The Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project between Singapore and Malaysia is reaching another significant milestone. The Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) of Malaysia and Singapore will grant RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) access to the RTS Link civil structures progressively by the end of this year. This will allow RTSO to commence the installation works for the RTS Link rail systems.
2. The InfraCos, appointed by their respective Governments, are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the RTS Link civil infrastructure. RTSO is a joint venture company formed between Prasarana RTS Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to operate the RTS Link service.
Civil Infrastructure Progress
3. On 11 January 2024, then-Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim commemorated the completion of the 17.1 metre long connecting span, which connects the marine viaduct between Singapore and Malaysia.
4. Since then, both InfraCos have made good progress on the civil structures of the RTS Link, including the stations, tunnels, viaducts and depot.
5. Works in Singapore are progressing steadily, with more than four-fifths of the overall civil infrastructure works completed to date. The marine and land viaducts are almost completed, and InfraCo Singapore will be ready to progressively grant RTSO access to the civil infrastructures within Singapore from the end of the year. The remaining works include architectural works, roadworks, installation of electrical & maintenance systems, and other key systems such as immigration gates. These works, which will be carried out in tandem with the rest of the structural works for the RTS Link, will require close coordination with all relevant parties from Singapore and Malaysia. In addition, construction works to connect the RTS Link to the existing Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Woodlands North station at Basement 1 will begin in 2025. When passenger service commences, this will facilitate seamless connectivity from the RTS Link to the Singapore MRT network. Pictures of Singapore’s infrastructure works can be found in Annex A.
6. The railway civil infrastructure works in Malaysia which encompasses the RTS Link Maintenance Depot, Bukit Chagar Station, terrestrial and marine viaducts has reached approximately 93% completion. InfraCo Malaysia has granted earlier than scheduled access to RTSO into the RTS Link Maintenance Depot beginning 30 Sep 2024 for commencement of trackwork installation and will continue to progressively handover access to the remaining railway infrastructures from the end of the year. With that, the focus at the start of next year will be on the fitout and façade installation works for the depot, station and ICQ Complex as well as remaining civil, architectural, mechanical and electrical installations, and roadworks. Pictures of Malaysia’s infrastructure works can be found in Annex B.
7. RTSO is ready to commence installation of the RTS Link rail systems from end-2024 onwards. These include laying the tracks for the RTS Link, as well as the signalling, communications, integrated supervisory control, and traction power supply systems.
Completion of Viaduct Aesthetic Feature
8. The railway infrastructure of the RTS Link project is now connected end-to-end from the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor to Woodlands North in Singapore. To commemorate this significant milestone achievement, both the Malaysia and Singapore InfraCos have completed the installation of the Viaduct Aesthetic Feature (VAF), an iconic structure situated near the connecting span along the marine viaduct. It depicts the clasping of hands, which symbolises the close partnership and ties between the two countries. Pictures of the completed VAF can be found in Annex C.
About the RTS Link
9. The RTS Link is a bilateral project between Singapore and Malaysia that involves the close cooperation of multiple agencies on both sides.
10. When completed, the RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore. With a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, 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.
11. 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.
Enclosed:
Annex A - Singapore’s Infrastructure Works
Annex B - Malaysia’s Infrastructure Works
Annex C - Viaduct Aesthetic Feature
