On October 31, Malaysia said it would proceed with the construction of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS) project, but at a new reduced cost of RM3.16 billion following a review of the proposal with Singapore.
It was also announced that Malaysia had requested a further extension of the suspension period to April 30, 2020, and Singapore has agreed to the request, in the spirit of bilateral cooperation. According to news reports, the extension is to ensure that necessary amendments to three agreements can be made. The two countries are set to ink an amended bilateral agreement, joint venture agreement and concession agreement next year.
The RTS will also make a switch to a light rail transit (LRT) system instead of the mass rapid transit (MRT) system that was originally proposed in the plan, the New Straits Times reports. Transport minister Anthony Loke said the choice of LRT was made following a review, adding that the government has proposed the switch to Singapore and is still discussing the matter.
“We had been looking at the scopes or specifications of the project and considered the use of the LRT system, which is similar to the ones (operated) in Kuala Lumpur, of which the maintenance could be done in Malaysia,” he said.
“Previously, it was proposed that the project use the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, similar to the one in Singapore. However, we found that the LRT system is sufficient for the rail project, with only two stations, namely, Bukit Chagar on Johor’s side and Woodlands in Singapore. Passengers who disembark at the Woodlands station will have connectivity with Singapore’s MRT,” he said.
The RTS Link project – aimed at addressing congestion in the daily commute between the two countries – was initially scheduled to begin construction this year and slated for completion by December 2024. The proposed 4km-long rail project will have the capacity to ferry 10,000 passengers per hour, and is aimed at providing an alternative means of transportation for 80,000 to 100,000 commuters plying the causeway route daily.
nice, better than nothing, especially very packed now during peak hour.
if msia still part of singapura, then no this such problem and hard life Rakyat msia for past 60yrs
Yeah hardlife for Malaysians…
That’s y Singaporean flocking Malaysia to buy things and enjoy life..
prfft!
Singaporeans come to JB n shop cos things are cheap. many johoreans go to SG everyday just to work…
Malaysia part of Singapore? What did you get for your history paper when in school? Luckily we are not. It may be in recession this year.
Exactly long.. Syukur Malaysia masih aman.
why pipu still complaining ? Luckily we are not Singapore and HK…
We can syukur once we kick out Pakatan and close the door forever.
I’m wondering how customs and immigration counters are going to handle the batch delivery of hundreds of passengers per train. I figure running shoes will be the order of the day for commuters who want to get to the counters first.
Sing is very efficient. Why do you even doubt their ability to handle such traffic when Changi handles even more constantly around the clock?
Original proposal RTS will have a single clearance point.
Terimakasih Tun. Johor bersama mu..
I hope when PH is kicked out after 2022, it is not too late to revert the system back to MRT as originally intended.
KTM alredi crossing Tambak johor, kecoh ape..
KTM doesn’t serve the same purpose. RTS goes to the CBD.
Wei Rosman… I’m giving u the benefit of the doubt because you’re just plain ignorant.
RTS proposal was to replace the existing KTM komuter line. Once RTS is up and running the KTM line will be discarded. KTM too wiil stop Komuter services altogether in Johor once ETS Double tracking is completed.
RTS will be faster, eco friendly and more efficient and able to transport 10,000 commuters in an hour during peak time. It will connect to the existing MRT line network… thus reducing time and effort to change coaches and lines.
Why don’t just go for the best?
MRT. Don’t have to susah susah pening pening upgrade in the future..
WT….
I agree with your statement there.
Same agree here… profits gained from 1Mdb can fully funded the upgrade MRT. Don’t have to susah susah pening pening lagik pastu ….
with so many debts inherited, do you got the money to run the project meh?
talk using kapla atas not kapla bawah..brains not balls..
Shout so much about debts but got money to throw into 3rd National Car and replacing Causeway with crooked bridge. I wonder if our Cabinet are using their kapla and not kapla bawah, as you said… brains not balls.
Yeah some more can approve Penang LRT. There’s a confirmed user traffic for this RTS project, should go with an MRT for the masses and put that silly Penang LRT on hold
More pening bro. Once built as LRT they cannot upgrade into MRT. This has to be done latest during the track ordering and laying. After that is too late.
PH, people voted for you is to solve the congestion issues asap. Not everything also taking your own sweet time and cut costs here and there. You have to plan ahead for the future. 20 to 30 years down the road. Will a simple LRT solve the problem? Just look at Shenzhen and HK. They dont have conjestion issues at all and the human traffic is similar to that of Johor and Spore. Why can they already have such advance system 10 years ago but you are still taking your own sweet time to figure out something like that? It just goes to show how incompetent your ministry is. Singapore plan 50 years ahead to ensure that their people have the best public transport system in the world! What is Malaysia doing??
PH gomen planning their survival fate in next 3+ years. Hope they not gonna make it so we can replace it with proper MRT before too late.
I can almost guarantee that S’pore will not agree to DOWNGRADING the MRT system to LRT. Just plain absurd. TunM wants to run LRT just between TWO stations on JB and Woodlands..?!!! TunM lost his marbles.
You must remember, RTS plan was Najib’s. So of course Madey would like to see it failed just like why his is downgrading LRT3 system, and ECRL. He wants them to fail so he can blame Najib and then propose his own solution (probably flying car). Can you see his games? Which is why PH must be kicked out ASAP so the damage can be repaired and the public transportation system can function as they originally intended for their purpose.
They better not regret it in the future…
They won’t but we will.
This is ridiculously STUPID of TunM and Anthony Loke…! It is absurd to propose and LRT system to run JUST between TWO stations in JB and Woodlands…! Commuters from JB would then have to disembark at Woodlands and change to another line system. How foolish is that from TunM and Anthony Loke…. its a laughing stock of JBreans and S’poreans.
It would be cheaper in the long run to just extend the existing MRT line from S’pore into JB City as per original proposal. I can almost guarantee that S’pore will not agree to DOWNGRADING the system from MRT to LRT.
LRT will not be sustainable. Look at KL LRT… it is overburdened and had to add on coaches and increase frequency.
“Those who never learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Sir Winston Churchill.
That’s the problem with our current leader in the PH cabinet. Too short sighted, work with balls not brains. I’d rather let a crook that knows how to drive a car than a child that only knows how to play racing games.
Lrt sucks compared to mrt, hence it is cheaper. Come on la gomen.
There was never an intention to proceed in the first place. All these changes are just a ploy by PH to throw the ball back to SG to cancel the MRT project knowing well that SG will not agree with this LRT thingy