Mr Loke, speaking after the signing of a sales and purchase agreement between Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn Bhd (MRTS) and Coronade Properties Sdn Bhd (CPSB), announced that MRTS would be acquiring 781 parking bays at Coronation Square in Johor Bahru. These parking spaces will be dedicated to commuters of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is currently at an 83 per cent completion rate as of the end of July. The handover to the system provider is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, and passenger service for the RTS Link is expected to begin by the end of 2026. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the Causeway, with a capacity to ferry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction on a five-minute journey.
The RTS Link is estimated to cost RM10 billion, with Singapore bearing 61 per cent of the cost. Services will run between the Woodlands North station in Singapore and the Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru, with both stations equipped with immigration facilities to streamline passenger clearance. Once the shuttle service is operational, fares for the RTS Link will be determined commercially. Originally scheduled for completion in 2024, the project was suspended multiple times after the Pakatan Harapan coalition government came to power in Malaysia in 2018, leading to delays. The project officially resumed in July 2020, with a bilateral ceremony held on the Causeway attended by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then-Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
In January, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong marked the completion of the connecting span of the project, symbolising the shared commitment to improve connectivity between the two countries. The completion rate for the physical construction of the RTS Link is currently at 83 per cent, with both Malaysia and Singapore reporting a similar completion rate. With the handover to the system provider expected to be completed by the end of the year, the project remains on track for passenger service to begin by the end of 2026, providing a quick and efficient mode of transport between the two countries. The Woodlands North station being constructed at a depth of 28m will be connected to the immigration area via an underground linkway, streamlining the immigration process for passengers traveling on the RTS Link.
Once operational, the RTS Link will offer a more convenient and efficient way for passengers to travel between Singapore and Johor Bahru, with the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the Causeway, one of the busiest border crossings in the world, with a journey time of approximately five minutes. This marks a significant improvement in connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore, with both governments working together to ensure the successful completion of the RTS Link. fares for the RTS Link will be commercially determined once the service is operational, offering a cost-effective mode of transport for commuters traveling between the two countries.
