The RTS Link start date has moved from end-2026 to February 2027. On 2 October 2026, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority and Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport said the operator, RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), now expects passenger service between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar to begin in February 2027. Fares have not been announced.
If you were planning to switch your Johor Bahru trips from the bus or the Causeway to the train at the turn of the year, plan on the current options for a few more months.
What the RTS Link Start Date Depends On
The joint release set out the steps still to come:
- RTSO expects to finish final system tests and trial runs by 31 December 2026.
- An independent safety assessor must then certify the system.
- Authorities in both countries review that certification before approving passenger operations.
LTA and the Malaysian ministry said infrastructure works on both sides are substantially complete. The February date “remains subject to” the safety certification and final regulatory approvals, so it is a target rather than a fixed opening day.
The short version: February 2027 is the operator’s target, not a confirmed opening date, and there is still no official fare. Keep your current JB travel plans and costs for trips in January and February.
What We Know About the Line
From LTA’s earlier releases:
| Item | What LTA has said |
|---|---|
| Route | About 4 km, Woodlands North (Singapore) to Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru) |
| Journey time | About five minutes |
| Peak capacity | Up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction |
| Immigration | Travellers clear once, at the departure station |
Woodlands North is also a Thomson-East Coast Line station, which makes the connection from the rest of Singapore straightforward.
What About the Fare?
There is no official RTS Link fare yet. In a written parliamentary reply on 7 April 2026, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport said fares “will be determined commercially by the operator” and that RTSO “will announce the fares in due course”.
Malaysia’s transport minister was reported on 20 October 2026 as saying fares should be announced by the end of the year, before service begins. Estimates have circulated in the media since early 2026. We are not repeating them because they are not official, and the real fare could differ.
What It Means for Your Travel Money
For now, nothing changes. When the line opens, the cost of a JB day trip will be the RTS fare plus whatever you spend in ringgit, rather than a bus fare or the costs of driving across.
Until then:
- Driving across still involves Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit and road charge for Singapore-registered cars, plus fuel and tolls. Check the current charges on Malaysia’s JPJ VEP portal.
- Paying in JB works the same as before: ringgit cash, card, or scanning DuitNow QR codes with a participating Singapore banking app.
Our Johor Bahru day trip money guide covers each option, and our guide to paying by QR overseas explains which Singapore apps can scan Malaysian codes.
What To Do Next
- Watch for the fare and opening-date announcement from LTA and RTSO before you change any regular JB routine.
- If you cross often, compare your card’s overseas fees with a travel wallet in how to pay less on overseas spending.
- Keep a small ringgit float for places that only take cash, and see how much cash to bring overseas for a simple rule of thumb.
