People will be able to travel between two countries in around five minutes thanks to a new railway connection that’s under construction. The rapid Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Singapore and Malaysia will be able to welcome up to 10,000 passengers per hour and in each direction.
Two stations, one in Woodlands, Singapore, and one in Bukit Chagar, Johor Baru, will serve the new light transit system. In 2023, the major project was estimated to have a cost of £2.3 billion. The RTS Link is set to be around 2.5 miles long and cross the Straits of Johor via a 25-metre bridge.
Authorities say the joint project between Singapore and Malaysia will help ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity and help generate shared economic and social benefits.
It is set to open in December this year, with around 40,000 passengers expected to use it daily from the opening.
It is hoped the link will offer a quicker route into both Johor Bahru, a city on the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, and Singapore.
A total of around 7.8 million people are estimated to live in the two cities — 6.1 million in Singapore and 1.7 million in Johor Bahru.
Malaysian and Singaporean customs, immigration and quarantine facilities are being built at both stations as part of the ambitious project.
The immigration process will be completed at the departing station, meaning when people arrive at their destination, they can carry on their journey without needing to go through border checks again.
The RTS Link will also be integrated with public transport networks at both Woodlands North Station in Singapore and Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru.
The RTS Link Woodlands North Station is being built underground at a maximum depth of 28 metres.
It will have three storeys, two basement levels and an underground connection to a customs, immigration and quarantine building, said Singapore’s Land Transport Authority.
Careful planning has been undertaken to prevent disruption to sea channels in the Straits of Johor during the bridge’s construction, it added.
It is said the new transport system will be modern, fast, efficient and regular.
There are expected to be services around every three-and-a-half minutes during peak hours.
The trains will be made up of four carriages and have a top speed of nearly 50 miles per hour.
The route is set to be all overground in Malaysia, while parts of the track in Singapore are set to be underground.
It was announced in July 2020 that the project had resumed following a suspension of more than a year.
Malaysia requested a pause on the project to allow it to carry out a review.
Johor Bahru has a rich history and culture, and is well-known as being an ideal destination for foodies and offering easy access to the Desaru Coast.
Singapore is one of Asia’s most popular cities and is famous for landmarks such as the Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
