RTS Link Progress Tracker: Opening Date, Latest News & What’s Confirmed (Updated Nov 2026)

When is the RTS Link opening date, and what has actually been confirmed? This tracker page follows the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link from groundbreaking to opening, separating official announcements from reported expectations. We update it as news arrives, with a special focus on what each milestone means for residents of Twin Tower Residence, the completed home right beside Bukit Chagar station.

Last updated: 9 November 2026

Current status: Testing & safety certification. Passenger service expected February 2027 (target: before Hari Raya 2027). Fares not yet announced; expected by end-2026.

What is the current RTS Link status at a glance?

What is confirmed, and what is not yet confirmed?

Confirmed

• The route: about 4 km between Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru) and Woodlands North (Singapore), with no intermediate stops.
• The revised target of February 2027 for passenger service, subject to safety certification and approvals.
• Co-located customs and immigration: you clear both countries at the departure station, so there is no second check on arrival.
• The operator: RTS Operations Pte Ltd, a joint venture of Prasarana (52%) and SMRT (48%) with a 30-year concession.
• The fleet: eight four-car driverless trains built by CRRC Zhuzhou, with Siemens signalling.
• Woodlands North station connects with the Thomson-East Coast Line, with transfers through a concourse on basement one.

Not yet confirmed

• The exact opening day within February 2027.
• Fares and payment methods. We will not print a fare until one is officially announced.
• The official operating timetable (about 6am to midnight has been reported).
• Peak frequency of about every 3.6 minutes and capacity of up to about 10,000 passengers per hour per direction are planned figures.
• Expected launch ridership of about 40,000 passengers a day, and the expected end of the KTM Shuttle Tebrau after RTS opens.

What are the key RTS Link milestones so far?

Looking at the list, the project has moved steadily from civil works to systems testing. The remaining steps are about safety sign-off and operations, which is normal for the final stage of any new railway.

What happens next?

1. December 2026: final system tests and trial runs are expected to be completed by 31 December.
2. By end-2026: fares are expected to be announced jointly by Malaysia and Singapore. See our fares, hours and immigration guide, which we will update once figures are official.
3. Before opening: RTS Operations needs independent safety certification and final regulatory approvals.
4. February 2027: target start of passenger service, ahead of Hari Raya Puasa (expected around 10 March 2027).

Why did the opening move to February 2027?

The earlier plan was to start service around the end of 2026. In the 2 October 2026 joint statement, the two governments explained that passenger service can only begin once RTS Operations has obtained independent safety certification and the final regulatory approvals. The civil works and stations are described as substantially complete, so the extra weeks are about proving that trains, signalling, power and the co-located border systems work together reliably before the public rides.

That is a reassuring kind of delay. A cross-border line has to satisfy two sets of regulators, and running full trial operations before opening is standard practice for a new railway. Minister Loke’s stated aim of opening before Hari Raya 2027 also gives a clear target window for planning.

How should you plan around the opening?

If you are a Singapore commuter

Keep an eye on the fare announcement expected by end-2026 and compare it with your current Causeway costs. If you intend to live near the station, a lease starting around the opening period lets you use the RTS from its first weeks.

If you are a landlord at Twin Tower

Prepare your unit before the opening period, when tenant enquiries are likely to rise. A clean, well-furnished unit with clear photos and an honest description of the walk to the station will stand out.

If you are thinking of buying

Use this tracker together with our market report. Watching rents and asking prices month by month, alongside each RTS milestone, gives a clearer picture than any single headline.

How will the trip work for a Twin Tower resident?

Twin Tower Residence sits right next to Bukit Chagar station, the Johor Bahru terminus of the line. Once service starts, a typical morning would look like this:

1. Walk to Bukit Chagar station next door. Our walking guide to the station covers the route.
2. Clear both immigration checks at Bukit Chagar. With co-located CIQ, Malaysian departure and Singapore arrival formalities happen before you board.
3. Ride for about 5 minutes across the Straits of Johor to Woodlands North.
4. Walk out into Singapore, or transfer to the Thomson-East Coast Line at Woodlands North to continue your journey across the island.

The return trip works the same way in reverse: you clear both countries at Woodlands North and step off at Bukit Chagar, a short walk from home. For the bigger picture, read our complete RTS Link guide.

What does the RTS Link mean for Twin Tower owners and tenants?

Twin Tower Residence is the closest completed residential project to Bukit Chagar station. It is freehold, completed in 2023 and offers right-sized layouts from 599 sq ft studios to 1,216 sq ft 3-bedroom units, which suit both single commuters and small families.

• For tenants: a home where the daily cross-border trip could start with a short walk rather than a drive or bus queue.
• For owners and investors: a location whose main advantage is being confirmed as each milestone passes. Our monthly market report tracks asking rents and prices alongside RTS news, and our analysis of the RTS Link effect on Bukit Chagar property looks at the longer-term picture.
• For own-stay buyers: JB Sentral, City Square and the existing CIQ remain within walking distance, so the RTS adds a new option rather than replacing others.

Tenants planning ahead can see what to budget in our Twin Tower rent guide. If you would like to see current units or floor plans near the station, you are welcome to WhatsApp Darren.

Conclusion

As of 9 November 2026, the RTS Link is in its final testing and safety certification stage, with passenger service expected in February 2027 and fares due by the end of 2026. We will update this tracker as each item moves from “not yet confirmed” to “confirmed”, so bookmark the page and check back.

Sources

• LTA – RTS Link passenger service targeted for February 2027 (2 Oct 2026)
• Mothership – RTS Link delay explainer (Oct 2026)
• AsiaOne – RTS fares to be announced by end-2026 (Oct 2026)
• Land Transport Guru – RTS Link
• Malay Mail – RTS Link fare talks (18 Aug 2026)
• Malay Mail – Singapore completes Woodlands North RTS station (6 Sep 2026)
• Wikipedia – Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System