Kuala Lumpur: The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project, involving the first phase of the railway track infrastructure, has reached full completion as of the end of last month, announced Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Railway infrastructure access was granted to OpCo on September 30, 2024, paving the way for system installation work to commence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a significant milestone in the RTS Link Concession Agreement was achieved last December. InfraCo MY (MRTS Sdn Bhd) provided OpCo (RTS Operations Pte Ltd) with access to essential RTS Link railway infrastructure. This includes the Maintenance Depot, Bukit Chagar Station, as well as land and marine bridges. The installation of various main systems, including track works, power supply and distribution, telecommunications, signalling systems, platform screen doors, and fare collection or automatic gate systems, is underway.
Minister Loke shared these updates during a media conference following the Joint Venture Agreement Signing Ceremony for the Integrated Property Development at Bukit Chagar between Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) and Sunway Integrated Properties Sdn Bhd. He highlighted that the main targets for this year include completing power distribution at the depot and finalizing the depot by June.
Additionally, the focus of the RTS Link development this year includes beginning the installation of the station facade at Bukit Chagar Station. Installation work to prepare access to the Woodlands North Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex will commence by April. Power distribution at Wadihana Depot is expected by June 30, followed by access for Malaysian and Singaporean agencies to the CIQ Complex by August.
External works on the RTS Link are anticipated to conclude by the end of this year, with the full completion of the station projected by February 28, 2026. The RTS Project is set for completion in December 2026, with operations starting in early 2027. The RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North, enabling a five-minute journey.
The RTS Link is a four-kilometre rail network connecting Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North Station in Singapore. MRT Corp is tasked with developing the 2.7-kilometre section of the rail network and structure on Malaysia's side, in collaboration with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Singapore's SMRT Corp Ltd. The RTS Link aims to serve as the third land bridge to Singapore, potentially easing congestion on the Johor Causeway, which accommodates a peak capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.