Johor residents pin hopes on RTS link

Dealing with gridlock

For 24-year-old marketing executive Mohamad Khairul Anuar Kassim, RTS Link offers a more practical escape from the congestion that currently

defines his life.

To avoid the worst of the morning rush hour, Khairul ensures he is at BSI CIQ before 6am every day.

“I plan to use RTS Link when it starts operating because it sounds easier and saves time, especially to avoid heavy traffic in the morning,” he said.

“It can get very congested at peak hours and when that happens, travelling time across the border may stretch up to three hours for me to reach home after work.”

Khairul suggested that a one-way fare of roughly RM5 would be the ideal price point for daily users.

“Affordability would be crucial in encouraging widespread use,” he said, suggesting that the government could even introduce subsidies for Malaysian workers through a differentiated payment system.

Secretary Tan Wai Li, 54, whose husband works in Singapore as a land surveyor, observed that even off-peak travel was becoming a struggle as bus services grew increasingly crowded.

Her husband stays in Singapore during the week and returns to Johor Baru on Friday nights.

“Previously, when he took the bus at 9pm, it was not crowded.

“These days, even at 9pm or 10pm, it is packed,” she said, attributing the shortage of available buses partly to rising diesel costs.

Tan expressed optimism

that RTS Link’s co-located Immigration facility, which allows passengers to clear both Malaysian and Singaporean checks at a single point, will be a game-changer.

“Oftentimes, congestion happens because of delays at Immigration.

“If the process is smoother, it can reduce bottlenecks.”

However, she cautioned that the arrival of thousands of passengers in Johor Baru must be managed carefully.

“There should be better connectivity to transport hubs like Larkin Sentral, along with sufficient shuttle buses, so people are encouraged to use public transport instead of relying on e-hailing services, which can clog up the area,” she highlighted.

Traffic improvements

Recognising these logistical challenges, the authorities are working to improve the transport infrastructure in and around the new Bukit Chagar Station and Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex, where RTS Link starts.

During a visit to the project site on April 3, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Federal Government was committing significant funds to ensure RTS Link was supported by a robust public transport network.

Loke detailed that this investment included integrated traffic improvements along major arteries such as Jalan Tebrau and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, alongside construction of elevated flyovers to provide direct access to the Bukit Chagar complex.

“Additional access routes are also being developed via Jalan Jim Quee and Jalan Tunku Azizah, with all upgrades expected to be completed by November,” he said, according to news reports.

Furthermore, Loke announced that efforts were underway to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity, which included deployment of over 250 additional buses under the Stage Bus Service Transformation programme.

A new pedestrian link from JB Sentral to Bukit Chagar will also be established to provide direct connections to KTM Komuter and ETS services, helping to disperse the flow of passengers across the city.

In an additional effort to bleed off road congestion, he said the existing cargo rail line from Kempas Baru to Pasir Gudang was being upgraded for passenger services, with operations expected to begin by mid-2026.

Regarding the all-important ticket prices, Loke said the fares would only be announced later this year following a formal agreement between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments.

“The operator, RTS Operations Pte Ltd, will present the proposed rates in the third quarter for approval by Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency and Singapore’s land transport authority,” he had said.