Singapore and Malaysia rail service to start operating from December 2024

The Rapid Transit System (RTS) that will connect Singapore to Malaysia’s Johor Baru has been scheduled to start commercial service by 31 December 2024.

The date was announced following the meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).

Both countries will enter a bilateral agreement concerning the cross-border service in December this year, reported New Straits Times.

The proposed line, which will connect Johor's Bukit Chagar terminus station with Woodlands North terminus in Singapore, is expected to reduce congestion at the border crossing and provide a faster transport alternative to passengers.

Officials of both countries have agreed to hire an operating company to supervise and maintain the cross border line, while another company will be appointed to maintain rail infrastructure.

After completion, the railway line will deploy the same rail systems and rolling stock used in Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), an under-construction Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore.

Signalling system and platform screen doors for the TEL will be supplied by US company GE, while Singapore Technologies Electronics has been hired to supply communication systems for the line.

A consortium comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Chinese firm CSR Qingdao Sifang will supply 91 four-car trains for TEL as part of a contract secured from Singapore's Land Transport Authority.

RTS is estimated to transport nearly 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.