Tuesday 3 March 2015

Singapore is 'not delaying progress on Rapid Transit System link with Malaysia'

Rail link: S'pore refutes KL reports
By Yeo Sam Jo, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2015

THE Ministry of Transport has refuted Malaysian news reports claiming that Singapore is delaying progress on the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between the two countries.


It added: "Singapore informed Malaysia in June 2011 that the RTS terminus in Singapore would be located at Woodlands North near Republic Polytechnic.

"However, to date, Singapore has not received official confirmation of the location of Malaysia's RTS terminus in Johor Baru.

"Only upon confirmation... can both countries proceed to finalise the alignment of the crossing between Johor Baru and Singapore."

Malaysian reports had quoted Datuk Hasni Mohammad, Johor state executive committee member for public works, rural and regional development, as saying that Singapore is holding back on deciding the alignment for the RTS link.

But the transport ministry's spokesman said that at a meeting last month, Singapore and Malaysia agreed the second phase of the joint engineering study on the link would begin after the terminus location in Johor Baru has been confirmed by Malaysia.

"We look forward to official confirmation from the Malaysian government on the location of the RTS terminus in Johor Baru," the statement added.

"Singapore remains committed to working closely with Malaysia on the RTS link, which will provide a boost to cross- border connectivity."

The RTS, which will connect Johor Baru to the upcoming Thomson-East Coast MRT line, is targeted to be completed by 2018 and operational by 2019.

Earlier Malaysian reports named Bukit Chagar, Tanjung Puteri and JB Sentral as potential sites for the Malaysian terminus.

The 31-station Thomson-East Coast Line, due to be fully operational by 2024, will stretch from Woodlands to Bedok.


No comments:

Post a Comment