Johor Sultan agrees to RTS Link’s revised design
The Johor-Singapore Causeway serves as a road and rail link between the two countries.
The land transport authority of Malaysia revealed that Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has agreed to the revised design of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) rail track linking Johor Baru with Singapore’s Woodlands, reported Channel News Asia.
The new design will feature a straight, elevated bridge, while the earlier design involved a curved rail track and an elevated bridge of up to 30m above water in the middle section.
It was previously reported that Sultan Ibrahim had criticised the earlier plan for being unsustainable, impractical and potentially costly. He believed that the track’s curved shape and 30m height would also disrupt the city skyline along the Johor Straits.
“His Majesty agreed to the option of a 25m high bridge which will cross the Straits of Johor in a straight line while still complying with Marine Department technical guidelines for a minimum 25m air draught clearance,” said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
“These alignment options took into account the suggestions made by His Majesty during the earlier audience that His Majesty granted on 19th September 2017.”
First announced in 2010, the RTS Link is expected to commence passenger service by end-December 2024.
Singapore’s RTS terminus will be located at Woodlands North station – along the Thomson-East Coast MRT line – while Malaysia’s main terminal for the RTS will be located at Bukit Chagar.
The RTS Link is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The KTMB Tebrau shuttle will cease operations once the RTS Link starts passenger service.
This article was edited by Keshia Faculin.
