RTS Link: First Train Arrives In Johor, Testing Kicks Off At Wadi Hana Depot

Photo: Bernama. The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link project reached an important milestone with the arrival of Train Set 02 at the Wadi Hana Depot, where it will undergo testing and commissioning.

The four-car train left CRRC’s Batu Gajah facility on Nov 12, covering 541 kilometres on low-loader trailers.

The journey, carefully planned around safety, traffic, and weather, included stops in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and at Kempas Toll, where teams conducted thorough inspections to ensure all components stayed secure.

Photo: Bernama.

RTS Operations CEO Dr Ahmad Marzuki Ariffin said the train’s delivery signals the start of the pre-operational phase, focusing on system integration and testing to make sure both trains and infrastructure operate safely.

“Special attention was given to depot safety, reinforcing the ground to handle the cranes used to place each 32-tonne coach onto the tracks

“Train Set 02 will first undergo decoupling exercises and static tests, then three stages of dynamic testing along the four-kilometre route from Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore,” he told Bernama.

Photo: Bernama.
The trials will check signalling, communications, train performance, and operational readiness. Passenger capacity tests are planned for next year to ensure smooth service.

“All eight train sets will be fully tested over six to seven months before driverless operations begin. Four sets are already at the depot, with the remaining four arriving by December 2025,” Marzuki added. 

RTSO chairman Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad confirmed the project is progressing smoothly, with 65% overall completion and safety standards strictly enforced. Once operational in early 2027, the RTS Link is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Photo: Bernama.

RTSO, a joint venture between Prasarana RTS Operations and SMRT RTS, owns, designs, builds, and finances all RTS Link operational assets, including trains, tracks, and systems.