This is a dated update. For the full picture, read our RTS Link JB to Singapore: Opening Date, Fares, Stations and Immigration, which we keep current.
At a glance
- New target
- February 2027, aiming for before Hari Raya
- Old target
- End of 2026
- Reason
- Independent safety certification not complete
- Testing
- Still due to finish by 31 December 2026
- Announced
- 2 October 2026; Malaysia's transport minister explained it on 8 October
What was announced
On 2 October 2026 Malaysia said passenger service on the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link would start in February 2027. The previous target was the end of 2026. Singapore’s transport minister, Jeffrey Siow, followed up on 3 October. He said safety certification and licensing had been planned for completion before the end of 2026, “but it was not to be”. Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke, said on 8 October that the extra time is there to iron out problems before passengers board.
What is already done
The physical work is substantially complete. The first train reached Woodlands North in February 2026, and structural works at Bukit Chagar were largely finished by April 2026. The law that lets both countries run immigration at each station passed in May 2026. System tests and trial runs are still expected to finish by 31 December 2026.
What remains is paperwork with real weight behind it. RTS Operations, the Prasarana and SMRT joint venture that will run the line, needs sign-off from an independent safety assessor before it can carry passengers.
What it means if you commute
Nothing changes until February. Bus, car and the KTM Shuttle Tebrau remain the options through the December school holidays and Chinese New Year. Fares have not been announced either. The figure in circulation is RM15.50 to RM21.70 per trip (about S$5 to S$7), and we expect the final fare table closer to opening.
What it means if you’re buying near the RTS
A two-month slip is small against a 10 or 20-year hold, and it does not change where the station is. It does move a few dates you may have planned around.
- Rental demand from RTS commuters starts in February rather than January. If your unit is handed over in late 2026, budget for a longer empty period before the first tenant.
- Some sales talk uses “RTS opening end-2026” to create urgency. The date in your head should now be February 2027, and any timeline a seller gives you should be checked against it.
- The rules on what Singaporeans can buy and resell have not changed. These matter more to your return than the opening month. Read the rules for Singaporeans buying in JB before you book a unit.
For everything about the line itself (stations, fares, hours and immigration), see our RTS Link guide, which we update as news comes in.
Common questions
Is the RTS Link delayed again?
As of 12 October 2026 the target is February 2027. That is the only delay to the passenger start date announced so far. We'll update this page if it changes.
Why was the RTS Link delayed?
RTS Operations needs certification from an independent safety assessor before it can carry passengers. Singapore's transport minister, Jeffrey Siow, said the certification and licensing were planned for before the end of 2026, but they will not be done in time.
Does the delay affect property prices near Bukit Chagar?
Two months is short against the life of a property. What it changes is timing. Rental demand from RTS commuters starts later, and units handed over in late 2026 may sit empty a little longer before the line opens.
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Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 12 October 2026.
Read next
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