Travellers on JB-Singapore RTS Link to clear immigration only once: Edwin Tong

[Tree]

Travellers on JB-Singapore RTS Link to clear immigration only once: Edwin Tong​

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong outlined what commuters using the RTS Link can expect when train service begins.
PHOTO: AsiaOne/Danial Zahrin

PUBLISHED ONMay 05, 2026 4:46 PM
UPDATEDMay 05, 2026 9:01 PM
BYLim Kewei

Travellers on the highly-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) will have to clear immigration only once, before they board the train, Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong said in Parliament on Tuesday (May 5).

During the Second Reading of the Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-Location) Bill, he outlined the "seamless and streamlined journey" commuters can expect when taking the RTS Link from Woodlands North Station to Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru.

At Woodlands North, commuters will enter the RTS Link fare gate and undergo security checks and departure clearance by Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers.


Then, they will proceed one level below ICA's departure clearance to the designated area for Malaysia's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) zone within Woodlands North station, where Malaysia's officers will be deployed for immigration clearance.

They can then head to the departure platform and board the train to Bukit Chagar Station.

"The traveller will not need to undergo further immigration clearance upon arrival in Malaysia, and can just walk off the train straight into Johor Bahru," Tong told Parliament.

"Nevertheless, Malaysia's officers at Bukit Chagar Station may conduct further selective security checks, inspect customs permits, and collect taxes and duties, where necessary."

For those commuting from Malaysia to Singapore, the immigration clearance process at Bukit Chagar Station will be identical, he added.

The train services are scheduled to start at the end of this year.

"With a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, the RTS Link will help relieve congestion on the Causeway," Tong said.

 

[rocket]

Travellers on JB-Singapore RTS Link to clear immigration only once: Edwin Tong​

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong outlined what commuters using the RTS Link can expect when train service begins.
PHOTO: AsiaOne/Danial Zahrin

PUBLISHED ONMay 05, 2026 4:46 PM
UPDATEDMay 05, 2026 9:01 PM
BYLim Kewei

Travellers on the highly-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) will have to clear immigration only once, before they board the train, Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong said in Parliament on Tuesday (May 5).

During the Second Reading of the Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-Location) Bill, he outlined the "seamless and streamlined journey" commuters can expect when taking the RTS Link from Woodlands North Station to Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru.

At Woodlands North, commuters will enter the RTS Link fare gate and undergo security checks and departure clearance by Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers.


Then, they will proceed one level below ICA's departure clearance to the designated area for Malaysia's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) zone within Woodlands North station, where Malaysia's officers will be deployed for immigration clearance.

They can then head to the departure platform and board the train to Bukit Chagar Station.

"The traveller will not need to undergo further immigration clearance upon arrival in Malaysia, and can just walk off the train straight into Johor Bahru," Tong told Parliament.

"Nevertheless, Malaysia's officers at Bukit Chagar Station may conduct further selective security checks, inspect customs permits, and collect taxes and duties, where necessary."

For those commuting from Malaysia to Singapore, the immigration clearance process at Bukit Chagar Station will be identical, he added.

The train services are scheduled to start at the end of this year.

"With a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, the RTS Link will help relieve congestion on the Causeway," Tong said.

Will sg retail toh ?

 

[Tree]

Will sg retail toh ?

Most likely

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Big deal? Back then the train station at Tanjong Pagar also clear immigration once.

 

[eatshitndie]

round trip twice to clear. the half truth is convenient for them to spin a narrative of ease and simplicity but it’s not. this is only rts at mrt speed. that’s why the hsr will not work in a relatively strict cross border customs and immigration inspection. imagine a hsr train going at 369kmh from jurong to woodlands and then it has to cum to a screeching stop for customs and immigration. deboard with luggage, go thru’ the checkpoints, recheck and load luggage, reboard and wait for all paid passengers to get on. delay in hours. or if sg customs and immigration were to be processed in jurong but ml customs and immigration officers were in woodlands. double delay. station ml customs and immigration in jurong? no way. that will mean ml officers have to commute to inland sg or have to stay in jurong. ml will never allow that, nor sg will allow an ml checkpoint to be present deep in sinkie heartland (it existed in the past at tg pagar because ml owned the railway plus the track and land stabbing deep into sg city center). same issue with hsr returning from ml to sg. 369kmh from kl and cums to screeching halt at jb with the same customs and immigration shit from both cuntries. it works in europe because they have open borders with eu clearance, i.e. enter eu via any port and you’re free to travel within the eu. same with jp. same with tiongcock. but once there’s a non-trusted nor free-to-go cross border inspection, high speed rail becums high stop rail. this rts will give sinkies and jiuhukias a glimpse of the complexity of not-fully-trusted cross border rail. you think sg side will allow contraband traffuckers to suka suka sexploit the seemingly “seamless” rts for smuggling activities? tan ku ku with decades of delay (no pun intended).

 

[nabeifuckpap]

At least RTS is not maintained by Shitgapore or jiuhu kias will have to endure train breakdown everyday

 

[syed putra]

Will sg retail toh ?

Nope. As jb has no mrt. Only now they selecting contractor for mrt.

 

[jurongkechil]

Got direct to vip spa???

 

[Worm]

At least RTS is not maintained by Shitgapore or jiuhu kias will have to endure train breakdown everyday

Singapore and Malaysia paid separately but they both agreed to appoint SIEMENS to ensure seamless connectivity.

 

[Worm]

Will sg retail toh ?

i think deepest impact will be on rental market

 

[A Singaporean]

What a stupid man. You are clearing twice but at the location. Eg Leaving Singapore answer entering Malaysia and vice versa

 

[CopyCat]

Got direct to vip spa???

Blueware still in operation?