Johor Proposes RTS2 Link Between Iskandar Puteri and Tuas

Johor is proposing a second Rapid Transit System (RTS) connection between Iskandar Puteri and Tuas, aimed at boosting cross-border mobility with Singapore.

This RTS2 link is being pitched as a complementary route to the Johor Bahru–Woodlands RTS Link, which is now entering its final stages of development and slated to begin service by the end of 2026.

Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi raised the RTS2 idea during a recent meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at The Istana. He also updated Wong on the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which includes the newly established Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFC-J) as a key hub for coordinating investment activity.

So far, Johor has attracted over 577 enquiries through the JS-SEZ framework, with 70 investors showing serious intent. 11 of them were introduced through Singapore’s investment agencies, signalling strong cross-border investor interest.

The RTS2 concept follows a directive by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to explore impactful regional strategies. Onn Hafiz said the proposal was well received, and that Singapore was open to expanding cooperation into areas like energy, logistics, and labour mobility.

Meanwhile, the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link has hit a major milestone recently with the completion of its customs and immigration complex at Bukit Chagar. The facility will feature co-located border clearance, where Malaysian and Singaporean authorities operate under one roof, marking a first for Southeast Asia.

The next major phase will be dynamic testing of the entire train system in May 2026. This will involve trial runs from the Wadi Hana depot through all stations to ensure full operational readiness.

The RTS Link, will connect Bukit Chagar to Singapore’s Woodlands North station. It will run eight driverless trains, each made up of four cars and designed to carry over 600 passengers. At peak hours, it can move up to 10,000 commuters in each direction.

Onn Hafiz said the progress reflects strong coordination between federal agencies, the Johor government, and project partners. He described his meeting with Prime Minister Wong as a step forward for deeper bilateral ties that will benefit both nations.

He also shared that Johor’s economy had a strong start in 2025, attracting RM30.1 billion in total investments and posting a 6.4% GDP growth, the highest among all Malaysian states. 

Source: The Star