Experts warn that severe congestion and operational failures could undermine the new cross-border rail system without robust dispersal solutions for up to 30,000 peak-hour passengers.
PETALING JAYA: As the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) nears completion, experts have said last-mile dispersal systems in Johor must keep pace with the anticipated massive passenger volumes.
They say measures need to be in place to avert severe crowding, traffic paralysis and loss of public confidence, especially with up to 30,000 passengers expected during peak hours.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia transport planning expert Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah Muhammad Hussein said the projected load, combining RTS passengers with existing bus and taxi users, could overwhelm the area during overlapping peak periods.
The 4km railway link will have two stations, one in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, and one in Woodlands, Singapore.
“The concern of 30,000 RTS users at Bukit Chagar is realistic as a peak-hour scenario if RTS passengers and existing flows converge within the same time window and the dispersal system is insufficient or ineffective.
“The figure of 20,000 passengers within two hours from RTS and another 10,000 from buses and taxis during peak hours, creating ‘simultaneous concentration’, is a reasonable number at a specific point in time.
“The key to managing crowding is to match the station exit rate with last-mile absorption and pedestrian space capacity, not to merely focus on train capacity,” he told theSun.
Muhammad Zaly added that mismatches between arrival volumes and onward connectivity could trigger cascading failures across the transport ecosystem.
“When high passenger inflow is not matched with last-mile dispersal and pedestrian flow, the first risk is crowd safety.
“The second risk is a chain of operational failures when curbside and access junctions around the area lock up and traffic movement becomes static, causing bus flow cycles and taxi or e-hailing movements to fail operationally.
“The third risk is loss of user confidence, which ultimately affects the RTS objective.”
He urged authorities to monitor early warning indicators such as pedestrian spillback, rail-to-street transfer times and last-mile vehicle turnover rates.
The same opinions have also surfaced in Parliament, highlighting concerns over Johor’s readiness for the cross-border rail system.
The concerns follow remarks by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda) on Feb 12, who during a Dewan Rakyat session on the RTS Link Bill 2026 said Bukit Chagar could face up to 30,000 individuals converging during peak hours if traffic dispersal systems are not ready.
The RTS Link Bill 2026 was tabled for first reading on Feb 9 by Home Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The law gives effect to Malaysia’s bilateral agreement with Singapore on joint Customs, Immigration and Quarantine operations at Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North.
Separately, Universiti Utara Malaysia associate professor of international strategic management Assoc Prof Dr Narentheren Kaliappen said first impressions would be crucial for Johor’s cross-border appeal, particularly among short-stay Singaporean visitors.
“Competitiveness is shaped not only by how efficiently visitors arrive but also by how smoothly they can continue their journey after arrival.
“If large passenger volumes converge at Bukit Chagar and onward transport options are not fully synchronised, visitors may temporarily experience delays or crowding, which could affect their perception of convenience,” he said.
Visitor experience would also shape repeat cross-border travel patterns, Narentheren added.
“From a business perspective, customer experience strongly affects repeat travel decisions, as travellers are more likely to return when movement within the destination is smooth and predictable.
“However, experience from other cities shows that visitor confidence usually improves once transport coordination and crowd management systems stabilise after initial implementation phases.
“Therefore, while early congestion or transfer delays may temporarily affect visitor comfort, improvements in operational management typically help restore convenience and maintain visitor flows over time.”
Narentheren said that concerns over operational readiness had been raised at the Johor leadership level, pointing out that Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim had previously warned of the need for supporting infrastructure to keep pace with the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link in a social media post dated Nov 12, 2025.
He said ensuring smooth onward connectivity and effective traffic dispersion would be key for Johor to fully capture the RTS Link’s long-term economic and tourism gains.
