JB-S’pore RTS Link opening delayed till Feb. 2027

The RTS Link service was originally slated to start at the end of 2026.

The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link service between Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia, will delay its opening for passenger service till the end of February 2027.

According to a statement by the RTS Operations (RTSO), the operator of the cross-border rail service, this is due to the "expected duration of works and the estimated duration required for safety certification from a third party and approval by both grantors."

"Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS link."

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport published a separate joint media statement which said that the revised timeline is "subject to RTSO obtaining independent safety certification for the RTS Link and securing final regulatory approvals".

The RTS Link service was originally slated to start at the end of 2026.

The delay announcement comes nearly a month after LTA published photos of the completed Woodlands North Station on its Facebook page.

The joint statement noted that infrastructure works in both Singapore and Malaysia are "substantially complete and remain on track to support passenger service upon the satisfactory completion of the remaining testing and commissioning activities".

The authorities noted that more time is needed for these activities before commencement, with the RTSO expecting to complete its final system tests and trial runs by Dec. 31, 2026.

"Subsequently, RTSO will need to obtain safety certification from an independent safety assessor."

Regulatory approvals to commence passenger operations can then be granted after "authorities from both countries have reviewed and satisfied themselves with the independent safety certification", said the joint statement.

"The grantors will continue to work with RTSO to facilitate the smooth and safe delivery of the project."

The joint statement added that authorities from both countries "note RTSO’s commitment to completing the remaining activities expeditiously and safely".

The first RTS train arrived at Woodlands North Station on Feb. 4, 2026, according to an LTA Facebook post.

In Apr. 2026, it was reported that rail works were on track despite the war in Iran.

On May 6, 2026, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Edwin Tong, conducted the second reading of the Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-location) Bill, highlighting the key features, including he co-location of both countries’ customs, immigration and quarantine facilities, or CIQ facilities and cross-border incident management.