The first of eight train sets for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link has been unveiled, marking a significant milestone in the historic Malaysia-Singapore rail project.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Singapore’s acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow unveiled the train manufactured by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd. at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC).
RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) chairman Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad said Train 01, which arrived in Singapore in April 2025, will undergo Offsite System Integration Testing (OSIT) at the SRTC in preparation for full integration and operation.
The train sets 02 to 05 have been transported to CRRC’s train manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Malaysia, and are currently undergoing the assembly process, while train sets 06 to 08 will undergo a similar process subsequently.
“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.
The Malaysian and Singaporean transport ministries said in a joint statement that the OSIT, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, will be carried out by RTSO, a joint venture company formed by Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd and SMRT RTS Pte Ltd to operate the RTS Link service.
During the testing phase, RTSO will evaluate the train’s integration with other rail systems such as the signalling system, platform screen doors, and onboard communications system.
“Conducting an initial round of offsite testing at SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early, before beginning testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks,” the statement said.
The RTS Link, which will begin passenger service in December 2026, will connect Johor Bahru’s Bukit Chagar to Singapore’s Woodlands North.
The RTS Link will be served by eight driverless train sets, each with four cars and the capacity to transport over 600 people.
The RTS Link will have an overall peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction.
To facilitate a seamless travel experience, there will be co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both stations so that commuters only need to undergo immigration clearance at the point of departure.
According to RTSO, its rail system works are progressing steadily and have reached around 56% completion.
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