For months now the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link has been in the news almost every week. Workers living in Senai and Kulai keep asking: "When does it start? How much is the fare? Can I ride from Senai to Singapore?" This article covers what is confirmed, what is still unannounced, and what it means for you. All facts are as of 30 Sep 2026.
For the other news this month, see our Senai & Kulai worker news (September 2026). This article goes deeper on the RTS only.
RTS Link Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru (photo from July 2025). Photo: Pc6603r, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is confirmed
According to paultan.org (15 Sep 2026):
- All station and rail infrastructure on the Malaysian side is complete, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
- The project is entering its final integration testing phase between the two countries.
- Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed the project remains on track to begin passenger operations in 2027.
- Capacity is designed for up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction at peak, with an estimated 40,000 passengers a day (LTA projection).
The RTS Link bridge as seen from the Johor Bahru side. Photo: MapStaringEnthusiast, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is not announced yet: exact date and fare
Date. Malay Mail (17 Aug 2026) reported the RTS is scheduled to start operating on 1 January 2027. A day later, per paultan.org (18 Aug 2026), Loke said the operating date and fare will be announced jointly by both countries' transport ministers "soon", adding "we cannot make any unilateral announcements". So treat 1 January 2027 as a report, not an official date, until the joint announcement.
Fare. There is no official fare. According to the same paultan report, discussions are still ongoing; the operator was expected to present proposed fares to both governments in the third quarter of 2026 (per Loke's April comments). A February report, citing industry sources, suggested S$5–7 per trip. That is an old estimate, not an official fare. Do not plan your budget around it until the fare is announced.
Bus platforms at JB Sentral. Photo: Tayx81992, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New buses in Johor Bahru
According to Malay Mail (17 Aug 2026), the BAS.MY network will expand to 28 routes with 254 buses, including electric buses. Of these, 157 buses under the Stage Bus Transformation Programme 2.0 will serve routes to JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar from early 2027. The Federal Government will also fund the E-ART (Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit) project in Johor to ease congestion. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said travel patterns will shift around the city centre.
A BAS.MY bus in Johor Bahru. Photo: JaventheAlderick, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Note that the report talks about routes serving JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar. We found no route list saying these new buses will reach Senai or Kulai, so do not assume so.
What does it mean for you in Senai and Kulai?
The RTS Link connects Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru) with Woodlands North (Singapore). Senai and Kulai are not on this line. The following is our practical view, not an official promise:
Most affected:
- Workers who work in Singapore and commute via JB. If you live in Senai, you still have to get to Bukit Chagar first, so the travel time to the station matters as much as the time on the train.
- Workers whose jobs are around JB city centre, since Zahid himself said travel patterns there will change.
Less affected:
- Factory workers in Senai and Kulai who go to work by factory bus or motorcycle. Your daily trip to the industrial estate does not use the RTS. See our guide to getting to work from Senai.
Cannot be known yet:
- The effect on cost of living and traffic in JB. This may change once the fare and date are announced.
The departure bus bay at Woodlands Checkpoint towards Johor Bahru (photo from May 2026). Photo: JohnLim99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Two quick examples (our illustration, not official data)
Aminah, a production operator at a Senai factory. Her house is five minutes from the factory bus stop. Her daily routine does not change because the RTS does not pass through the Senai industrial areas. All she needs to watch is cost-of-living news in JB if she often goes into the city on weekends.
Faizal, who has been offered a job in Singapore. Before accepting, he needs to know three things: the official fare, the official start date, and how he himself gets from Senai to Bukit Chagar. Two of the three are not announced yet, so decisions about his room and salary should wait for the joint announcement.
Both examples show one thing: the RTS matters depending on where you work, not where you live.
Checklist: what to do now
- Do not sign a work contract in Singapore or change rooms based only on an assumed fare. Wait for the official announcement.
- Check your permit and work conditions: working across the border has its own requirements; ask your employer and the relevant authorities.
- Watch for the joint announcement by the Malaysian and Singapore transport ministers for the date and fare.
- Work out your own travel time to Bukit Chagar from your house if you plan to use the RTS. Do not rely on someone else's estimate.
- Be careful of anyone selling "early RTS tickets" or cards before the official operator announces anything. See also our job scam guide.
Senai is far from Bukit Chagar; plan your journey realistically. Photo: Bilik Sewa Senai
FAQ
When does the RTS Link start operating? Targeted for 2027, per the LTA (quoted by paultan.org, 15 Sep 2026). Malay Mail (17 Aug) reported 1 January 2027, but the official date will be announced jointly by both transport ministers.
How much is the RTS Link fare? Not announced as of 30 Sep 2026. The S$5–7 per trip figure comes from a February report citing industry sources; it is not an official fare.
Can I take the RTS directly from Senai? No. The RTS Link connects Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. You must get to Bukit Chagar first.
Will the new BAS.MY buses reach Senai or Kulai? The reports we read only mention routes serving JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar. We found no confirmation for Senai or Kulai.
Will the RTS change my factory bus? No source says so. Ask your employer or your factory bus operator.
Sumber / Sources
As of 30 Sep 2026:
- paultan.org — Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link: Woodlands North station completed, on course to begin service in 2027 (15 Sep 2026)
- paultan.org — RTS Link fare and start date to be jointly announced by Malaysia and Singapore, says Loke (18 Aug 2026)
- Malay Mail — Zahid chairs road safety panel, maps congestion fixes before Johor Bahru RTS January debut (17 Aug 2026)
Photo credits: Pc6603r (CC0), MapStaringEnthusiast (CC0), Tayx81992 (CC BY-SA 4.0), JaventheAlderick (CC BY-SA 4.0), JohnLim99 (CC BY-SA 4.0), all via Wikimedia Commons. Other photo: Bilik Sewa Senai.
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