KUALA LUMPUR: Fares for the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid\nTransit System (RTS) Link are expected to cost around S$5 to S$7\n(US$3.95 to US$5.50) for each one-way trip, said Malaysia Transport\nMinister Anthony Loke.<\/p>\n
He said that fares for the cross-border rail service are unlikely to\nbe as cheap as public transport in Kuala Lumpur but added that it would\nstill be more cost-effective than travelling to Singapore by car.<\/p>\n
Fares are expected to be announced in the second half of 2026, Loke\nsaid, echoing his earlier statements that the final pricing and fare\nmechanism would be made public closer to the service\u2019s launch date.<\/p>\n
The RTS Link is expected to start operations by the end of 2026. In\nSingapore, it will connect directly to Woodlands North MRT station on\nthe Thomson-East Coast Line.<\/p>\n
Loke said that the Malaysian government will not subsidise Singapore\ncommuters, making schemes like monthly passes and discounts \u201cdifficult\u201d\nto implement.<\/p>\n
He added that fares are set by RTS Operations \u2014 a joint venture\nbetween Malaysia\u2019s state-owned transport provider Prasarana Malaysia Bhd\nand Singapore\u2019s SMRT Corporation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Singapore government will not provide subsidies, so the\noperating model must ensure sustainable development,\u201d Loke was quoted as\nsaying by Sin Chew Daily.<\/p>\n
In remarks made in the 13 February Sin Chew Daily article and picked\nup by Malaysia\u2019s New Straits Times on 18 February, the minister added\nthat providing monthly pass subsidies for Malaysians working in\nSingapore would require funding support from the Johor state government,\nthough he did not elaborate on the details.<\/p>\n
RTS Operations has declined comment when asked about Loke\u2019s remarks\non the purported fares for the RTS Link as well as details on\nconcessionary fares for select groups, if any.<\/p>\n
Currently, Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia are\nrequired to pay a toll of RM20 (US$5.10), of which RM5 is funnelled to\nthe Johor state government and RM15 goes to the federal government, Loke\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, foreign-registered cars entering and leaving Tuas\nCheckpoint will have to pay S$2.10 each time, or S$0.80 if they leave\nvia the Woodlands Checkpoint, according to Singapore Land Transport\nAuthority\u2019s (LTA) OneMotoring website. There is no toll fee for\nforeign-registered cars entering via the Woodlands Checkpoint. A\nreciprocal road charge of S$6.40 is also imposed per entry for\nforeign-registered cars into Singapore.<\/p>\n
Through toll fees, Loke said that the Johor state government gathers\napproximately RM70 million in annual revenue.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, LTA announced earlier this month that the vehicle entry\npermit (VEP) fee for foreign-registered cars and motorcycles will be\nincreased next year and made payable on all days except weekends and\nSingapore public holidays.<\/p>\n
From 1 January 2027, the VEP fee will be raised to S$50 per day for\ncars and S$7 per day for motorcycles, up from the current S$35 and S$4\ndaily fees respectively. The annual 10 free VEP days and the free VEP\nhours on weekdays will also be removed.<\/p>\n
Last Thursday, the Malaysian parliament passed the RTS Link Bill to\nease congestion at the Causeway, including a single-clearance concept to\nreduce travel time to just five minutes.<\/p>\n
The government will also provide 100 units of artificial\nintelligence-enabled gates at Woodlands and Bukit Chagar stations,\nallowing a clearance time of just seven seconds, said Deputy Home\nMinister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah on 12 February.<\/p>\n
Shamsul added that Malaysian officers performing official duties in\nSingapore would enjoy legal immunity from prosecution in Singapore\ncourts, while remaining liable to Malaysian law.<\/p>\n
Under a cross-reciprocity mechanism, he said that Malaysia would\nwithdraw corresponding immunities or privileges to Singaporean officers,\nif Singapore fails to provide equal protections to Malaysian\nofficers.<\/p>\n
On 4 February, the first RTS Link train arrived in Woodlands for\ndemonstration. Each train can carry more than 600 passengers with a\ncapacity of 10,000 passengers per hour for each direction.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rts-link-fares-may-cost-around-s-5-to-s-7-per-trip-more-cost-effective-than-car-travel-loke-1771624832", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }