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

More time is needed to complete testing, obtain independent safety certification and secure regulatory approvals before the cross-border rail service can open, Singapore and Malaysia authorities said on Friday (Oct 2).

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

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SINGAPORE: Passenger services on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are now expected to begin in February 2027, later than the previously targeted end-2026 opening.

More time is needed to complete testing, obtain independent safety certification and secure regulatory approvals before the cross-border rail service can open, Singapore and Malaysia authorities said on Friday (Oct 2).

Singapore's Land Transport Authority and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport said in a joint statement that RTS Operations (RTSO), the operator of the rail link, had informed them of the revised timeline.

They added that the February 2027 target remains subject to RTSO obtaining independent safety certification and securing final regulatory approvals.

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 Infrastructure works on both sides of the border are substantially complete and remain on track to support passenger services once the remaining testing and commissioning activities have been satisfactorily completed.

The 4km rail link, which will connect Singapore’s Woodlands North station with Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru, had been expected to begin service by the end of 2026.

RTSO now expects to complete its final system tests and trial runs by Dec 31, 2026.

It will then need to obtain safety certification from an independent safety assessor. Authorities in both countries will review the certification before regulatory approvals to begin passenger operations can be granted.

“The Grantors will continue to work with RTSO to facilitate the smooth and safe delivery of the project,” Singapore's Land Transport Authority and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport said. 

“We note RTSO’s commitment to completing the remaining activities expeditiously and safely, and working closely with the Grantors on the operationalisation of the RTS Link.”

The Grantors will also seek regular updates from RTSO until February 2027, and the service commencement date will depend on the actual progress of the works, the ministries said in response to CNA's queries.

In a separate statement, RTSO said the expected duration of the remaining works, as well as the time needed for third-party safety certification and approvals, meant passenger services were now expected to begin in February 2027.

“Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS Link,” it added.

Singapore's Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said in a Facebook post on Friday that the original plan had been for safety certification and licensing to be completed before the end of this year, "but it was not to be". 

He said his colleagues at the Land Transport Authority had worked to ensure the Singapore station was ready for the start of cross-border train services, adding: "We aim to start services before Hari Raya next year."

Hari Raya Puasa falls on Mar 10 next year.

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.

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

The two countries signed a legally binding agreement in January 2018, with the project initially slated for completion by Dec 31, 2024.

That deadline was subsequently pushed back after several milestones were missed and the project was suspended in April 2019 at Malaysia's request to allow it to review the project.

Work officially resumed in July 2020, with several key changes to the project, including a change to the depot on the Malaysian 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.

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