JOHOR BAHRU — The long-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is moving closer to reality, with the Bukit Chagar station now taking shape as a high-tech cross-border transport hub designed to make the journey between Malaysia and Singapore faster and more efficient.
During a media tour on Aug. 17, Malaysian authorities unveiled key features of the Bukit Chagar station, including advanced security scanners, electronic immigration gates, joint monitoring facilities and a 409-metre pedestrian link connecting the station to major shopping and transport hubs in Johor Bahru.
25-minute target before boarding
For passengers departing from Bukit Chagar, Malaysian authorities are targeting a total processing time of about 25 minutes from entering the station to reaching the train platform.
MRT Corp project director Zulkifli Mohamed said the target includes roughly five minutes each for ticketing, security screening, immigration clearance for both countries and movement to the platform.
Authorities are also hoping that the process can eventually be shortened to around 20 minutes if all systems operate smoothly.
That means the border procedures could take considerably longer than the actual train journey — because once passengers board, the trip between Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North is expected to take only about five minutes.
High-tech scanners to screen passengers
Security screening will be one of the major features of the new station.
Bukit Chagar is planned to have 18 luggage scanners and nine body scanners. The body scanners use ultra-low-power millimetre-wave technology and can detect concealed metallic and non-metallic objects, with suspicious items flagged on an officer’s screen within seconds.
Malaysia has previously said that the wider security setup for the RTS facility would include additional baggage and screening equipment as part of efforts to strengthen border security.
The technology is being introduced as authorities prepare for the large passenger volumes expected once the cross-border rail service begins.
Electronic immigration gates could speed up clearance
After security screening, passengers will proceed to Malaysian immigration, where the station will have electronic gates alongside manual counters.
The e-gates are designed to work with Malaysia’s MyNIISe immigration system. Eligible passengers using the system could potentially complete the electronic immigration process in as little as seven seconds, according to the station’s operators.
Passengers will then proceed to the Singapore immigration area before heading to the train platform.
The system reflects one of the RTS Link’s most important features: co-located immigration, customs and quarantine facilities, allowing passengers to complete the required border clearance at their point of departure rather than undergoing a second immigration process after arriving across the border.
A five-minute train ride between JB and Singapore
The RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore over a rail route of about 4km.
The train journey is expected to take approximately five minutes, while the system is designed to handle up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
The project is expected to provide an alternative to the heavily congested Causeway, one of the busiest land crossings between the two countries.
For daily commuters, the potential time savings could be significant — particularly during peak periods when road traffic between Johor Bahru and Singapore can become extremely heavy.
The station will connect directly to JB’s transport and shopping hubs
Bukit Chagar is also being designed to function as more than simply a railway station.
A 409-metre pedestrian linkway will connect the station with nearby malls, including KOMTAR JBCC and Johor Bahru City Square, as well as JB Sentral.
The walkway includes travelators and is intended to help distribute passenger flows after trains arrive and depart. MRT Corp said the linkway is designed to accommodate large passenger movements and provide connections to other transport services, including Malaysia’s Electric Train Service.
The connectivity could further integrate the RTS Link with Johor Bahru’s existing rail and commercial areas.
Joint control rooms for Malaysia and Singapore
Another notable feature is the planned cooperation between Malaysian and Singaporean authorities inside the RTS system.
A joint monitoring room will allow officers from both countries to coordinate responses to security incidents, while separate operations control centres in Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North will monitor train services and disruptions.
The arrangement is part of the broader cross-border framework required to operate the RTS Link.
Singapore’s Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-Location) legislation was introduced specifically to support the co-location of customs, immigration and quarantine facilities at the two stations.
Why the RTS Link matters
The RTS Link is intended not only to shorten the physical journey between Johor Bahru and Singapore but also to reduce pressure on existing road crossings.
The project has been described by both governments as a major bilateral transport initiative that could strengthen connectivity, support economic activity and make cross-border commuting more convenient.
Malaysia’s authorities have also been preparing additional immigration and security capacity ahead of the opening. In May, Malaysia said hundreds of positions had been approved for the RTS facility, while new screening equipment and the MyNIISe immigration system were being prepared for operations.
January 2027 launch now in sight
The RTS Link has faced delays from its original timetable, but the project is now entering its final stages.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in April that the project remained on track for completion by the end of 2026, with passenger operations expected to begin in January 2027. Other recent reports have likewise described the project as progressing toward the early-2027 opening.
The latest developments at Bukit Chagar suggest that the focus is increasingly shifting from construction to the systems passengers will actually experience — from ticketing and security checks to immigration, platform access and cross-border operations.
And when the RTS Link finally opens, the biggest surprise for many commuters may not be the five-minute train ride itself.
It may be how quickly — or slowly — passengers can get through the border before they even reach the train.
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