Johor Bahru:Malaysia and Singapore have jointly agreed to commence operations of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link in February 2027, as announced by Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the decision to start operations in February, rather than an earlier date, was not due to delays but to allow for a comprehensive final evaluation by an independent safety consultant and to obtain necessary technical approvals from relevant authorities in both countries.
The approvals required involve Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA). Minister Loke explained that the operator RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) communicated this decision to the respective authorities of both nations. He discussed the matter with Singapore's Transport Minister, and both agreed that starting in February would ensure all processes, including safety evaluations and technical approvals, are completed thoroughly.
Although it was possible to start operations as early as January, February was chosen to provide a buffer period, ensuring that the safety evaluation and technical approvals can proceed smoothly. Physical construction of the RTS Link station and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex building is complete. The upcoming months, from October to December, are critical for testing and commissioning before the system is handed over to the operator by December 31.
Anthony Loke emphasized the importance of not rushing the process due to the cross-border nature of the project, which will serve thousands of passengers daily. This timeframe allows both nations to comfortably complete the required testing, safety evaluations, and technical approvals.
The Transport Minister assured that the official opening date will be announced once all necessary approvals from APAD and LTA are secured. The government remains confident that passenger services will commence in February 2027. Initially, RTSO had targeted the completion of all system testing and trial runs by December 31, with passenger services expected to start in February 2027 instead of January.