By The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has awarded the second civil contract to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) for the construction of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link at a contract value of about $180 million. This contract includes the construction in Singapore of the RTS Connect viaduct and tunnels. At an altitude of 25 m, the viaduct would stand above the Johor Straits within the jurisdiction of Singapore. Inland and transfer to underground tunnels leading to the RTS Link Woodlands North station will then follow.
Construction is scheduled to begin on the RTS Link viaduct and tunnels in the second quarter of 2021. On 26 November 2020, the first civil contract was awarded to create the RTS Connect Woodlands North station, tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore. It is anticipated that the RTS Connection will begin passenger service in late 2026.
The RTS Connect is a 4km rail shuttle service between the Woodlands North terminus in Singapore and the Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru in Malaysia. In each direction, it has a wide capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour. On the RTS Connect, passengers can enjoy a swift and smooth travel experience between Singapore and Johor Bahru and a travel time of approximately five minutes between them.
In addition, the CIQ facilities will be strategically positioned at the stations of Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar, so that passengers will only be expected to clear the immigration authorities of Singapore and Malaysia once at the departure point. Passengers will begin their journey smoothly upon arrival in Singapore by switching to the Thomson-East Coast Line, which is adjacent to RTS Link Woodlands North station. The RTS Connection would dramatically boost communication between Singapore and Johor Bahru when operations launch, and relieve congestion along the Causeway.
