Implications of Converting Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit into Light Rail Transit

9 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport whether he can provide an update on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit (RTS) Link including the implications of converting the RTS into a Light Rail Transit.

The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mr Chee Hong Tat) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, on 30 July 2020, Singapore and Malaysia formally agreed to resume the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link or RTS Link Project, and held a ceremony witnessed by both Prime Ministers to mark the occasion.

Three agreements were signed to give effect to the resumption of the project – an agreement to amend the RTS Link Bilateral Agreement, a Joint Venture Agreement between Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysia’s Prasarana to constitute a joint venture Operating Company or OpCo, and a Concession Agreement for the Government of Malaysia and LTA to appoint this OpCo as the RTS Link Operator for the first 30-year concession period.

Both sides have agreed that the RTS Link will use an LRT system, instead of the Thomson-East Coast Line or TEL MRT system. The LRT system for the RTS Link is more similar to a medium capacity MRT system, such as the Jurong Region Line, with a peak hour capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction.

The change from TEL to LRT system will not require any major changes to the original infrastructure design. The RTS Link station continues to be located next to the TEL Woodlands North Station to provide commuters with ease of transfer.

The RTS Link is an important bilateral project that will ease Causeway congestion, facilitate business and tourism, and bring our peoples closer together. Singapore looks forward to working closely with Malaysia to implement the RTS Link Project and to commence passenger service by end 2026.

Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. We understand there are a lot of changes in Malaysia recently and it might impact long-term projects between the two countries. So, given the context, I have three supplementary questions.

First, what are the safeguards in ensuring that the RTS Link project will be carried out even if there is a change in government in Malaysia over the next few years?

Second, what are the implications of having the switch of the RTS Link depot from the existing Thomson-East Coast Line's Mandai Depot, to a new depot in Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru? Does it mean that the maintenance of the RTS Link trains and system will lie primarily in Malaysia and what would be the impact on the reliability of RTS Link?

Mr Speaker: Mr Ang, can you keep it to two supplementary questions, please. Thank you.

Mr Ang Wei Neng: Last supplementary question. Thank you. Would MOT consider building a transfer line along the Causeway to supplement the RTS Link or replace the RTS Link if the RTS Link becomes not viable again?

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Mr Speaker, Sir, a project of this nature is a bilateral project, something that requires both parties to sit down, negotiate, discuss and find a way forward. I think Mr Ang is aware that for the RTS Link project, it was suspended for a short while and we had to discuss together with Malaysia on what were the arrangements that were acceptable to both countries. In such negotiations and discussions, there will be some give and take, some changes made. And that is what we did with the RTS Link Project.

But the important thing is this – there are safeguards in the agreement to protect the interests of both countries and to ensure that the objectives of the project can still be achieved.

So, I mentioned earlier, and I stressed this point, 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. Because that was what we wanted; to make sure that continues to be the case. So, even though we switched from the TEL to LRT, we continue to be able to achieve this objective.

Mr Ang also asked about maintenance, and again, I mentioned this in my main reply. I said there is a OpCo that is being formed by companies from both sides. Both countries will have a shared interest to ensure that the trains are able to run reliably, safely and meet the needs of commuters from both sides.