If you\u2019ve ever sat\u00a0in the\u00a0Singapore Causeway crawl on the way to Johor Bahru, wondering if your life will ever resume, those days will soon\u00a0be over. T<\/span>he Johor Bahru\u2013Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link<\/a>\u00a0is gearing up to start operations by the end of 2026, promising a five-minute hop from Woodlands North MRT in Singapore to Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru.<\/p>\n The RTS Link is expected to serve 40,000 passengers daily at launch, potentially rising to 140,000 \u2013 around 30 to 40 per cent of current Causeway traffic. Passengers will clear immigration through Bukit Chagar Integrated Immi\u00adgration, Customs and Qua\u00adran\u00adtine (ICQ), which will\u00a0feature 100 AI-powered e-gates to make border crossing even more tolerable and efficient.<\/p>\n It’s no secret that Singaporeans love to cross the border for a\u00a0quick and easy weekend getaway, so we expect this new train service will be hotly anticipated. Ahead of its opening, here’s everything we know about the JB-Singapore RTS Link so far.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS link is expected to begin passenger operations by the end of 2026. By June 2027, it will completely replace the KTM Shuttle Tebrau train service which currently runs between Woodlands Checkpoint and JB Sentral.\u00a0<\/p>\n The upcoming 100 AI-enabled e-gates by ICQ are said to clear commuters in about 7 seconds. Thanks to the single-clearance system and QR-code passport clearance, commuters can pass through both Malaysian and Singapore immigration at the Bukit Chagar ICQ in one go. There will also be 10 security screening lanes, 18 baggage scanners, and dedicated lanes for those travelling luggage-free.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each trip is expected to cost $5 to $7, set by RTS Operations \u2013 a partnership between Malaysia\u2019s Prasarana and Singapore\u2019s SMRT. However, fares won\u2019t be finalised until the second half of 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In comparison, drivers pay RM20 at the Causeway, and Singapore\u2019s VEP fees jump to $50\/day for cars starting Jan 2027. So all things considered, yes, taking the RTS Link is likely to save your wallet.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not just about speed. The e-gates, QR-code passport clearance, and cross-border cooperation promise to deliver predictable, stress-free trips for commuters. And for nervous first-timers, you can actually head down to the Project Information Centre near Bukit Chagar, where interactive kiosks and virtual walkthroughs will allow you to explore the station, e-gates, and ICQ process before the RTS Link officially opens.<\/span><\/p>\n Stay tuned for more updates on the official opening date.<\/span><\/p>\n READ MORE<\/strong><\/p>\n Singapore ranks among the best cities in the world for senior travellers<\/a><\/p>\n You can now fly non-stop between Singapore and Riyadh on Singapore Airlines from June 2026<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Johor](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106375614\/image.webp\")
\n<\/figure>\nWhen will the RTS link open?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What do we know about the RTS link e-gates and border clearance so far?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How much will the RTS Link cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Johor](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106375615\/image.webp\")
\n<\/figure>\nIs taking the RTS Link cheaper than driving?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How else will the RTS Link benefit daily commuters?<\/strong><\/h2>\n