Amirull Salihing
RTS Link passengers will clear both Malaysian and Singapore immigration at the station where they board. The Johor Bahru to Singapore line is set to open in February 2027, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Newswav listed the key points on 4 November.
Loke said the February opening should not be regarded as a delay. The exact date will be announced jointly by Malaysia and Singapore. However, fares have not been fixed yet.
Overall, here is what travellers know about the stations, the immigration process and the fares.
RTS opening date and stations
RTS Operations said on 2 October that passenger service is expected in February 2027. Moreover, it listed system tests, trial runs, third-party safety certification and approval by both governments as the steps before opening. Land Transport Guru carried the statement.
Newswav reported that the date was agreed with Singapore and moved from January. However, the end-2026 deadline still applies to physical works and testing. October to December is set aside for integrated testing of signalling, passenger management and train operations.
The line runs about 4km between Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore. In addition, it has no stops in between. The planned trip takes about five minutes.
Trains are planned about every 3.6 minutes at peak hours. Moreover, the line is meant to carry about 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Those figures are planned targets, not operating results.
How immigration will work
Malaysian and Singapore immigration will be co-located at each station. RTS Link passengers will clear both countries at the point of departure. As a result, a traveller from Johor Bahru finishes both checks at Bukit Chagar.
Bukit Chagar is planned to have about two dozen e-gates plus manual counters. In addition, MRT Corp has said travellers using the MyNIISe app could pass an e-gate in about seven seconds. Newswav attributed that figure to reports by CNA and AsiaOne.
Read more: RTS Link to Singapore starts Feb 2027, fares due by year-end
Read more: MyNIISe QR immigration checks target January 2027 rollout
Read more: Experts name two priority corridors for Johor Bahru e-ART
The app ties in with MyNIISe QR immigration checks, which target a January 2027 rollout. As a result, travellers may want to set up the app before the line opens. The target is about 25 minutes from entering the station to boarding.
Not everyone will switch to the train. Meanwhile, more cross-border taxis run between Johor Bahru and Singapore from 16 November. Drivers should also note the Singapore border changes on 1 January 2027.
Fares, hours and what is still open
However, fares have not been announced. Loke said in October that they should be announced jointly with the operator by the end of 2026. Therefore, any fare you see online before then is an estimate.
One estimate from February 2026 put fares at RM15.50 to RM21.70, about S$5 to S$7. Treat that range with caution. Still, operating hours are planned from 6am to midnight, but they are not final.
Ticketing and payment details have not been published. Likewise, there is no word yet on season passes or discounts for regular commuters. RTS Link passengers should watch for joint announcements from both transport ministries.
In short, the RTS Link opens in February 2027 with one immigration check at the departure station. Confirm the date, fares and hours with official channels before you plan a trip.
CJMY
Navin Kumar Perianen
Sashidaran Gunathevan
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