'Better once RTS is up': JB businesses banking on Singapore-JB RTS Link boost

For cafe owner Jac, the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link was one of the reasons he was confident about opening his business in the area.

Now, with the rail link currently expected to begin passenger service in February 2027, businesses that have been positioning themselves around the expected increase in Singapore visitors will have to wait longer for the anticipated boost.

During an AsiaOne visit to Johor Bahru on Sept 28, this reporter observed construction and installation works still under way at parts of the RTS Link project and spoke to businesses in the surrounding area about how they are preparing for its eventual opening.

Jac opened J.B. Breakfast and Toast Cafe in July 2026, and said the cafe's location was one of the factors he saw potential in.

Located in an area with a large residential population, the cafe is currently the only restaurant in its immediate area, he said.

"All of it is residents. I am the only restaurant here," Jac told AsiaOne.

Cafe already attracts Singapore customers

Despite the RTS Link not being operational yet, J.B. Breakfast and Toast Cafe has already attracted some Singaporean customers, particularly on weekends.

Jac said the cafe's proximity to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex helps draw Singapore visitors, while some Malaysian customers from nearby neighbourhoods also visit for its food.

He said that customers can currently reach the area by car or Grab.

The cafe specialises in what Jac describes as "old-school traditional" coffee and food, with a nostalgic aesthetic that evokes kopitiams of the past.

The cafe operates from the morning through the afternoon.

With the RTS Link still undergoing testing and commissioning, Jac said he remains optimistic about the cafe's prospects.

"Better once RTS is up," he said.

For now, the February 2027 launch target has not prompted the cafe to make major changes to its operations.

Jac said the cafe already has its staff in place, with about 15 staff members and a manager, and is prepared to handle an increase in customers when the RTS Link eventually opens.

"We already standby all the staff and prepared," he said.

The cafe's experience also illustrates how some businesses in Johor Bahru have already been preparing for the potential increase in Singapore visitors, even before the rail link begins operations.

Property sellers also banking on RTS proximity

The RTS Link is also being used as a selling point in parts of Johor Bahru's property market, with developers and property agents highlighting proximity to the future rail link when marketing homes to potential buyers.

At JBCC Residences, properties being marketed are around 10 minutes from the RTS station, with the development expected to be ready in 2029.

Singaporeans are also eligible to purchase properties in Johor, making the area's future connectivity a potential consideration for buyers looking at homes across the border.

Another development, One Sentosa, is around a 15-minute drive from the RTS station and is expected to be completed by 2030.

The property agent said around 40 per cent of buyers are Singaporeans, with the RTS Link among the connectivity factors being highlighted to prospective buyers.

For property sellers, the February 2027 launch target means a longer wait before the promised convenience of the RTS Link becomes a reality for residents and investors.

At the same time, the developments are still years away from completion, meaning the revised timeline may not necessarily coincide with their handover timelines.

More time, but longer wait for businesses

For businesses and property sellers that have incorporated the RTS Link into their expectations for the area, the revised timeline does not necessarily mean abandoning those plans.

Instead, it pushes back the point at which they can potentially benefit from increased connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

The impact may also differ depending on the business.

For a cafe such as J.B. Breakfast and Toast Cafe, which is already operating and has begun seeing Singaporean customers, the delay means waiting longer for a potential increase in footfall.

For property developments that are still under construction, meanwhile, the RTS is being positioned as part of the area's longer-term connectivity story.

Other businesses are also looking at how the link could change consumer behaviour once it eventually opens.

Jasmin Tay, founder of Perky Lash, which operates four outlets in Singapore and one in Johor Bahru, has previously highlighted how Singaporean customers already combine trips to Johor Bahru with beauty appointments, groceries and other errands.

With the RTS Link expected to make cross-border travel easier, she has said businesses may need to think about how they compete on convenience, service and customer experience as well as price.

For businesses on the ground in Johor Bahru, however, the immediate reality is simpler: The customers and opportunities they expect from the RTS Link may still be coming, though they may have to wait a little longer for them.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

对于咖啡馆老板 Jac 来说，即将开通的新山-新加坡快速交通系统 (RTS) 连接线是他有信心在该地区开设咖啡馆的原因之一。

目前，这条铁路连接线预计将于 2027 年 2 月开始客运服务，那些围绕新加坡游客预期增长而进行布局的企业将不得不等待更长时间才能获得预期的增长。

9月28日，AsiaOne记者到访柔佛新山，考察了RTS Link项目部分区域仍在进行的建设和安装工作，并与周边地区的商家交谈，了解他们如何为RTS Link的最终开放做准备。

Jac 于 2026 年 7 月开设了 JB Breakfast and Toast Cafe，他说咖啡馆的地理位置是他看到其潜力的因素之一。

他说，这家咖啡馆位于人口密集的居民区，目前是附近唯一的餐厅。

“这里全是居民。我是这里唯一的餐厅，”Jac告诉AsiaOne。

咖啡馆已经吸引了不少新加坡顾客。

尽管 RTS Link 尚未投入运营，但 JB Breakfast and Toast Cafe 已经吸引了一些新加坡顾客，尤其是在周末。

Jac 表示，咖啡馆靠近海关、移民和检疫 (CIQ) 大楼，这有助于吸引新加坡游客，而附近社区的一些马来西亚顾客也会来这里用餐。

他说，顾客目前可以开车或乘坐Grab网约车到达该地区。

这家咖啡馆专营 Jac 所描述的“老式传统”咖啡和食物，其怀旧的美学风格让人想起过去的咖啡店。

咖啡馆从早到晚营业。

由于 RTS Link 仍在测试和调试中，Jac 表示他对咖啡馆的前景仍然保持乐观。

“RTS上线后情况会更好，”他说。

就目前而言，2027 年 2 月的开业目标还没有促使这家咖啡馆对其运营进行重大改变。

Jac 表示，咖啡馆已经配备了员工，约有 15 名员工和一名经理，并已做好准备应对 RTS Link 最终开通后顾客数量的增加。

他说：“我们已经安排所有工作人员待命，做好了准备。”

这家咖啡馆的经历也说明，新山的一些企业甚至在铁路连接开始运营之前，就已经开始为新加坡游客可能增加的情况做准备了。

房产卖家也指望着靠近RTS（快速交通系统）。

RTS Link 也被柔佛新山部分房地产市场用作卖点，开发商和房地产经纪人在向潜在买家推销房屋时，都会强调靠近未来的铁路连接线。

JBCC Residences 的在售房产距离 RTS 车站约 10 分钟路程，预计将于 2029 年竣工。

新加坡人也有资格在柔佛州购买房产，因此该地区未来的交通便利性对于考虑在边境另一侧置业的买家来说可能是一个需要考虑的因素。

另一个开发项目 One Sentosa 距离 RTS 车站约 15 分钟车程，预计将于 2030 年竣工。

房产经纪人表示，约 40% 的买家是新加坡人，RTS Link 是吸引潜在买家的一大交通便利因素。

对于房产卖家而言，2027 年 2 月的开通目标意味着，居民和投资者还需要等待更长时间才能真正享受到 RTS Link 带来的便利。

与此同时，这些项目距离完工还有数年时间，这意味着修订后的时间表可能并不一定与交付时间表相符。

时间更长，但企业等待时间也更长。

对于那些已经将 RTS Link 纳入其对该地区预期发展的企业和房产卖家而言，修订后的时间表并不一定意味着放弃这些计划。

相反，这推迟了他们能够从新加坡和新山之间日益增强的联系中受益的时间点。

影响程度也可能因企业而异。

对于像 JB Breakfast and Toast Cafe 这样已经开业并开始接待新加坡顾客的咖啡馆来说，这种延迟意味着要等待更长时间才能迎来客流量的增长。

与此同时，对于仍在建设中的房地产开发项目而言，RTS 被定位为该地区长期交通连接计划的一部分。

其他企业也在关注，一旦这条通道最终开通，可能会如何改变消费者的行为。

Perky Lash 的创始人 Jasmin Tay 此前曾强调，新加坡的顾客已经习惯于将前往新山的行程与美容预约、购买杂货和其他办事结合起来。Perky Lash 在新加坡经营着四家分店，在柔佛州新山经营着一家分店。

她表示，随着RTS Link有望使跨境旅行更加便捷，企业可能需要考虑如何在便利性、服务和客户体验以及价格方面展开竞争。

然而，对于柔佛新山当地的企业来说，眼下的现实则更为简单：他们期待从 RTS Link 带来的顾客和机遇或许仍会到来，尽管他们可能需要再等待一段时间。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com