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JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia began construction of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project between Singapore and Johor on Sunday (November 22) with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Bukit Chagar station site.
The event was virtually attended by the ruler of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Johor CrownPrince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, Johor’s Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad, and other government officials.
During the ceremony, Malaysian officials also announced that 40 percent of the infrastructure costs borne by the Malaysian government for the project will be reserved for bumiputera contractors, including Johor companies.
The RTS Link aims to connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands in Singapore, serving about 10,000 passengers per hour each way to help ease traffic congestion on the Causeway. Passenger services are scheduled to begin in late 2026.
Artist’s impression of the train platform at Bukit Chagar Station. (Photo: MRTS)
The groundbreaking event marks a major milestone for the Malaysian Rapid Transit System (MRTS), the developer and owner of civil infrastructure for the Malaysia section of the RTS Link.
The Bukit Chagar station will feature a four-story building, spanning the train platform and an immigration, customs and quarantine (CIQ) complex, MRTS executive director Mohd Zarif Hashim said in a speech.
The project installation will be part of a transit-oriented development with an adjoining transportation hub and a mixed-ownership development, he added.
“The RTS Link project is a rail project that is fast and efficient, to facilitate a more convenient travel between Singapore and Malaysia, especially for the convenience of the residents of Johor. It will connect the Bukit Chagar station, which is located next to the JB station. Sentral, to Woodlands North Station in Singapore 4 km away, “said Mohd Zarif.
The RTS Link project design. (Photo: MRTS)
He explained that the railway line would pass through JB Sentral, curve along Jalan Ismail Sultan before moving to Selak Tebrau and towards Woodlands North station in Singapore.
Construction and civil infrastructure are expected to take four years, and the installation of the rail system will take another two years.
“This project is supposed to go live on December 31, 2026,” said Mohd Zarif.
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CONSTRUCTION RESERVED FOR BUMIPUTERA CONTRACTORS, JOHOR COMPANIES
The total cost of the RTS project is estimated at RM10 billion (S $ 3,240 million). Both governments agreed to a 61:39 split, and Malaysia disbursed RM3.716 billion for the project.
Mr. Mohd Zarif said that this cost includes system operations, as well as the development of the ICQ complex at Bukit Chagar station, and that 40 percent of the amount for infrastructure has been reserved for bumiputera companies.
“Forty percent of the total infrastructure construction cost will be allocated to Bumiputera contractors, including grade 1 to grade 6 from Johor,” said Mr. Mohd Zarif.
He added that the Malaysian company Adil Permata has been appointed as a contractor to carry out the first works, such as cleaning the site for the station and changing the utilities in the area.
“The RTS Link project will expand the supply chain and develop the rail technology industry in Johor and provide jobs with the depot in Wadi Hana,” said Mr. Mohd Zarif.
The depot will be located 1 km from the Bukit Chagar station.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar begins the groundbreaking for the construction of Bukit Chagar Station. He is accompanied by Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and Johor Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad. (Photo: Royal Johor Press Office)
Mr. Mohd Zarif added that Sultan Ibrahim also agreed to organize a competition for the public to suggest possible designs for the external façade of the station.
Mohd Zarif said the designs should “reflect the characteristics of the state of Johor” and have “nostalgic elements” for how Malaysia’s main rail operator, KTM, originated in the state.
The project was slated for completion in 2024, but work on the project was previously suspended at the request of Malaysia.
In July, the leaders of Singapore and Malaysia held a ceremony on the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the project.
Previously, it was announced that construction would take place in two phases. The development and civil phase will take place from 2021 to the end of 2024, while the commissioning and testing phase will take place from 2025 to the end of 2026.
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RTS LINK TO REDUCE TRAVEL TIME SINGAPORE-JB TO 5 MINS
At a press conference after the event, Mr. Mohd Zarif confirmed some details of the project’s operation.
He said there will be eight sets of trains operating at a time, and each train will have four cabin compartments.
The train will take five minutes to travel one-way between Woodlands North Station and Bukit Chagar Station, and the wait time for trains will be approximately three and a half minutes during the peak period and six minutes during the non-peak period.
Mohd Zarif added that the station will operate between 6am and midnight, but said there could be flexibility to start earlier, around 5.30am.
On ticket prices, he said this has yet to be decided, but assured travelers that they will be compared to the costs of crossing the Causeway today.
“It will be competitive to encourage people to use the train facilities,” he added.
