RTS Link now expected to open in Feb 2027 instead of Dec 2026

A new RTS train on the track from Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru on July 25.

ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Published Oct 02, 2026, 05:12 PM

Updated Oct 02, 2026, 05:12 PM

SINGAPORE – The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link’s opening will be delayed to February 2027, said RTS Operations (RTSO), the company appointed to run the rail line.

RTSO expects to complete all system tests and trial runs for the cross-border light rail link by Dec 31, 2026, the company said in a statement on Oct 2.

But taking into account time required for third-party safety certification and approval by the RTSO’s grantors, passenger service is currently estimated to start in February 2027, it said.

The line’s opening was previously targeted at the end of December 2026.

The RTSO’s grantors – the authorities which grant it the right to operate – are Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport.

In a joint statement on Oct 2, the authorities said they had been informed by the RTSO of its plans to start operations in February 2027.

Infrastructure works on the 4km link between Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North station in Singapore are substantially complete and remain on track, the authorities said.

The authorities added that the revised timeline remains subject to RTSO obtaining independent safety certification for the RTS Link and final regulatory approval.

Both authorities will continue to work with RTSO to facilitate the smooth and safe delivery of the project, they said.

RTSO is a joint venture between SMRT and Malaysian bus and rail operator Prasarana.

The line will carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction, and the journey is expected to take five minutes.

The authorities have in recent months announced milestones for the link’s completion.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority in September announced the completion of the RTS Link’s Woodlands North Station.

Earlier in August, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said all the station and rail infrastructure on the Malaysian side had been completed.

He said the RTS Link was in its final integration testing stages between Singapore and Malaysia before passenger service is scheduled to begin.

Asked about the fare, Loke said details of the fare and launch date would be jointly announced by the transport ministries of Malaysia and Singapore.

The RTS link will feature co-location of both countries’ customs, immigration and quarantine facilities at each station.

This will allow passengers to undergo both departure and arrival immigration clearance before boarding the train, and no further immigration clearance is required upon disembarkation in the other country.

Both countries passed legislation this year to enable these facilities.

Chinese trainmaker CRRC Zhuzhou builds the trains and German conglomerate Siemens supplies signalling and platform screen doors.

7月25日，一列新的RTS列车从柔佛新山武吉查卡站驶出轨道。

圣路易斯照片：德斯蒙德·福

发布于 2026 年 10 月 2 日下午 5:12

更新于2026年10月2日下午5:12

新加坡——负责运营新柔地铁系统（RTS）的RTS运营公司（RTSO）表示，新柔地铁系统的开通时间将推迟至2027年2月。

RTSO公司在10月2日的一份声明中表示，预计将于2026年12月31日之前完成跨境轻轨连接的所有系统测试和试运行。

但考虑到第三方安全认证和 RTSO 拨款机构批准所需的时间，目前预计客运服务将于 2027 年 2 月开始。

该线路原计划于 2026 年 12 月底开通。

RTSO 的授权机构（即授予其运营权的机构）是新加坡陆路交通管理局 (LTA) 和马来西亚交通部。

10 月 2 日，当局在一份联合声明中表示，RTSO 已告知他们其计划于 2027 年 2 月开始运营。

当局表示，连接柔佛州新山武吉查卡站和新加坡兀兰北站的4公里连接线的基建工程已基本完工，并继续按计划进行。

当局补充说，修订后的时间表仍取决于RTSO获得RTS Link的独立安全认证和最终监管批准。

双方表示，将继续与RTSO合作，以促进项目的顺利、安全交付。

RTSO是SMRT与马来西亚巴士和铁路运营商Prasarana的合资企业。

该线路每小时单向最多可运送 10,000 名乘客，预计行程需要 5 分钟。

近几个月来，有关部门陆续公布了该连接线竣工的里程碑事件。

新加坡陆路交通管理局于9月宣布RTS Link兀兰北站竣工。

8月初，马来西亚交通部长陆兆福表示，马来西亚一侧的所有车站和铁路基础设施均已完工。

他表示，RTS Link在新加坡和马来西亚之间正处于最后的集成测试阶段，之后将计划开始载客服务。

当被问及票价时，陆兆福表示，票价详情和推出日期将由马来西亚和新加坡交通部联合公布。

RTS 连接线将在每个车站设立两国的海关、移民和检疫设施。

这样一来，乘客就可以在登车前办理出境和入境手续，抵达其他国家后无需再办理入境手续。

今年，两国均通过了相关立法，以建立这些设施。

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