The Ministry of Transport has indicated the government intends to proceed with the four-km Rapid Transit System (RTS) that connects Johor Bharu and Woodlands in Singapore.
But Malaysia may not be able to sign a joint venture (JV) agreement with Singapore before June 30 this year as the government requires more time to study the project details, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said at a press conference after his visit to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) today. "Due to the consistent heavy traffic, the government has on principle agreed to proceed with the project at a cost of RM4 billion, and we will try to expedite the progress while reducing the cost.
"The project will be undertaken by a JV between Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and SMRT Corp Ltd, and the JV agreement was supposed to be signed by June 30 this year, but we think we might need another month to evaluate the details of this project before we sign the JV agreement," he said.
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Malaysia to continue with JB-S'pore RTS link but looking at ways to reduce costs: Transport Minister
Artist's impression of the Woodlands North Station along the Rapid Transit System link. FOTO: LTA
Malaysia will go ahead with plans to build a cross-border MRT line between Johor Baru & Singapore, but wants to look at ways to lower costs, said newly minted Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The government has agreed to continue with the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link, a 4km line that will connect Bukit Chagar station in Johor Baru to Woodlands North, he told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 30).
"Of course, we will review the agreements. We want to review the terms and conditions, & the Finance Ministry will look into how to reduce the cost of the project," said Mr Loke. "But we are committed to continue with the project."
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S$1.34 billion Johor-Singapore RTS link to go ahead as planned: Malaysian Transport Minister
The Malaysian government will not scrap the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) project for now, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday (June 1).
But Mr Loke said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration will postpone signing the joint venture until the project’s feasibility study is presented to the Cabinet for approval.
The rail link project, to be undertaken by both governments through a joint venture between Malaysia’s Prasarana Bhd & Singapore’s SMRT Corp, is estimated to cost RM4 billion (S$1.34 billion).
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Malaysia still committed to JB-Singapore RTS link, cancellation of HSR subject to negotiations
Malaysia is still committed to the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) despite its decision to cancel the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project, said new Transport Minister Anthony Loke on Wed (May 30).
In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Loke said the RTS project will proceed, although the government will look at lowering the cost of the project given the country's debt.
"The RTS will proceed. Of course we have to restudy the project in terms of cost & so on. But as a principled decision, the RTS is still on the table.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHOR BAHRU-SINGAPORE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM LINK BILATERAL AGREEMENT
Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) welcome today's signing of the Bilateral Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of Malaysia on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) by H.E. Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and by H.E. Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport. The signing ceremony, which was witnessed by Malaysia’s Prime Minister The Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Singapore’s Prime Minister The Honourable Lee Hsien Loong, signifies Malaysia and Singapore’s firm commitment to this important project that will benefit both countries.
The Bilateral Agreement is the outcome of extensive discussions led by officials from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) of Malaysia and Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority of Singapore. It captures the key points of agreement on the RTS Link project, including the technical, safety and security requirements, commercial, financing, procurement and regulatory frameworks, as well as customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements.
The RTS Link will have the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, which translates to additional capacity of 60,000 users crossing the Causeway during peak hours. To facilitate passenger flow, it will have co-located Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities in both Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North. Passengers travelling in either direction will clear both Malaysia and Singapore authorities at the point of departure, and need not go through immigration clearance again at the point of arrival. The RTS Link’s capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) is much higher than the average 300 (pphpd) that the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Tebrau Shuttle is ferrying today. The KTMB Tebrau Shuttle services to Singapore will cease six months after the RTS Link passenger service begins, targeted by December 2024.
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PM Najib unveils concept designs for KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail stations
The concept design for Bandar Malaysia station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
The concept design for Malacca station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
The concept design for Muar station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday (Oct 17) unveiled the concept designs for the 7 new stations along the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) in Malaysia.
He said the designs are a strong reflection of Malaysia's identity & heritage, while remaining modern & futuristic.
For instance, the design of the Bandar Malaysia terminus in Kuala Lumpur is a re-interpretation of the confluence of Klang & Gombak rivers.
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SMRT, Prasarana sign MOU to form joint venture company for JB-Singapore RTS Link
Singapore public transport operator SMRT & Malaysia rail operator Prasarana on Monday (Sep 25) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture company for the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
In a media release, SMRT said the firm, which will be the RTS Link's operating company, will be expected to design, build, finance & operate RTS Link operating assets such as trains, tracks and systems. It will also be responsible for maintaining and renewing the assets.
The MOU was signed by SMRT president & group chief executive officer Desmond Kuek, as well as Prasarana president and group CEO Azmi Abdul Aziz at Prasarana's corporate headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
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Singapore - Johor Baru MRT to run in 2024
A cross-border rail link that will connect Singapore & Johor Baru in Malaysia is slated to begin passenger services by the end of 2024, ministers from the 2 countries announced on Monday (Jul 31).
Singapore rail company SMRT & Malaysia’s metro operator Prasarana Malaysia will be exploring a joint venture to be the operating company to help design, build, finance & operate the trains, tracks and systems for the Johor Bahru - Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
The details were disclosed on Monday during the 13th meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM), held in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Baru. The committee was set up in 2007 as a collaboration between the 2 countries.
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Singapore - JB MRT to start by end-2024
Passengers will be able to hop on an MRT train in Woodlands to cross the border to Johor Baru by Dec 31, 2024.
The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link can carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between Johor's Bukit Chagar terminus station & the Singapore terminus in Woodlands North, where it will join the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line.
It is slated to improve connectivity & reduce congestion at border crossings between the two countries when completed.
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Singapore to Johor Baru MRT service to start by end-2024
Passengers will be able to hop on an MRT train in Woodlands to cross the border to Johor Baru by Dec 31, 2024.
The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link can carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between Johor's Bukit Chagar terminus station & the Singapore terminus in Woodlands North, where it will join the upcoming Thomson- East Coast Line (TEL).
It is slated to improve connectivity & reduce congestion at border crossings between Singapore & Malaysia when completed.
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Singapore - JB Rapid Transit System to make impact on Johor real estate: Analysts
Investor interest in Johor Baru properties will likely pickup with recent news that Singapore & Malaysia are expected to ink a bilateral agreement for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) next year, analysts told Channel NewsAsia.
The system promises an easier time crossing borders, & will link up with the Thomson-East Coast rail network in Singapore. Analysts, however, said it is important for investors to do their homework, before buying a stake in Johor's developments.
Mr Peter Ezekiel travels across the causeway daily for work. The 46-yr-old lawyer decided to rent a house in Johor Bahru while waiting for his new flat in Singapore to be ready as the former option is cheaper.
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Update 20 Sep 2017: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway: Xinhua
China hopes that Singapore will support Chinese enterprises that wish to participate in the Singapore-Malaysia high-speed railway project, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday (Sep 19), according to state news agency Xinhua.
"China has cutting-edge, safe & reliable, cost-effective high-speed railway technology," Premier Li said during his talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Xinhua reported. PM Lee is on an official visit to China from Sep 19 to 21.
Singapore & Malaysia are building the 350km high-speed rail linking Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. Targeted to be operational by end-2026, the railway line will cut travel time between the 2 cities to 90 minutes.
related: China's rail ambitions run at full speed
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Premier Li hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway
China hopes Singapore will support Chinese enterprises who wish to participate in the Singapore-Malaysia high-speed railway project, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.
"China has cutting-edge, safe and reliable, cost-effective high-speed railway technology," Li said in his talks with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to build a 360-km high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to start operation by December 2026 and cut travel time to about 90 minutes. Singapore welcomes Chinese businesses to the project, Lee said.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway: Xinhua
During his meeting with Mr Li, Mr Lee said that Singapore welcomes Chinese businesses to the project. In an interview with Xinhuanet, Xinhua’s official website, last Saturday, Mr Lee said: “We hope to receive China’s proposals.”
“I think China’s bid will be a high quality one,” he added, noting that the joint railway project is “very significant” for Singapore and Malaysia. He said China has advanced technology and rich experience in high speed railway construction and operation, boasting a domestic network of tens of thousands kilometers in length.
The Singaporean prime minister praised China’s high speed railway service for providing passengers with convenience and comfort. “Very convenient, smooth and comfortable,” Mr Lee recalled his previous experiences of taking high speed trains in China.
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related:
JB-S'pore RTS rail project
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Deferred
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Haggle
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Agreement
Singapore to JB MRT by 2024
S'pore-KL HSR swallows another golf course
HSR S'pore-KL in just 90 minutes
Iskandar Malaysia: Why are the Chinese here?
Malaysia's "gain" and Singapore's "loss"
Malaysia's ECRL touted as a game changer
Embracing, Leaning & Tilting towards China
Mega reclamation project off Johor
Malaysia files for revision of ICJ’s Pulau Batu Puteh decision
