The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will start trial runs in December, with trains arriving this month and full operations targeted for January 2027.
JOHOR BAHRU: The first phase of trials for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link train project is expected to begin in December without passengers.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the RTS trains are set to arrive at the Wadi Hana Depot by the middle of this month.
“In the next two weeks, the first train will be sent and taken to the depot,” he told reporters after conducting a site visit to the RTS Link project site at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex in Bukit Chagar.
“If we go according to the schedule, many will get to see the train in motion in December during the first phase of trials.”
He emphasised that the trains won’t be open to the public yet because important processes including system integration and safety tests must be completed before full operation can begin.
Loke confirmed that the Bukit Chagar Station and the ICQ Complex building have been fully completed in terms of structural work.
“The three key components of this project have shown positive progress, with the RTS Link Depot at 90% completion, the Bukit Chagar Station at 73% and the ICQ Complex at 76.8%,” he said.
The RTS Link, which will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore, remains targeted for completion by December 31, 2026, with full operations beginning in January 2027.
“This project is a massive and complex effort involving two countries,” Loke said.
“I will monitor its progress every three months to ensure all obstacles can be overcome effectively.”
RTS Operations Pte Ltd chief executive officer Dr Ahmad Marzuki Ariffin said all systems and operational works for the RTS Link Project have achieved 65% progress and are on schedule.
“The first train will be brought in from the Singapore Rail Test Track, and three more sets of trains that are in Batu Gajah will be brought to the RTS depot in Johor Bahru later this month,” he said.
“Overall, the project involves eight sets of trains, each with four coaches.”
He attributed the smooth progress to close coordination and monitoring between the Malaysian and Singapore governments.
“So far, no issues have cropped up to affect the project’s implementation schedule, with all parties, including Malaysia and Singapore, fully cooperating to ensure a smooth work system,” he said.
Fault-free test runs are expected to be conducted next July until all system integration tests are completed.
“July to December 2026 will be a crucial period for the implementation of comprehensive tests, involving multiple agencies, including customs, immigration and security, from both countries,” he added. – Bernama
