Minister for Transport Mr S Iswaran hosted YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Menteri Besar of Johor, at the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Woodlands North terminus site earlier this afternoon. This is YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s first official trip to Singapore after being appointed as Menteri Besar of Johor. Minister Iswaran and YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi visited the work area for the construction of the RTS Link viaduct and were updated on the progress of works.
2 The Land Transport Authority, Singapore (LTA) had awarded two civil contracts for the RTS Link Project in 2020 and 2021. The first of the two civil contracts was awarded to Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd. This contract covers the construction of the RTS Link Woodlands North station, tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore. The second contract covers the construction of the RTS Link viaduct and was awarded to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch). Construction has begun and is progressing well.
3 The RTS Link Woodlands North station is being constructed underground at a maximum depth of 28 metres. The station and CIQ building comprise three storeys, as well as two basement levels and an underground B3 linkway. In total, the gross floor area of the station and CIQ building is approximately 10 times that of a typical MRT station. The station and CIQ building will be seamlessly connected to Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Woodlands North MRT station via an underground concourse. The tunnels will be connected to the viaduct that crosses the Straits of Johor at a height of 25 metres.
4 As the ground at the site is mostly made up of granite, construction involves the use of high-capacity drilling machines, extended piling works as well as rock demolition during the excavation works. LTA has implemented measures such as real-time instrumentation monitoring and rigorous surveys so as to ensure the structural safety of all surrounding infrastructure and minimise any inconvenience to the public.
5 The Ministry of Transport, Malaysia and LTA also recently appointed a consortium comprising Systra SA, Minconsult Sdn. Bhd and Bureau Veritas Singapore Pte. Ltd as the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) agent for the RTS Link Project in April this year. The IV&V agent will ensure that the RTS Link Project is carried out in compliance with the stipulated safety requirements and regulations. This includes assessing and certifying that the RTS Link is safe to commence passenger operations in end 2026.
About RTS Link
6 The RTS Link is a 4-kilometre rail shuttle service between the Singapore terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru. It has a large capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Passengers will enjoy a fast and seamless experience travelling between Singapore and Johor Bahru on the RTS Link, and a journey time of about five minutes between the two stations. Furthermore, the CIQ facilities of Singapore and Malaysia will be co-located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar stations, which means that passengers only need to clear the immigration authorities once, i.e. at their point of departure. When the RTS Link opens for service at the end of 2026, it will be a game changer that will significantly improve connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru and ease congestion along the Causeway.
