Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System

The idea of a Mass Rapid Transit between Singapore and Johor Bahru was first suggested in 1991 when then Singapore Minister for Communications Mah Bow Tan said that the Woodlands Extension, now part of the North South line, would be designed to accommodate such an extension. The idea was endorsed and agreed to in principle by both countries.[11]

The rapid transit system was then revisited two decades later and proposed during the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on 24 May 2010. The RTS would link Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru and Singapore, aiming to ease traffic congestion on the Johor–Singapore Causeway and enhance connectivity between the two countries. It was targeted to be operational by 2018.[12][13]

In June 2011, Singapore proposed to Malaysia that the proposed cross border rail link be connected to the northern-most station of the Thomson-East Coast line, Woodlands North.[14]

A tender was called in November 2011 to conduct design and engineering study on the RTS link, which aimed to determine the technical parameters and options for the alignment and proposals for the system. A consortium of Aecom Perunding, Aecom Singapore and SA Architects subsequently won the tender.[15][16] The first part of a preliminary engineering study was completed in March 2014.[17]

In September 2014, the Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad announced that Malaysia had chosen Bukit Chagar as its terminating station, over Tanjung Puteri, JB Sentral 1 and JB Sentral 2. The terminal would have its own Customs and Immigration clearance facilities, separate from the existing facilities at Sultan Iskandar Building. He also mentioned that Singapore had given no indication of the final alignment of the link from a total of three options.[18] Singapore's Ministry of Transport then responded that they were unable to finalise the alignment of the crossing as there was no confirmation of the location of Malaysia’s RTS terminus.[19]

At a joint news conference between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak held on 13 December 2016, it was announced that the link will adopt the Thomson–East Coast MRT line's system including the four core systems — trains, signalling system, communication system and Integrated Supervisory Control System in order to reap economies of scale. A high-bridge crossing was chosen for the RTS to cross the Straits of Johor. The link would be operated by a corporate entity and its fare would be market-based and set by the operator as well.[15]

At the 13th meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia in July 2017, officials from both countries announced that the link would start operating by 31 December 2024 and that they have agreed to jointly appoint an operating company to run and maintain the RTS operating systems, including its trains, tracks and signalling system. Singapore's SMRT Corporation and Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia were appointed as operators for the link by the respective governments and both were negotiating terms for the joint venture which would have a first concession period of 30 years. Each government would also appoint an infrastructure company to fund, build, own, maintain and upgrade the civil infrastructure and stations in their own countries. Daily shuttle train service from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Johor Bahru would also cease operating after the RTS Link opens.[20] However, according to Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, CEO of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, the completion date is targeted for 2022.[21]

However, in August 2017, the Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Ismail expressed serious reservations on the proposed design of the rail track, citing that the overall curve-shaped design and height would disrupt the city skyline along the Johor Straits. He also questioned the need for both countries to engage separate contractors to build portions of the link in their respective countries and the involvement of Prasarana Malaysia in the joint operating company with SMRT Corporation instead of the Johor state government. As such, he wanted the overall plan to be reviewed to ensure that it would be "logical, economical and sustainable".[22][23]

A memorandum of understanding between SMRT Corporation and Prasarana Malaysia was signed in September 2017 to form a joint venture company to operate the link. Details such as control of the operating company were yet to be worked out.[24]

On 16 January 2018, Singapore and Malaysia signed a bilateral agreement on the project. Signed by Singapore's Transport Minister and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan. It was witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during the 8th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat, the agreement finalised certain aspects of the project, including its maintenance facilities, operator, and customs facilities.[25] Construction of the 4 km link is set to begin in 2019.

After the Malaysian general election, 2018, despite efforts to reduce the national debt, Malaysia's then Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook mentioned in end-May 2018 that Malaysia remains committed to the project but the Ministry of Finance would be looking at ways to reduce the cost of the project.[26] However, in mid-July 2018, Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that Singapore had not heard anything official from the new Malaysian government despite Loke's comments. A joint operating company between Singapore's SMRT Corporation and Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia was supposed to be incorporated by June 30, 2018 but did not occur either as discussions between the two companies were suspended after Malaysia's general election.[11]

In end-July 2018, Malaysia's then Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook expressed hope that the project would proceed as planned and that the Malaysian cabinet has given in-principle approval to the project but are still looking into the cost and other details. He also mentioned that the issue of compensation did not apply as the joint operating company was not set up yet. A working paper on the project would be presented to the cabinet soon and the joint operating company would be set up once the full approval is given by the cabinet. Despite the delay, he said that the project would still be completed on time by 2024.[27][28]

On 13 October 2018, it was reported that Singapore's Land Transport Authority has called for tender for the construction of a 1.1 km tunnel and overhead bridge to Johor in end-September 2018. Construction is scheduled to begin in the middle of 2019.[29]

On 14 January 2019, Singapore's Transport Minister, Khaw Boon Wan informed that the project is not progressing well, with Malaysia missing deadlines that were set in the bilateral meeting in 2018. Deadlines were extended as soon as they were negotiable - the first until September 2018, then December 2018, then February 2019.[30]

On 8 April 2019, Khaw Boon Wan, together with Malaysia's then Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, held a joint press conference to announce that the two countries were working towards a "supplemental agreement" to temporarily suspend the project for 6 months, allowing Malaysia to review "key parameters" of the project. The suspension would be approached in the same way as was done for the suspension of the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high speed rail.[20]

On 21 May 2019, the two countries agreed to suspend the project for 6 months until 30 September, after which the project was to continue. This will result in Malaysia paying Singapore more than $600,000 of abortive costs incurred due to the suspension. Should nothing be done, the project will be deemed to have been terminated by Malaysia, and thus Malaysia will have to pay more than $66 million. The suspension will also affect the joint venture signed in 2018.[31]

On 28 September 2019, Malaysia announced the extension of suspension to 31 October 2019 so as to study for financial implications should the project resume, with no costs incurred by Malaysia this time.[32] The extension was confirmed by Singapore's Ministry of Transport two days later. Should further extensions be requested by Malaysia, Singapore reserves the right to claim any additional costs incurred beyond 30 September 2019.[33]

On 11 October 2019, Malaysia announced in its budget that it will still go ahead with the RTS as a long-term solution for cross-border traffic, in addition to RM85 million for decongesting the Causeway and the Second Link.[34][35]

On 31 October 2019, Malaysia's then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced that the project will go ahead with a 36 per cent cost cut from the original RM4.93 billion to RM3.16 billion. Some of the proposals include involving the developers/owners of the Bukit Chagar land to waive land costs; thereby reducing costs as well as using a LRT (Light Rail Transit) system similar to Ampang LRT line to reduce costs instead of the Thomson–East Coast MRT line systems. Prasarana will still be the joint-venture partner for the RTS, which will work with SMRT on the project. Details are still being worked out in preparation for a future agreement.[2][36]

On 2 May 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was agreed that the project be suspended further, until 31 July 2020.[37]

On 22 June 2020, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said discussions with Malaysia about the construction of the RTS were still ongoing ahead of a final deadline of 31 July.[38]