SINGAPORE — Fares for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will be "determined commercially" by the operating company once the shuttle service is up and running, said Acting Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat on Thursday (Jan 11). 

The company, RTS Operations, will have to consider certain factors, such as the demand for RTS services and "the cost of providing an efficient and reliable service for commuters on a financially sustainable basis".

They will also have to take into account the fares being charged by alternative travel options, such as taxis, coaches and ferries, Mr Chee told reporters on the sidelines of the commemorative ceremony to mark the completion of the RTS Link's connecting span. 

At the ceremony on Thursday, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signed commemorative plaques symbolising a shared commitment to the rail project to improve connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

The project is now more than 65 per cent complete on each side. The RTS Link is expected to start passenger service by the end of 2026. 

REDUCING TRAVEL TIME 'VERY CRUCIAL'

When the RTS Link is up and running, it will ferry up to 10,000 passengers an hour each way on a journey that takes about five minutes. 

The service "will reduce congestion on the Causeway by 35 per cent", noted Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke. 

"We must ensure that our infrastructure meets the demands of one of the world's busiest border crossings," he added.

Highlighting the significance of the RTS Link, Mr Chee pointed out that the project is "much more than building bridges".

"It is about building stronger ties between the people of Singapore and the people of Malaysia. It is also about building a better future for both countries, strengthening our longstanding friendship, and creating more win-win opportunities for our businesses and citizens in the areas of common interests and mutual benefit," he said. 

"With good bilateral ties, this same approach can be extended to other areas and future projects between our two countries." CNA