- Malaysia and Singapore unveiled the first of 8 RTS Link trains.
- Train 01 begins offsite testing; service to start by Dec 2026.
- RTS Link to handle 10,000 passengers/hour with CIQ integration.
The initial train set of eight for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link was revealed on Monday, representing an important milestone in the significant Malaysia-Singapore cross-border railway project.
The train, produced by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd, was revealed by Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Singapore's acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC).
RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) Chairman Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad announced that Train 01, which came to Singapore in April, will participate in offsite system integration testing (OSIT) at the SRTC to prepare for complete integration and operation.
Train sets 02 to 05 have been delivered to CRRC's train production site in Batu Gajah, Malaysia, where they are currently in assembly, while train sets 06 to 08 will follow this process afterward.
“Once completed (the assembly process), these train sets will be transferred to the Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Bahru for further testing and final preparations before being commissioned for passenger service,” he said at the launch event here on Monday.
The Transport Ministries of Malaysia and Singapore, in a collaborative announcement, stated that the OSIT, expected to be finished in the last quarter of this year, will be conducted by RTSO, the joint venture established by Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to manage the RTS Link service.
In the testing phase, RTSO will perform assessments on the integration of the train with other rail systems, including the signalling system, platform screen doors, and onboard communication system.
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"Carrying out an initial round of offsite testing at the SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early, before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks," the statement said.
The RTS Link, aimed to start passenger operations by December 2026, will link Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore.
At the start of operations, the RTS Link will utilize eight automated train sets, each consisting of four cars and able to transport over 600 passengers per train. The RTS Link can accommodate a maximum of 10,000 passengers each hour in each direction.
In order to ensure a smooth travel experience, integrated customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) facilities will be present at both stations, allowing travelers to complete immigration procedures only at their departure point. RTSO reports that its rail system development is advancing consistently and is approximately 56% finished.