Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) awarded Penta-Ocean Construction the first two civil contracts for the Malaysia-Singapore rapid rail link with a total value of SGD 932.8 million (USD 699.56 million).
The contract covers the construction of the RTS Link Woodlands North station, tunnels and the customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore that will be conveniently co-located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar (in Malaysia) stations. It will facilitate seamless travelling experience for passengers.
The construction for the RTS Link is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2021 and passenger service is expected to commence in end 2026.
The second civil contract for this project, which includes the construction of the RTS Link viaduct, will be awarded in the first quarter of 2021.
The Malaysia-Singapore rapid rail link will be a 4-km rail shuttle service between the Singapore terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru. The line transits from the underground Woodlands North Station to the above-ground Bukit Chagar station via a 25m high bridge across the Straits of Johor.
The project also includes a depot that will be constructed in Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The so-called RTS Link will be a standalone light rail transit system with the capacity to serve up to 10,000 commuters during peak periods, for every hour and in each direction. Thanks to the CIQ, the passengers will only be required to clear both Singapore and Malaysia immigration authorities once at the point of departure. Upon arrival in Singapore, passengers can continue their journey by transferring to the TEL Woodlands North Station.
When operations commence, the railway link between the two countries will further improve the connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru and help ease congestion along the Causeway.
RTS Operations Pte Ltd, a joint venture company formed by Malaysia’s Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Singapore’s SMRT Corporation Ltd will operate the Johor Bahru – Singapore rapid transit system.
Singapore and Malaysia held a ceremony on July 30, 2020 to resume work on the RTS Link.
Share on:
