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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Finding the right fare for RTS link
SINGAPORE: A study is currently being conducted to determine the fare for the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) train that is expected to run every 3.6 minutes during peak hours, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. 'We hope that with the right price mechanism in place, we can encourage more people to use the RTS Link. 'The whole idea of the project is to make a modal shift for people to use public transport to cross the Causeway,' he said at a joint press conference with his Singaporean counterpart here yesterday to unveil the first of the eight train sets that will be used for the cross-border service that is expected to commence by Jan 1, 2027. The decision on the fare will be made by RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), the joint venture company formed between Malaysia's Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to operate the RTS Link service. The 4km route from Bukit Chagar in Johor to Woodlands North in Singapore will be served by eight train sets manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd. Singapore was represented at the event held at the Singapore Rail Testing Centre (SRTC) near Tuas by its acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. Loke also said an open payment system is also expected to be introduced to provide greater convenience. 'We should have multiple modes of payment, like credit or debit cards, as well as Touch 'n Go,' he said. On the RTS Link's operating hours, Loke said the matter will be addressed closer to the opening date, though he quickly ruled out round-the-clock operations, citing the need for scheduled maintenance. Moving colours: The RTS Link four-car train set has a white livery with red and blue accents – inspired by the colours of the Malaysia, Johor and Singapore flags. — THOMAS YONG/The Star 'But we also understand that those staying in Johor travel to Singapore even before 5am for work,' he said. Meanwhile, Siow said Singapore has no plans to reduce the frequency of bus services even after the RTS Link commences. 'We want to give commuters as many opportunities as possible to take public transport,' he added. The Causeway, which sees more than 300,000 daily commuters, is currently one of the busiest border crossings in the world. In a joint statement from the two ministries, it was announced that offsite systems integration testing for the first train set is scheduled to occur at SRTC over the coming months. Trains 02, 03, 04 and 05 have been delivered to CRRC's train facility in Batu Gajah, Perak, for assembly. This process will be replicated for Trains 06, 07 and 08, where, upon completion, the train sets will be transferred to the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Baru for further testing and final preparations before being commissioned. The four-car train set has a white livery with red and blue accents – inspired by the colours of the Malaysia, Johor and Singapore flags. Each train set, measuring 76.4m in total, can be packed with up to 1,087 passengers each to enable the RTS service to move up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. As of June 30, the RTS Link's system works are 56% complete. This includes trackwork, rolling stock (the trains), traction power, and the integration of signalling, communications, and control systems. Trackworks are expected to be completed by the end of this month, while the installation of the traction power supply equipment is currently in progress. Throughout July and August, key activities include the inspection, testing and commissioning of the traction power supply, including intertripping and interlocking systems. These works are essential to ensure the readiness of the power supply system to support train testing activities at Wadi Hana in September.
New Paper
2 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Final market study to determine JB-S'pore RTS Link fares: M'sian transport minister
The operator of the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is in the midst of conducting a final market study to determine the fares for the cross-border rail link, and a decision on the price of a ride will be made closer to the start of operations. Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Singapore's Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said this to reporters on June 30 after the unveiling of the first of eight trains that will serve the light rail line when it opens at the end of 2026. Mr Loke said RTS Operations (RTSO) - a joint venture between Singapore transport operator SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana - will determine the fares of the 4km rail link. "Of course, we hope that the right price mechanism is in place to ensure that we can encourage more people to use the RTS Link," he added. "The whole idea of this project is to make the modal shift, to ensure that more people use public transport to cross the Causeway. So I think that is one of the important considerations," Mr Loke said. Mr Siow said the RTS Link fare has to be determined commercially, and RTSO will need to take into account demand and supply, as well as the alternative transport options, such as cross-border public buses, and how much they cost. He added: "We'll have to leave it to (RTSO) to figure it out, and I think they will do that probably closer to the service commencement." Regarding what a fair price would be, Mr Loke later said that the fare must be less than what it costs for passengers to use their own means of transport. "For example, if a worker lives farther away and rides a motorcycle across the Causeway to come to Singapore, he may have to pay for fuel and other costs... If the RTS fare is lower than his expenses, it will definitely encourage him to use the RTS," Mr Loke added. "In the end, this is a huge expense, a huge investment for us," he said. "Both governments have invested a lot of money in this project, so we must meet that goal." Asked whether the RTS Link's operating hours would be adjusted to suit the travel patterns of Malaysians who travel to Singapore for work, Mr Loke said that some leave their homes as early as 5am and this is something that RTSO will need to take into account. RTSO has said that trains on the line will run from 6am to midnight daily. Mr Loke also said that Malaysia and Singapore are pushing for an open payment system with multiple ways to pay for an RTS Link ride, adding that this is a trend for public transport operators worldwide. Meanwhile, Mr Siow was asked whether the opening of the RTS Link will have an impact on other transport modes, including the reduction of cross-border public bus frequencies. To this, he said the intent of the rail link is to create more mobility, and there are no immediate plans to adjust bus schedules. The event on June 30 was the first time that Mr Siow in his capacity as Acting Minister had met Mr Loke and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Mr Siow said the RTS Link is dear to his heart, as he was part of the joint conceptualisation at the early stages of the project. "We needed the right opportunity and the leadership to see it through, and we have that today. And it is almost surreal to me to see the RTS Link emerge out of the agreement that we signed eight years ago," he said. He added: "I, and many Singaporeans and Malaysians, look forward to the continued close cooperation between both sides and the successful delivery of the project."
Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Malaysia, Singapore unveil first driverless train set for RTS link
The RTS Link will have an overall peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. 30 Jun 2025 03:39pm Transport Minister Anthony Loke (front, left) and Singapore's acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow (front, two from right) pose for a photo inside the new train carriage during the launching of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link 01 at the Singapore Rail Test Centre today. Also present was Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (right). - Photo by Bernama SINGAPORE - The first of eight train sets for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link was unveiled on Monday, marking a key milestone in the landmark Malaysia-Singapore cross-border rail project. The train, manufactured by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd, was unveiled by Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Singapore's acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC). RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) chairman Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad said Train 01, which arrived in Singapore in April 2025, will undergo Offsite System Integration Testing (OSIT) at the SRTC in preparation for full integration and operation. The train sets 02 to 05 have been transported to CRRC's train manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Malaysia and are currently undergoing the assembly process, while train sets 06 to 08 will undergo a similar process subsequently. Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Singapore's acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow pose for a photo inside the new train carriage during the launching of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link 01 at the Singapore Rail Test Centre today. Also present was Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. - Photo by Bernama "Once completed (the assembly process), these train sets will be transferred to the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Bahru for further testing and final preparations before being commissioned for passenger service,' he said at the launch event here on Monday. The Transport Ministries of Malaysia and Singapore, in a joint statement, said the OSIT, scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year, will be carried out by RTSO, the joint venture company formed by Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to operate the RTS Link service. During the testing phase, RTSO will carry out checks on the integration between the train and other rail systems, such as the signalling system, platform screen doors, and onboard communications system. "Carrying out an initial round of offsite testing at SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early, before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks," the statement said. The RTS Link, targeted to commence passenger service by December 2026, will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore. At the commencement of service, the RTS Link will be served by a total of eight driverless train sets, each comprising four cars and capable of carrying more than 600 passengers per train. The RTS Link will have an overall peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. To facilitate a seamless travel experience, there will be co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both stations, so that commuters only need to undergo immigration clearance at the point of departure. According to RTSO, its rail system works are progressing steadily and have reached around 56 per cent completion. - BERNAMA More Like This
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
First RTS Link train set unveiled
Loke Siew Fook and Singapore's acting transport minister Jeffrey Siow inspecting the first train set for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The first of eight train sets for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link was unveiled today by transport minister Loke Siew Fook and his Singaporean counterpart, Jeffrey Siow. The transport ministries said the train sets will undergo off-site testing, which is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, Bernama reported. The tests will be conducted by RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), a joint venture between Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd. RTSO will also operate the RTS Link service. RTSO, the ministers said, will check the integration between the train and other rail systems, including the signalling system, platform screen doors and onboard communications. 'Carrying out an initial round of off-site testing at Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early, before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks,' Bernama quoted Loke and Siow as saying. Separately, RTSO chairman Khairil Anwar Ahmad said Train 01, which arrived in Singapore in April, will undergo offsite system integration testing at the SRTC in preparation for full integration and operation. Train sets 02 to 05 have been transported to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation's manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Perak, where they are being assembled, he said. Train sets 06 to 08 will undergo the same process, Khairil added. 'Once the assembly process is completed, these train sets will be transferred to the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Bahru for further testing and final preparations before being commissioned for passenger service,' Khairil said. The RTS Link, targeted to begin passenger service by December 2026, will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. Once launched, the RTS Link will operate with eight driverless train sets, each comprising four cars and capable of carrying over 600 passengers a trip. The RTS Link will have an overall peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. Meanwhile, in a statement, MRT Corp said as of May 31, track installation and structural works for key components of the RTS Link project — namely the Marine Viaduct, Bukit Chagar Station and Wadi Hana Depot — have been completed. Interior works at the Wadi Hana Depot are now 80% complete and on track to achieve full completion by October this year, while installation of the Bukit Chagar Station's iconic roof facade is currently under way. It also said the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex is progressing well, with superstructure works now at 90% completion, while facade installation is slated to begin in September 2025. 'As per the terms of the bilateral agreement, the next key milestone will be the dynamic testing of the RTS train system, scheduled for May 2026. 'This critical phase will see the train operating along the full alignment from the Wadi Hana Depot through to the stations, paving the way for operational validation and readiness.'
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
RTS Link Ticket Fares To Be Announced Closer To Launch
By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz SINGAPORE, June 30 (Bernama) -- The operator of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is conducting a final market study to determine ticket fares, with the final pricing and fare mechanism to be announced closer to the service's launch, Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Monday. 'We hope that the right price mechanism is in place to ensure that it can encourage more people to use the RTS service. bootstrap slideshow 'The whole idea of this project is to make the modal shift, to ensure that more people use public transport to cross the Causeway,' he said at a joint press conference with Singapore acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, after unveiling the first of the eight RTS Link train sets at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) here. The event was also attended by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), a joint venture between Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd, is the operator of the RTS Link, a cross-border rail connecting Malaysia and Singapore. Loke said the Malaysian government was pushing for a more open payment system, in line with global public transport trends, which would allow commuters to use multiple modes of payment. Singapore's Siow said fares should be determined commercially by RTSO, taking into account demand and supply, as well as costs. Meanwhile, Loke said RTSO would also finalise the operating hours for the train service, which links Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore, by taking into account early commuters.
