PUBLISHED ONOctober 06, 2026 10:30 PMBYSean LerThe Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project may be seen as relatively straightforward — with only two stations — but there's more than meets the eye, said RTS Operations chief executive officer Dr Ahmad Marzuki Ariffin on Tuesday (Oct 6).
One such challenge he pointed out, not obvious to the untrained eye, is the viaduct's 3 per cent gradient.
"This is by design, the maximum slope allowed in the RTS Link for train operations," Dr Ahmad Marzuki shared in a Facebook post.
He explained that trains would descend along this slope from the bridge's highest point towards ground level, and must also maintain a safe speed before stopping smoothly and accurately at Woodlands North station.
This, he said, requires careful coordination of the track design, braking and signalling systems.
In addition, the tropical climate in Johor Bahru and Singapore means wet weather considerations will have to be factored into operations.
"Rain can reduce grip between the wheels and rails. This affects how trains accelerate and brake. Thorough testing is therefore essential to ensure safe and reliable operations in different weather conditions," the trained rail engineer with more than 16 years of experience explained.
Since announcing on Oct 2 that passenger operations are expected to begin in February 2027 — some two months longer than initially expected — social media users on both sides of the Causeway have asked why system tests and trial runs on a "straightforward system" would need a longer time.
Addressing this at the start of his post, Dr Ahmad Marzuki said: "Two countries. Two stations. One sea crossing. Many complex engineering challenges."
He shared that while the cross-border rail project may seem "relatively straightforward" with just two stations, safe and reliable journeys require careful engineering.
"The trains, tracks, signalling systems and infrastructure must work together seamlessly," he said.
These, he added, involves many hours of design thinking, testing and teamwork.
Dr Ahmad Marzuki ended off his post by acknowledging efforts put in by engineers and project teams from both countries.
He also thanked the Singapore and Malaysia grantors, and the project's partners for their support and cooperation.
Once passenger service begins, the 4km shuttle from Woodlands North station to Bukit Chagar station in JB will operate at a maximum speed of 80kmh and can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
Singapore's Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said on Oct 2 that the rail service is targeted to begin passenger service before Hari Raya next year, which is expected to take place around March 10.
A study commissioned by the Singapore Business Federation, Restaurant Association of Singapore and Singapore Retailers Association in March this year had projected that Singaporeans will spend an additional $1.05 billion annually on retail and F&B purchases in JB once the RTS Link opens.
At the same time, local businesses stand to gain an estimated $756 million annually from JB visitors, resulting in an additional net annual spending outflow of about $290 million — 0.4 per cent of Singapore's total retail and F&B sales in 2025.
Fares for RTS Link are expected to be priced around $5 to $7 per trip, said Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke in February.
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