Singapore and Malaysia Commemorate the Unveiling of the First Johor Bahru – Singapore RTS Link Train

1.     The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project between Singapore and Malaysia has reached another milestone with the unveiling of the first RTS Link train. 

2.     Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow and Malaysia’s Minister of Transport YB Anthony Loke graced the ceremony, held today at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC).

3.     During the ceremony, the Ministers unveiled the first RTS Link train and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deliver the cross-border rail project, which will further improve connectivity between the two countries. 

Train and Engineering Highlights

4.     At the commencement of service, the RTS Link will be served by eight trains manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. The RTS Link trains, made up of four cars per train, can carry more than 600 passengers each. The RTS Link will have an overall peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction.

5.     Offsite systems integration testing on the first train will take place at SRTC over the next few months. This will be carried out by RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), the joint venture company formed between Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to operate the RTS Link service. RTSO is responsible for the ownership, design, construction, financing, management and maintenance of the RTS Link’s operating assets, which include trains, tracks and systems. During this phase of testing, RTSO will carry out checks on the integration between the train and other rail systems, such as the signalling system, platform screen doors and onboard communications system. The testing is expected to be completed in fourth quarter this year. The train will then be transferred to the RTS Link tracks for onsite testing and commissioning, together with the remaining seven trains. 

6.     Carrying out an initial round of offsite testing at SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks. This approach will streamline the overall testing timeline for the RTS Link project.

Progress of RTS Link Project

7.     The Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) of Malaysia and Singapore have been progressively granting RTSO access to their respective civil structures since the end of 2024, to allow for the commencement of the installation works for the RTS Link rail systems. These works include laying the tracks for the RTS Link, which span approximately 5.3km from the Wadi Hana Depot in Malaysia to Bukit Chagar station and onwards to Woodlands North station in Singapore, as well as installing the signalling, communications, integrated supervisory control, and traction power supply systems, amongst others. According to RTSO, its rail system works are progressing steadily, and have reached around 56% completion.  

About the RTS Link

8.     The RTS Link is a bilateral project between Singapore and Malaysia that involves the close cooperation of multiple agencies on both sides. 

9.     When completed, the RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore. It will facilitate the commute between Singapore and Johor Bahru, with a train journey time of about five minutes between the two stations. The RTS Link is targeted to commence passenger service by December 2026.

10.    To facilitate a seamless travelling experience, there will be co-located Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both the Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North stations, such that commuters only need to undergo immigration clearance at the point of departure. The RTS Link will improve connectivity, foster people-to-people ties, and generate shared economic and social benefits.