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Independent Singapore
7 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
RTS Link Operators in final stages of deciding fares as Singapore and Malaysia launch first train
Wikipedia screengrab Featured News Singapore News SINGAPORE: RTS Operations, the operator of the highly anticipated Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link), has entered the final stage of market research to determine the fares for cross-border commuters. The announcement was made today (30 June) during a joint press conference by Singapore's Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The ministers were speaking after officiating the launch of the first RTS Link train at Singapore's Rail Test Centre. Mr Loke explained that RTS Operations is studying several factors to arrive at a fare structure that is both sustainable and attractive to commuters. A key consideration, he said, is pricing the service competitively against the cost of driving a motorcycle into Singapore, which remains a common choice for many daily commuters working in Singapore. 'If the fare is lower than the cost of riding a motorcycle across, it will encourage more people to take the RTS Link,' Mr Loke noted. The RTS Link is scheduled to run daily from 6am to midnight when it begins passenger service but Mr Loke added that the operator is also reviewing whether these hours can be adjusted to better match the needs of workers who travel into Singapore at dawn. Noting that some people start crossing the border before 5am, he indicated that earlier operating hours could be on the table to accommodate the early morning rush. Despite the RTS Link's promise to ease border traffic, the ministers confirmed there are currently no plans to scale back the number of cross-border bus services once the system opens. This is expected to provide commuters with more options while ensuring that public transport capacity keeps pace with demand. The 4-kilometre RTS Link, which will connect Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North station in Singapore, is slated to begin operations by the end of 2026. The line is designed to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, significantly reducing travel time between the two countries. See also Residents say Indranee Rajah's isn't answering their emails
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Final market study being done to determine JB-S'pore RTS Link fares: M'sian transport minister
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow (right) and his Malaysian counterpart Anthony Loke speaking at SRTC on June 30. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM SINGAPORE - 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.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
First train for JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System unveiled; service to start by December 2026
[SINGAPORE] The first train for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link was unveiled on Monday (Jun 30), with the cross-border rail system currently estimated to be about 56 per cent complete. The 4-kilometre light rail system will move passengers between Woodlands North Station in Singapore and Bukit Chagar Station in JB. It is expected to begin passenger service by December 2026. It will have eight trains manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation Zhuzhou Locomotive. The first train, delivered to Singapore in April, was unveiled in a joint ceremony between Singapore and Malaysia's transport ministries at the Singapore Rail Test Centre in Tuas. Rail link operator RTS Operations (RTSO) will carry out offsite systems integration testing on the first train at SRTC over the next few months. This includes integrating the train with the signalling system, platform screen doors and onboard communications system. RTSO is a joint venture between Singapore transport operator SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Final assembly of the other seven trains in Malaysia began in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is expected to be complete in Q4 2025. From Q4 2025 to Q3 2026, testing of the main rail line between Woodlands and Bukit Chagar will take place. Trial operations will begin in Q4 2026, before passenger service starts. Each RTS Link train is automated, with no driver aboard, and can carry a maximum of 1,087 people across four cars. The line's peak capacity is 10,000 passengers per hour, per direction. The journey between the two stations will take around 5 minutes, with trains running from 6am to 12 midnight daily. Passengers will clear both countries' customs and immigration control at the station of origin, leaving them free to depart when they arrive across the border.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
First of 8 Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link trains unveiled; system works 56% done
A dynamic route map display showing the next station in the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The control panel, when not concealed, in the front cab of the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The 76 metre-long train of four cars, each with three doors on either side, seen at the commemorative event held by Ministry of Transport on June 30. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Each of the eight RTS Link trains has an optimal capacity of 607 passengers, or a maximum of 1,087. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM SINGAPORE - The first of eight driverless trains that will serve the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link has been delivered to Singapore , and will be put through its paces at an $800 million testing centre in Tuas from July. The delivery marks the latest milestone for the highly anticipated cross-border rail link, which observers say will be a significant driver of Singapore-Malaysia connectivity and economic growth when it starts passenger service by the end of 2026. The arrival of the new 76.5m-long, four-car train was commemorated at an event at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) on June 30, attended by Singapore's Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi. 'The RTS Link is more than a transportation system and it is more than an engineering milestone,' said Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad, chairman of RTS Operations (RTSO), a joint venture between Singapore transport operator SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana that was appointed to run the rail line. 'It is actually a powerful symbol of our partnership that will deepen bilateral relations between both Malaysia and Singapore,' he added. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow (centre), with his Malaysian counterpart Anthony Loke (right) and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi (left) at the commemorative event on June 30. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Overall, works to install the RTS Link's systems are now at 56 per cent completion, RTSO said on June 30. This includes track installation, which is expected to be completed by the end of July, as well as the installation of the traction power system, which supplies the electricity that powers the trains. Each of the eight RTS Link trains, made by Chinese manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, has an optimal capacity of 607 passengers, or a maximum of 1,087. Each train car has 32 seats, including four that can be folded to make space for a wheelchair, pram or luggage. Each train car has 32 seats, including four that can be folded to make space for a wheelchair, pram or luggage. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The trains come with other accessibility features, including a hearing induction loop system that uses a magnetic field to transmit public announcements directly to the hearing aids of passengers who use such devices. It is the first time such a system is being rolled out on a train in Singapore and Malaysia, so that broadcasts can be heard clearly by the hearing-impaired without background noise and distortion. The hearing loop that transmits announcements to hearing aids of the hearing impaired on the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In the event of an emergency, passengers can use a call button to speak to the operations control centre. They can also evacuate by opening one of several red hatches that contains a lever to open the train doors. Opening the hatch will send an alarm to the operations control centre, and the lever can be used only when the train comes to a standstill. Passengers can evacuate by opening one of several red hatches that contains a lever to open the train doors. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Only the doors that face an emergency walkway along the RTS Link's viaducts and tunnels can be opened. There are also smoke and fire detectors on the train, and hopper windows that can be opened to allow fresh air into the cabin. The first RTS Link train, which arrived in Singapore in April, is expected to undergo tests that ensure it works well with other rail systems, such as signalling and platform screen doors. These tests are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. 'Carrying out an initial round of off-site testing at SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks,' said Singapore and Malaysia's transport ministries in a joint statement. The first RTS Link train, which arrived in Singapore in April, is expected to undergo tests that ensure it works well with other rail systems. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM After testing at SRTC, the first train will be moved to the RTS Link tracks between Singapore's Woodlands North station and Johor's Bukit Chagar station for more extensive trials that simulate actual service. This will last until the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the next four trains that are due to be delivered are now being assembled at CRRC's facility in Batu Gajah, a town in Perak, Malaysia. The remaining three trains will also be assembled there. Display panels showing the next station in the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Once completed, these seven trains will be sent directly to Wadi Hana depot in Johor Bahru for further testing before the 4km rail link opens. The final train is expected to be delivered by December. When operational, the RTS Link trains will travel at a maximum speed of 80kmh, carrying up to 10,000 people an hour in each direction. When operational, the RTS Link trains will travel at a maximum speed of 80kmh, carrying up to 10,000 people an hour in each direction. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Trains will run from 6am to midnight daily, with a peak-hour frequency of 3.6 minutes. The journey will take about five minutes. The contract to manufacture the RTS Link trains was awarded to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in 2021. The original plan was for the cross-border link to connect to Singapore's Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), adopting the same systems and trains, and using the same depot as the TEL to reap economies of scale. But the bilateral project was suspended in 2019 at the request of Malaysia, which proposed to use a light rail system instead to lower costs. The project officially resumed in July 2020 on revised terms. When completed, the RTS Link is expected to ease congestion on the Causeway. More than 300,000 people cross the land bridge daily. Kok Yufeng is a transport correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
a day ago
- Automotive
- CNA
First train unveiled for Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link; service will run from 6am to 12am
SINGAPORE: The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link marked another milestone with the unveiling of the line's first train on Monday (Jun 30). Manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CCRC), each train will have a standing capacity of 607 passengers, and can carry up to about 1,000 passengers at peak hours. The first trains will depart from each end of the line at 6am, while the last trains will depart at 12am each day. The line is expected to have a peak capacity of 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction. The 4km journey between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru will take about 5 minutes, with the shortest wait for a train being 3.6 minutes. There will be a total of eight trains when the RTS Link starts service at the target date of December 2026, the transport ministries of Singapore and Malaysia said in a joint press statement. The first train was assembled at CCRC's facility in China, and delivered to Jurong Port on Apr 3. Since then, it has been at the Singapore Rail Test Centre preparing for offsite system integration testing. During this phase of testing, operator RTS Operations will check the integration between the train and other rail systems, most critically the signalling system, as well as platform screen doors and onboard communications. Offsite testing will start in July and take about four months, before the train is moved to the RTS Link tracks for onsite testing with the seven other trains. Of the remaining seven trains, four have been delivered to CCRC's facility in Malaysia's Batu Gajah and are being assembled there. This process will be replicated for the last three trains. FIRST LOOK AT THE TRAIN Media were given a preview of the RTS Link train by RTS Operations, a joint venture between SMRT RTS and Prasarana RTS Operations. The driverless train runs at a maximum speed of 80kmh and is powered by a Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) system, which refers to a system that runs fully automatically without any operating staff on board. The deployment of staff on board the trains for other purposes, such as customer service, is still under consideration. Each train is 76m long and 2.7m wide, and consists of four cars with three doors on each side. There are a total of 126 fixed seats and 16 pop-up seats. When passengers arrive at the station to start their journey, they will pass through automatic fare gates with an open-loop payment system that accepts various forms of payment. They will then pass through all the necessary immigration and customs checks at the station where they are boarding. For example, passengers taking the RTS Link from Woodlands North will pass through Singapore's immigration checks, followed by Malaysia's, before boarding the train for Bukit Chagar. This is to prevent the build-up of crowds at the destination station, where passengers can simply exit after passing through the fare gates. Due to the short duration of the journey, passengers are expected to hold on to their own luggage, and there are no racks for storage. In a first for trains in Singapore and Malaysia, RTS Link trains will feature a hearing induction loop system that allows passengers with hearing aids to hear public announcements on the train. The move is meant to enhance safety and inclusivity on board. Other security measures include cameras on the train, and boxing up of the areas below the seats, in order to reduce areas where objects can be hidden.
