NEWS: JB-Singapore RTS Link progress on track, says MRT Corp CEO

 Source: Free Malaysia Today

The 4km RTS Link was 65% complete as of Dec 31, 2023, surpassing the target of 57%.

Danish Raja Reza and Ameer Fakhri - 11 Jan 2024, 10:30am

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is on track to be completed as scheduled by December 2026, says Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).

MRT Corp CEO Mohd Zarif Hashim stressed the importance of the company’s subsidiary, Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn Bhd, adhering to the timeline agreed on by the two nations.

“The completion of the connecting span is a pivotal moment in the overall progress of the RTS Link, as it brings together the marine viaduct of both countries,” he told reporters in an interview.

The 4km RTS Link was 65% complete as of Dec 31, 2023, surpassing the target of 57%. It connects two stations: Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore.

At the commemoration ceremony of the completion of the connecting span of the RTS Link this morning, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said that the project had reached 68% completion.

Zarif also highlighted the project’s significance in enhancing the nation’s transportation system by establishing a seamless cross-border infrastructure to better serve the people.

He thanked Putrajaya and the Johor government for their assistance and support in realising the RTS Link.

It was previously reported that the project was expected to pull in 35% of the 350,000 people who travel across the Causeway daily.

Currently, a cross-border shuttle bus journey to Singapore from the customs, immigration, and quarantine complex at the Sultan Iskandar building ranges from 45 minutes to four hours, depending on traffic conditions.

With the RTS link, Zarif aims to slash travel time to just 15 minutes.

“The 15 minutes start from the point when you arrive at Bukit Chagar station until you reach Woodlands North station,” he added.

The light rail link will cater to up to 10,000 commuters per hour per direction during peak periods. It will be operated by RTS Operations Pte Ltd, a joint venture between Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and SMRT Corporation Ltd of Singapore.

Map of RTS Link

More about JB Singapore RTS Link:

granny2003. (2020, August 18). JB Singapore RTS Link to be completed by 2026. https://eatdrinksleepwakeuprepeat.blogspot.com/2020/08/jb-singapore-rts-link-to-be-completed.html 

(in Malay) Othman, E. (2024, January 11). Malaysia-singapura Rasmi Titik pertemuan jejambat Marin Projek RTS Link. MalaysiaGazette. https://malaysiagazette.com/2024/01/11/malaysia-singapura-rasmi-titik-pertemuan-jejambat-marin-projek-rts-link/ 

(in Malay) BERITA Mediacorp. (22 Jan 2021). Singapura mulakan pembinaan stesen Laluan RTS JB-S'pura https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/singapura-mulakan-pembinaan-stesen-laluan-rts-jb-s-pura-54956 

Video (Berita Mediacorp, Malay)

JB Singapore RTS Link to be completed by 2026.

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

Bukit Panjang LRT  - RTS line not going to use this kind of LRT 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 of RTS Link in English

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.

E7 Series Shinkansen high speed train kagayaki at Tokyo Station, Japan

KTM Intercity Train, Malaysia

Updates

22 Nov 2020: Online groundbreaking ceremony at Bukit Chagar virtually by Johor's ruler Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia's Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, Johor Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad and other government officials.  The station will be operated by MRT Corp. Next to the station is the ICQ building and transportation hub. Whether the RTS station will be linked to KTM JB Sentral station is still unknown.

groundbreaking ceremony

Layout of Bukit Chagar Station

Photo by MRT Corp. Malaysia

planned location of Bukit Chagar terminal station

26 Nov 2020: construction contract for Woodlands North is awarded by Land Transport Authority to Japanese company Penta Ocean Construction Co Ltd. (五洋建設株式会社, Goyō Kensetsu Kabushiki-gaisha), which also in charge of Singapore's Thomson East Coast Line. The contract includes construction of tunnels to the station as well as the CIQ building.

Dec 2020: Sources has shown that Malaysia Government is planning to end HSR line in JB's Bukit Chagar instead of the original 2016 plan to end in Jurong East in Singapore. However, a HSR line between KL and Bukit Chagar is redundant because there is already existing KTM double tracking project that will bring down KL to JB travel time from 6 hours to 3-3.5 hours and doing so only duplicates existing infrastructure. Lastly, by doing so, the Malaysian Government have to pay RM 300m compensation to Singapore.

1 Jan 2021: KL SG HSR terminated after the 31 Dec 2020 agreement lapsed by both countries regarding changes proposed by Malaysia Government. 

References

1. https://www.pourquoi.tw/2020/08/04/intlnews-seasia-200728-200803-1/amp/ 

2. https://www.myhsr.com.my/

3. https://reigroup.com.my/3-benefits-of-the-brt-system-in-iskandar-malaysia/

4. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1503435599747149&id=713185798772137

5. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-construction-singapore-johor-rts-bukit-chagar-station-13615148  

6. https://landtransportguru.net/bukit-chagar-station-2/

7. https://landtransportguru.net/bukit-chagar-station/ 

8. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/kljb-hsr-will-still-be-positive-construction-sector-say-analysts

9. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-high-speed-rail-project-without-singapore-stop-is-redundant-transport-experts 

10. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/01/01/high-speed-rail-from-kl-to-johor-nonsense-says-ex-transport-minister/1936526

Hasil kajian kesesakan Tambak Johor tentukan pelaksanaan RTS

 Mac 31, 2015 @ 6:25pm

JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia sedang membuat kajian tentang kesesakan di Tambak Johor bersama Singapura, yang hasilnya akan menentukan tindakan lanjut berhubung cadangan pelaksanaan Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, berkata hasil kajian itu kemudian akan dikemukakan kepada kedua-dua perdana menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan Lee Hsien Loong untuk perbincangan lanjut.

Kajian ini dijangka selesai sebelum Pemukiman Pemimpin Malaysia-Singapura di republik itu, yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 5 Mei.

"Sebenarnya, apa yang telah kami lakukan ialah menjalankan kajian tentang tahap kesesakan di Tambak Johor serta meramalkan kesan daripada pelaksanaan RTS, dan jika kami bercadang melaksanakannya sekali dengan jambatan persahabatan, contohnya, apakah kelak kesannya dan sebagainya," kata Abdul Wahid.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita di sini hari ini selepas upacara melepaskan peserta Jelajah Johor di Celebration Square di Teluk Danga di sini.

Ketika mengulas tentang kemajuan RTS, Abdul Wahid, yang menjadi pengerusi bersama mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Bersama Peringkat Menteri Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) Malaysia-Singapura di Putrajaya bulan lepas berkata kajian itu perlu diselesaikan terlebih dahulu.

Menangkis dakwaan pembangkang tentang wujudnya "kegagalan komunikasi" antara kedua-dua kerajaan tentang kemajuan RTS, beliau berkata: "Tidak ada masalah. Pada mesyuarat JMCIM kami, saya berpendapat semua isu ini dibincang kedua-dua pihak."

Beliau juga mengesahkan bahawa Kerajaan Johor dan Kerajaan Singapura memberi cadangan masing-masing tentang lokasi perhentian bagi RTS.

"Ya, kami mengemukakan cadangan tentang jajaran asas dan kami sebenarnya sedang meneliti kemungkinan sama ada ia sesuai dengan lokasi perhentian di Johor Bahru.

"Terdapat tiga lokasi yang disebut sebelum ini iaitu Tanjung Puteri, Bukit Chagar dan JB Sentral. Saya rasa, eloklah kami selesaikan kajian kesesakan ini dahulu bersama Singapura dan kemudian kami akan bergerak seterusnya dari situ," kata Abdul Wahid.

Awal bulan ini, Kerajaan Johor menafikan pihaknya melewat-lewatkan pelaksanaan projek rel ini dan berkata Singapura belum membuat keputusan tentang jajaran RTS itu, manakala Singapura menafikan dakwaan itu dengan berkata stesen RTS Johor Bahru perlu dibina sebelum kedua-dua pihak dapat memuktamadkan jajaran landasan antara Johor Bahru dan Singapura. - BERNAMA