Hi everyone,
みなさんこんにちは！
Are you looking forward to the year 2026 when the RTS link to JB's Bukit Chagar Station will be commerce operations?
The Rapid Transit System consists of two stations, Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar. The RTS Woodlands North station on the Singapore side is linked to the existing Thomson-East Coast Line station while Bukit Chagar Station will have separated Customs facilities from the current Customs complex. Bukit Chagar Station will be located just north of KTMB JB Sentral Station and will be connected to the Iskandar Malaysia Terbau BRT line. BRT stands for Bus Rapid Transit, where buses runs on delicate roads seperated from normal traffic. The Iskandar BRT will maybe be starting operations by 2022. JB Sentral is where intercity KTM trains depart and arrives. This includes the Shuttle Terbau services which depart from here to Woodlands Checkpoint. The depot for the line is initially planned to be located in Mandai Depot as initial plans is that the RTS link will have MRT trains similar to the TEL. But a change in plans by Malaysia was made to cut costs. Thus, the depot was relocated to Wadi Hana, located along the Terbau Highway as shown in the map below. Meanwhile, the RTS will instead use LRT trains similar to the Ampang Line in the greater KL area. Initially planned to start operations in 2024, but due to the COVID-19 crisis and Movement Control Order (MCO), the completion date was pushed back to 2026 provided if construction starts by Jan 2021. Once the RTS starts operation, KTMB train services to Singapore will cease operations.
An Ampang Line LRT train
A Thomson-East Coast Line CT251 train
Personally, I feel that the RTS link project is definitely necessary as it helps boosts the economy of the two neighboring countries together. Moreover, the line helps reduces congestion along the Causeway. Furthermore, it is convenient for our fellow Malaysians who work in Singapore. Lastly, the links help to bring our fellow Malaysians and Singaporeans together. Hope this pandemic situation improves ASAP and salutes and 頑張って to our frontline workers who work and slog tirelessly to keep us safe so that construction can start ASAP! 加油！Semoga Berjaya!
Map in Malay
Source:
Nelson Benjamin and Vanessa Devi (2020, 31 Jul) RM10bil RTS Link to go ahead, The Star Malaysia. Retrieved on 18 August 2020 from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/07/31/rm10bil-rts-link-to-go-ahead
Iskandar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) map taken from https://imbrt.com.my/
P.S. Thr RTS to JB is not the only proposed rail link to Malaysia as there will be a new high speed rail connecting Singapore all the way to Kuala Lumpur by 2031. The high speed rail (HSR) to KL will slash travel times from 4 hours by plane (inclusive of check in, security and getting to city centers), 6 hours by car (excluding traffic at the Causeway or 2nd link) and 8 hours by KTMB trains, to just 90 minutes by HSR.
Btw, the HSR was initially said to be completed by 2026. However, after the defeat of the Barisan Nasional party led by former PM Najib in May 2018, the HSR was scrapped by Mahathir because of high costs. But, on 5 September, the HSR was announced to start operations by 2031. Meanwhile, it is said that there will be a cheaper alternative, which is upgrading the existing KTM line between KL and SG, with an extension to Jurong East.
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