SINGAPORE: Passenger services on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are now expected to begin in February 2027, with system tests and trial runs expected to be completed by the end of this year.

RTS Operations (RTSO), the operator of the cross-border rail service, announced the revised timeline on Friday (Oct 2).

“Taking into account the expected duration of works and the estimated duration required for safety certification from a third party and approval by both Grantors, passenger service is currently expected to commence in February 2027,” RTSO said.

It added that it expects all system tests and trial runs to be completed by Dec 31, 2026.

“Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS Link,” said RTSO, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Singapore's SMRT Corporation.

The 4km rail link, which will connect Singapore’s Woodlands North Station to the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru, was initially expected to begin service at the end of 2026. 

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport said in a joint statement on Friday that they had been informed of the revised timeline by RTSO.

After all system tests and trial runs to be completed by Dec 31, 2026, RTSO will then have to obtain safety certification from an independent safety assessor.

Regulatory approvals for passenger operations can be granted only after authorities in Singapore and Malaysia have reviewed the independent safety certification and are satisfied with it, according to the joint statement by the transport ministries.

Once operational, the cross-border rail service will have a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with the journey between the two stations expected to take about five minutes.

Customs, immigration and quarantine facilities will be co-located at both stations, allowing passengers to clear immigration at their point of departure.

MISSED MILESTONES, PROJECT SUSPENSION

Plans for the RTS Link were first announced in 2010 as a joint project between Singapore and Malaysia.

The neighbours signed a legally binding agreement in January 2018, aiming to complete the project by Dec 31, 2024.

However, the original...