KUALA LUMPUR — The government will construct a direct connection between the RTS Link Bukit Chagar station and the KTMB Komuter service at a cost of RM60 million as part of efforts to strengthen public transport integration and improve passenger convenience.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the additional project has received approval from the Ministry of Economy and will be carried out by the Ministry of Transport in the near future, Bernama reported.
He said the new linkage would allow KTMB Komuter passengers to reach the RTS Bukit Chagar station through a dedicated pedestrian connection, eliminating the need to take the longer existing route via JB Sentral.
“Once completed, passengers using KTM Komuter and alighting at the KTMB Komuter station can continue their journey directly to the RTS Bukit Chagar station.
“This will make things easier for many passengers. We want to encourage RTS Link users to use public transport to travel to Bukit Chagar or leave Bukit Chagar,” he told reporters after a media visit to the RTS Link project at Bukit Chagar here today.
Loke said the linkage is expected to be completed within 12 months and will significantly shorten the walking distance between the KTMB Komuter station and the RTS Link station.
He added that the government is also preparing the implementation of Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) 2.0, which includes the addition of at least 200 new buses to provide services from residential areas around Johor Bahru to Bukit Chagar.
“When RTS begins operations, there will be more buses. We are preparing SBST 2.0 and looking at at least more than 200 new buses to cover residential areas around Johor Bahru, most of which will head towards Bukit Chagar,” he said.
Loke said discussions with operators are currently being finalised, while the final contract awards will be subject to approval from the Ministry of Finance.
He said the additional bus services are planned to be introduced alongside the opening of the RTS Link to ensure passenger movement can be managed more effectively.
Besides KTMB Komuter and bus services, Loke said the RTS Bukit Chagar station will also be integrated with JB Sentral, e-hailing services and other public transport modes, positioning it as a multi-modal transport hub.
Meanwhile, Loke said construction of the physical structures, including the building, Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and RTS Link station, has been completed, with the project now undergoing testing and commissioning.
He said the phase includes system integration testing before proceeding with fault-free runs and trial runs to ensure all systems are functioning properly before the service is opened to the public.
The RTS Link is scheduled to begin operations on Jan 1 next year and is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. – August 18, 2026