表示：“考虑到工程的预期工期以及第三方安全认证和双方拨款方批准所需的估计工期，目前预计客运服务将于2027年2月开始。”

该公司还表示，预计所有系统测试和试运行将于 2026 年 12 月 31 日完成。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 “我们的目标是为RTS Link提供安全可靠的服务，”RTSO表示。RTSO是马来西亚Prasarana Malaysia Berhad和新加坡SMRT Corporation的子公司合资成立的公司。这条4公里长的铁路连接新加坡兀兰北站和柔佛新山武吉查卡站，原计划于2026年底投入运营。一旦投入运营，这条跨境铁路的高峰运力将达到每小时单向10,000名乘客，两站之间的行程预计约为5分钟。海关、移民和检疫设施将设在两个车站，方便乘客在出发地办理入境手续。

“我们的目标是为RTS Link提供安全可靠的服务，”RTSO表示。RTSO是马来西亚Prasarana Malaysia Berhad和新加坡SMRT Corporation的子公司之间的合资企业。

这条全长 4 公里的铁路连接线将连接新加坡兀兰北站和柔佛新山武吉查卡站，原计划于 2026 年底开始运营。

跨境铁路服务一旦投入运营，高峰时段每小时单向运力可达 10,000 名乘客，两站之间的行程预计需要大约 5 分钟。

海关、移民局和检疫设施将设在两个车站，方便乘客在出发地办理入境手续。

错过的里程碑，项目悬架

RTS Link 的计划最早于 2010 年公布，是新加坡和马来西亚的联合项目。

邻居们于 2018 年 1 月签署了一项具有法律约束力的协议，目标是在 2024 年 12 月 31 日之前完成该项目。

然而，由于错过了几个里程碑，以及马来西亚要求时间审查该项目，原定的截止日期在 2019 年 4 月暂停，因此被推迟了。

RTS Link 工程于 2020 年 7 月正式恢复，但与之前相比有几个关键的不同之处，包括马来西亚一侧使用的车辆段发生了变化。

该铁路连接线也改为独立的轻轨交通系统，而不是像最初计划的那样利用新加坡的汤申-东海岸线地铁系统。

该项目于 2025 年 12 月完成了首次试运行。今年 8 月中旬，马来西亚交通部长陆兆福表示，马来西亚境内的车站和铁路基础设施已经完工，最终测试阶段正在进行中。

当局希望这条新的铁路连接线能够缓解堤道的交通状况，堤道是世界上最繁忙的边境口岸之一。

预计这将对经济方面产生重大影响，塑造消费者支出、旅游流量以及零售和餐饮行业的商业竞争力。

新加坡商业联合会、新加坡餐饮协会和新加坡零售商协会委托进行的一项研究预测，一旦新山轻轨（RTS Link）开通，新加坡居民每年将在新山多消费 10.5 亿新元（8.1 亿美元）。

相比之下，预计来自柔佛新山的游客每年在新加坡的消费额将比来自柔佛新山的游客多出 7.56 亿新元。

该研究还预测，新加坡消费者的出境旅游将增加 51%，每年将增加 1120 万次新加坡至新山的往返旅行。

预计反方向的出行次数将增加 330 万次。

每天清晨，我们都会自动为您推送最热门的新闻资讯，助您开启美好的一天。

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。