Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia Commemorate the Completion of the Connecting Span for the Construction of the Johor Bahru – Singapore RTS Link Project
1. The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project between Singapore and Malaysia reached a significant milestone with the completion of the connecting span, which connects the marine viaduct between Singapore and Malaysia.
2. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim graced the ceremony held today at the RTS Link Marine Viaduct site in the Straits of Johor.
3. During the ceremony, both Prime Ministers signed commemorative plaques symbolising the shared commitment of both countries to deliver the cross-border rail project, which will further improve connectivity between the two countries.
Engineering Highlights
4. The 17.1m-long connecting span, which is located between Malaysia’s Pier 47 and Singapore’s Pier 48, was completed in end December 2023.
5. The construction of the 340-tonne connecting span involved the erection of temporary support structures between Pier 47 and Pier 48, at a height of more than 26 metres above sea level. After these support structures, consisting of steel beams and hydraulic jacks, were installed and lined up precisely, the constructed connecting span was then lowered into place. Prolonged direct exposure to the weather and carrying out installation works requiring millimetre precision under strong wind conditions presented an added challenge. These marine works had to be monitored closely to ensure that they were being carried out safely and in a timely manner.
6. Following the completion of the connecting span, both Infrastructure Companies will continue the works for the civil structures of the RTS Link. When completed, the civil structures will be handed over to RTS Operations Pte Ltd, which will carry out the installation works for the RTS Link rail systems. RTS Operations Pte Ltd is a joint venture company formed between Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and SMRT Corporation Ltd to operate the RTS Link service. The RTS Link is targeted to commence passenger service by December 2026.
About the RTS Link
7. The RTS Link is a bilateral project between Singapore and Malaysia that involves the close cooperation of multiple agencies on both sides.
8. When completed, the RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore. With a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, it will facilitate the commute between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
9. To facilitate a seamless travelling experience, there will be co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both the Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North stations, such that commuters only need to undergo immigration clearance at the point of departure. The RTS Link will improve connectivity, foster people-to-people ties, and generate shared economic and social benefits.
