RTS Link JB–Woodlands: Will It Replace the Car?

Short answer: no, the RTS Link will not replace the car, but it will change who needs one. Once it opens, a solo traveller with a backpack heading to JB city centre will probably find the train the quickest way across. Families with luggage, groups, anyone going beyond the city centre, and anyone travelling late at night or very early will still be better off in a car that goes door to door.

Below is where the project stands as of October 2026, how a trip on it is expected to work, and an honest side-by-side with a private car so you can decide which one suits each trip.

The RTS Link at a glance

Item	What we know (at time of writing)
Route	Woodlands North (Singapore) to Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru)
Length	About 4 km, crossing the Straits of Johor on a viaduct
Ride time	About 5 minutes station to station
Capacity	Up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction at peak
Immigration	Co-located: you clear both Singapore and Malaysia checks at the station you depart from
Singapore connection	Linked to Woodlands North station on the Thomson-East Coast Line
Expected opening	February 2027 (not yet a fixed date)
Fares	Not announced yet

Sources: Singapore's Land Transport Authority project page and the October 2026 announcements reported by Malaysian and Singapore media.

Where things stand in October 2026

On 2 October 2026, the operator, RTS Operations, told both governments that passenger service is now expected to start in February 2027, a month later than the previous January target. Earlier official timelines had pointed to the end of 2026. The new date still depends on the line receiving independent safety certification and final approvals from regulators on both sides, so treat February as a target rather than a promise.

Malaysia's Transport Minister described February as a buffer and said the exact start date would depend on approvals from Malaysia's land public transport agency and Singapore's LTA. Fares have not been published either; officials have said the opening date and fares will be announced jointly by the two countries' transport ministers.

On the Johor side, work around Bukit Chagar station is still being finished, including drop-off points and car parks. Johor is also reorganising roads and buses near the station: Jalan Jim Quee, next to the station, is due to close to private vehicles from 20 December 2026 to become a public transport hub.

How an RTS trip is expected to work

1. Get yourself to Woodlands North, either on the Thomson-East Coast Line or by car, taxi or bus.
2. Clear Singapore departure checks and Malaysian arrival checks inside the Woodlands North station, before you board.
3. Ride about five minutes across the strait.
4. Walk out at Bukit Chagar already cleared into Malaysia. An elevated walkway leads to KOMTAR JBCC, and a link towards JB Sentral is being built.
5. Make your own way onward: on foot, by e-hailing, by taxi or by bus.

The return works the same way in reverse, with both countries' checks done at Bukit Chagar. The big change is that you no longer clear immigration in two separate buildings, or ride a bus across the Causeway with a stop in between.

RTS vs private car: the honest comparison

What matters	RTS Link	Private car
Door to door	Station to station; you still need to get to Woodlands North and onward from Bukit Chagar	From your home or hotel in Singapore to the exact address in Malaysia
Immigration	Both checks in one station, on foot	You stay seated in the car at both checkpoints
Luggage	You carry it through the station yourself; luggage rules not yet published	Goes in the boot and stays there
Groups and kids	Everyone needs a ticket and walks through the halls	One fare per car for the whole group
Where it goes	Bukit Chagar, JB city centre only	Anywhere: Mount Austin, Legoland, Desaru, Melaka, KL and beyond
Hours	Not yet announced	24/7
Cost	Per person; fares not yet announced	Per car, tolls and checkpoint fees included

Where the RTS will win

• Solo trips into JB city. If you live near the Thomson-East Coast Line and your plans are within walking distance of Bukit Chagar or KOMTAR JBCC, the train should be hard to beat.
• Peak-hour commuting. The line is designed for daily commuters, and the queues on the road at rush hour are exactly what it is meant to bypass.
• Light travellers. A day bag and a phone are all you need.

Where a car still wins

• Anywhere outside the city centre. Mount Austin, Bukit Indah, Puteri Harbour, Legoland, Kota Tinggi or Desaru are all a drive from Bukit Chagar, so you would still need a second ride.
• Families and older travellers. Walking through two sets of station checks with children, prams or a parent who tires easily is harder than sitting in a car while an officer checks passports at the window.
• Shopping and luggage. Suitcases, groceries or a boot full of shopping are much easier when they never leave the vehicle.
• Odd hours. Operating hours have not been announced, and a car works at 3am as well as at noon.
• Groups. Four or six people paying per head on any transport can easily cost more than one car fare.

Will the RTS end the Causeway jams?

Nobody can say yet. The line will move a lot of people, and some daily bus and walk-across commuters will switch to it. But cars, lorries and motorcycles will still use the Causeway and the Second Link, and holiday peaks are driven by families travelling together, many of them by car. It is reasonable to hope for some easing on weekday mornings; it is not safe to assume weekend and public-holiday jams will disappear. Keep checking live conditions on our Woodlands and Tuas checkpoint traffic page before you set off.

Which one for which trip?

• Weekday solo errand to JB city: RTS, once open.
• Family day out at a Johor mall or attraction: car, door to door.
• Weekend away in Desaru, Melaka or KL: car; the RTS only takes you to the edge of JB.
• Coming back to Singapore with shopping or luggage: car, so nothing leaves the boot through immigration.
• Airport runs to Senai or Changi: car, especially with check-in bags.
• Group of five or more: compare total RTS fares plus onward rides against one car fare once prices are out.

Practical tips for the first months

• Expect crowds and teething problems after opening day; new border systems usually take a few weeks to settle.
• Wait for the official fare and ticketing announcement before you plan around cost. Payment options have not been confirmed.
• Check luggage rules before bringing anything bigger than a cabin bag.
• Have your passport and any required arrival declarations ready before you reach the gates. Rules for Singapore citizens and foreign residents differ, so check the official sites.
• Plan your onward ride from Bukit Chagar before you go, especially at night or in the rain.

Where a private car fits in

We see the RTS as good news: more ways to cross means more choice. For many of our passengers, though, the reasons to book a car stay the same. A Luxway SGMY driver picks you up anywhere in Singapore, you stay in your seat with your bags at both checkpoints, and you are dropped at the door in Johor, whether that is a condo in JB, a mall in Mount Austin or a resort further up the coast. Fares are per car and include tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking, there is no deposit, and you pay the driver on arrival. Need a car for the whole day? Our day trip service is charged by the hour.

For quick trips into Johor, see our private car from Singapore to Johor Bahru; heading home, book the Johor Bahru to Singapore transfer. Not sure how the border part works by car? Read what happens during checkpoint clearance. When you are ready, follow our step-by-step booking guide or Whatsapp us with your date, pick-up point and number of passengers for a quick quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 14 October 2026