First train for international metro delivered

 

 

Singapore, the city state at the tip of the Malay peninsular, shares a border with Johor Bahru, Malaysia's second largest city. A proposed extension of the Singapore mass transit system to Johor Bahru was first proposed in 1990, but it was not until 2010 that the leaders of the two countries agreed on a rapid transit link that would ease traffic congestion on the Johor–Singapore causeway and it took until December 2016 for agreement to be reached on shuttle metro link from Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore to the similar facility at Bukit Chagr in Malaysia. Even then arguments about the cost and its split between the two nations conintued and construction did not start until November 2020 (Singapore) and January 2021 (Malaysia). 

 

The 4km line involves a 25m high bridge across the Johor Straits, an elevated alignment to meet the Singapore metro at Woodlands North and an underground alignment to the Bukit Chagr terminus. Signalling is being supplied by Siemens to support GoA4 automation and the depot will be at Wadi Hana in Malaysia. A contract for eight four-car 76m trains was awarded to Chinese company CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Company in 2021. Each will carry up to 1000 passengers (393 seated). 

 

On 30 June 2025 the first train was unveiled at the Singapore Rail Test Centre, where commissioning will take place. The line is about 80% complete, so trial running will not start until 2026. It is hoped to inaugurate passenger service in December 2026. end-to-end running time will be just five minutes. immigration checks for both countries will take place at the departure station. The total cost of the project is MYR 10bn (SGD 3.24bn).