Singapore-JB rapid transit system by 2018
By Lee Wei Lian
May 24, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Johor Bahru and Singapore will be linked by a rapid transit system by 2018 as part of efforts to increase connectivity between the two cities.

The transit system, which was jointly announced today by the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, will link Tanjung Puteri in Johor Bahru with the island republic and will be integrated with the public transport system in both countries. There will be a single co-located Customs Immigration Quarantine (CIQ) facility in Singapore with a location that is yet to be determined. With the new CIQ facility, Malaysia may consider relocating the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) train station from Singapore to Malaysia.

The announcement of the rapid transit system comes as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed today to relocate to Woodlands the 78-year-old Tanjong Pagar railway station operated by KTMB.

So what will happen is;

1) We give up Tanjong Pagar and move to Woodlands by 2011.

2) Singapore extend their MRT to Johor Bahru by 2018

3) We give up Woodlands and move to Johor Bahru by 2018

4) KTM will no longer service Singapore by 2018 (as our train will terminate at JB)

5) The rest of KTM land (which was valued around SGD 4-5 billion in 2004) will be developed/administered by a newco jointly owned by Temasek/Khazanah at 40:60 ratio.

6) Alternatively, SG government will allow us to swap KTM land to prime site with equivalent value near Marina Bay.

7) Singapore, via their GLCs, will embrace Iskandar Malaysia and start to invest big time.

I say bravo to Najib for being pragmatic and trying to resolve long-standing issue with our feisty little neighbour.

But my question is; why do we need to form a newco to jointly administer our landbank in Singapore? That KTM land is ours right from the beginning, and yet why suddenly Temasek owns 40 % of the development rights?

And in long term, is it a good business decision for KTM to stop servicing Singapore? I thought that route is a cash cow for them?

Tak tau kenapa, tapi aku rasa macam kita yang rugi dalam urusniaga ni.... Najib has a lot of explaining to do when he return home.

The newslink is here;

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/24/nation/20100524150610&sec=nation

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1058694/1/.html

So what will happen is;

1) We give up Tanjong Pagar and move to Woodlands by 2011.

2) Singapore extend their MRT to Johor Bahru by 2018

3) We give up Woodlands and move to Johor Bahru by 2018

4) KTM will no longer service Singapore by 2018 (as our train will terminate at JB)

5) The rest of KTM land (which was valued around SGD 4-5 billion in 2004) will be developed/administered by a newco jointly owned by Temasek/Khazanah at 40:60 ratio.

6) Alternatively, SG government will allow us to swap KTM land to prime site with equivalent value near Marina Bay.

7) Singapore, via their GLCs, will embrace Iskandar Malaysia and start to invest big time.

I say bravo to Najib for being pragmatic and trying to resolve long-standing issue with our feisty little neighbour.

But my question is; why do we need to form a newco to jointly administer our landbank in Singapore? That KTM land is ours right from the beginning, and yet why suddenly Temasek owns 40 % of the development rights?

And in long term, is it a good business decision for KTM to stop servicing Singapore? I thought that route is a cash cow for them?

Tak tau kenapa, tapi aku rasa macam kita yang rugi dalam urusniaga ni.... Najib has a lot of explaining to do when he return home.

The newslink is here;

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/24/nation/20100524150610&sec=nation

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1058694/1/.html

Actually, the decision to have 60-40 share of the land has been around since the Point of Agreement between Singapore and Malaysia in 1990 between LKY and Mahathir.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia-Singapore_Points_of_Agreement_of_1990

From what I heard, KTMB may leave woodlands after MRT link is completed. But I don't think it will be forced to.

The MRT line to link to Johor Bahru will surely be Thomson Line. According to plans, it was due 2018, running from Marina Bay, through Orchard and Ang Mo Kio to Woodlands, finishing its run 1 or 2 stations after interchanging with Woodlands MRT. It's headed perfectly towards the checkpoint and its extension to JB was speculated before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson_MRT_Line

Simon91, KTM will move from TP (Tanjong Pagar) to Woodlands... May I know which Woodlands? Woodlands MRT or Woodlands check point?

Simon91, KTM will move from TP (Tanjong Pagar) to Woodlands... May I know which Woodlands? Woodlands MRT or Woodlands check point?

Hmm, definitely, woodlands checkpoint as there is already a station at woodlands checkpoint for the railway.:)

Hmm, definitely, woodlands checkpoint as there is already a station at woodlands checkpoint for the railway.:)

Thanks. So, the MRT will be from Woodlands checkpoint to JB Sentral (CIQ)?

Woodlands MRT -> Woodlands checkpoint -> JB Sentral (CIQ)?

^^ For now, we can just speculate how will it go. But yes, that route makes most sense to me.

Yes, Woodlands Checkpoint. Woodlands MRT is actually quite a distance away from the KTMB tracks.

I thought we only hold the lease on the plots not ownership.

Positive Signal For Greater Collaboration Between Malaysia And Singapore
By Zakaria Wahab May 24, 2010 21:41 PM
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=500825

SINGAPORE, May 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the outcome of his retreat with his Singapore counter Lee Hsien Loong Monday is a positive signal for the private sectors and people of both countries to engage in greater collaboration.

"If you are looking for a positive signal, this is it," he told a joint media conference with Lee following their retreat at Shangri-La Hotel here.

He said the many decisions made during the retreat should signify a very positive signal for both sides to engage in more investment, education, trade and greater collaboration between the two countries.

Najib said he hoped what that had been achieved today would go beyond what were written on paper.

Describing his meeting with Lee a productive one, Najib said since they met a year ago when they decided not to allow outstanding bilateral issues to be in the way of developing and strengthening bilateral ties, the two countries had moved forward in areas which they could achieve common agreement.

He said with that positive mindset, they had achieved much within a year, starting with meetings at various levels of the government to find a common ground.

"And today is quite historic as we see now the light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the outstanding issues that have been lingering for almost 20 years," Najib said.

With what that had been achieved in today's meeting, Najib said he could more or less say that the Points of Agreement (PoA) on Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd land in Singapore should finally be put to rest when Lee meets him in Kuala Lumpur next month.

Malaysia today decided to move the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to the Woodlands train checkpoint by July 1 next year under the enhanced PoA.

When the PoA was signed by both countries in 1990, Malaysia had agreed to move the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station only to Bukit Timah after five years but it did not materialise.

Najib said the spirit and the political understanding to find a resolution on a mutually beneficial manner so that both countries could benefit from the finalisation of the enhanced PoA agreement had led to the positive result.

The prime minister said the settlement of the enhanced PoA would lead to a better connectivity and flow of people, followed by investment, and goods and services between the two countries.

"We believe that the connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru will be achieved by 2018," Najib confidently said.

Meanwhile, Lee said both countries decided to move forward in their bilateral relationship as they needed to work together in the face of global challenges now.

He said the two countries needed to move forward as there were many competitive alternative centres growing in Asia.

Lee said his meeting with Najib today was a fruitful one as both countries managed to clear issues that had been hanging for almost 20 years, and now they could move forward and develop their relationship.

On the water issue, Lee said upon the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement on July 1 next year, Singapore would hand over the Skudai waterworks to the Johor water authorities free of charge and in good working order.

Singapore has been using the waterworks to extract water from the Skudai river for its water supply to the city-state.

The city-state has another waterworks in Johor where it is allowed to extract 250 million gallons of water per day (Mgd) from the Johor river based on the 1962 Water Agreement which will only expire in 2061.

-- BERNAMA

Just hope that by 2018 Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei will have an Schengen-equiavalent agreement in place, to get rid of the border control.

And hopefully, by that time their currencies are recognized as legal tender in all 3 countries. So that we can get rid of the need to exchange money everytime visiting each other.

i think Sg dollar, even rupiah are acceptable in both melaka and johor...

both currencies can even be use in jusco as well as hospital...

Just hope that by 2018 Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei will have an Schengen-equiavalent agreement in place, to get rid of the border control.

And hopefully, by that time their currencies are recognized as legal tender in all 3 countries. So that we can get rid of the need to exchange money everytime visiting each other.

Way too early for that. Disparity between Johor and Singapore is still way too big, particularly in area of safety. No Singaporean would want a Shengen-kind of zone before the crime rates in Malaysia are curbed to as low as Singapore's.

Way too early for that. Disparity between Johor and Singapore is still way too big, particularly in area of safety. No Singaporean would want a Shengen-kind of zone before the crime rates in Malaysia are curbed to as low as Singapore's.

Do you know that the crime rate in Italy is high too?
And guess what. Italy is bordering with Switzerland - a super efficient and squeaky clean country.

I think you missed my point, which is, Singaporeans will not want it. Shengen zone did open a huge opportunity for human and illegal goods trafficking (Especially from Eastern Europe to the West) since there is zero control over the flow in there. I know that, I'm a native European.

Can you see a difference, that Singapore works with JB nearly as closely as one metropolitan area? Contrarily, the areas with most crime in Italy are mostly in the south, far away from Switzerland (also, I guess Italian mobsters won't dare to expand to Switzerland, since everyone there has a gun :lol:). Singapore is divided from JB by 1 km stretch of water. In cities worldwide, yes there are districts with more and lesser crime rates, but crimes from the less safe areas will always, at least a bit, spill to the 'safer' ones, especially those regarding burglaries and robberies.

I'm not denying that Malaysia is doing a lot to reduce crime. I'm also not against regional integration, in fact, I'm all for it. All I'm saying is, its too early for a border elimination for now.

I think you missed my point, which is, Singaporeans will not want it. Shengen zone did open a huge opportunity for human and illegal goods trafficking (Especially from Eastern Europe to the West) since there is zero control over the flow in there. I know that, I'm a native European.

Can you see a difference, that Singapore works with JB nearly as closely as one metropolitan area? Contrarily, the areas with most crime in Italy are mostly in the south, far away from Switzerland (also, I guess Italian mobsters won't dare to expand to Switzerland, since everyone there has a gun :lol:). Singapore is divided from JB by 1 km stretch of water. In cities worldwide, yes there are districts with more and lesser crime rates, but crimes from the less safe areas will always, at least a bit, spill to the 'safer' ones, especially those regarding burglaries and robberies.

I'm not denying that Malaysia is doing a lot to reduce crime. I'm also not against regional integration, in fact, I'm all for it. All I'm saying is, its too early for a border elimination for now.

who knows what would happen in 2018. you never know.

But my question is; why do we need to form a newco to jointly administer our landbank in Singapore? That KTM land is ours right from the beginning, and yet why suddenly Temasek owns 40 % of the development rights?
I think that is inevitable. KTMB, the owner of the land (which are on a 999 years lease term) can not develop it without the necessary approvals from the Singaporean authorities. On the other hand, the Singaporean authorities can not dictate on what type of development that KTMB should do, which could in return messes up with their overall city planning. With the kind of egos that have been exhibited for the past decades, this situation will continue going around in a circle.

Therefore, the formation of this Khazanah/Temasek company to oversea the whole development while safeguarding both parties interest.

Seriously......I think this is a brilliant move! :okay:

Singapore property market (esp around the Marina South area) is at a high and KTMB wouldn't have to run the loss-making train to Singapore anymore. Furthermore the strip of land owned by KTMB are useless as it is narrow and have not much economic potential as URA sure wouldn't allow any funny plans by KTMB that would upset theirs since the land cuts across the entire island.

Do earth still exist in 2018??? :hilarious

^^ Be realistic,not immature...

^^ Be realistic,not immature...

So your're so so matured??? Get real bro...

I'm still young.. Don't expact me to be as matured as GOD...

If this project succeed in 2018, i think i will be matured at that time... :lol:

^^ Maturity had nothing to so with common sense and being young doesn't give you any excuse to be silly/stupid/immaturity. So yea, I appreciate common sense, maturity and a decent IQ when posting. :yes:

^^
Third party in the line... I should think how to defense myself...
Surely it will increase my IQ to achieve maturity :lol:

So your're so so matured??? Get real bro...

I'm still young.. Don't expact me to be as matured as GOD...

If this project succeed in 2018, i think i will be matured at that time... :lol:

Did i ask you to be mature??,i dont give a damn if you are mature or immature but just post with more sense will make it much proper and decent right??,i dont boast that im mature,just that you dont have to act immature with you idiotic postings like that...

And that phrase you say 'dont expect me to be as mature as GOD' proves that people like you these days lacks IQ or dont pretty value it,furthermore i dont wanna cause more argument,sorry and you think it yourself.

Sorry to be offtopic anyways.

I think you missed my point, which is, Singaporeans will not want it. Shengen zone did open a huge opportunity for human and illegal goods trafficking (Especially from Eastern Europe to the West) since there is zero control over the flow in there. I know that, I'm a native European.


Exactly, with a Schengen kind of treaty, our 1 million + illegal immigrants will also be Singapore's 1 million + illegal immigrants

Schengen type of treaty is cannot achieve its full potential until both country have common currency. I would like have common currency and customs union in ASEAN-Oceania. But at the first step, I wish Singaporean-Bruneian-Malaysian currency in fixed exchange ratio and finally monetary union. After we have monetary union, customs union would not be a big problem.

(I get on my nerves when I've bought book from bookstore, I found that our currency are **** undervalued. I don't think Singapore would have monetary union with Malaysia. *>.<*)

Exactly, with a Schengen kind of treaty, our 1 million + illegal immigrants will also be Singapore's 1 million + illegal immigrants


Schengen style travel between Malaysia and Singapore is unlikely, unless the currency rate between different countries (Malaysia and Singapore) are close (if not parity).

If Malaysia-Singapore can achieve this, then we can do this with Brunei too.

Talking about the rapid transit...

Second link is quite a distance away from JB. While the causeway traffic is congested.

Having rapid transit is the best solution. Say, for example....

One 3 car SMRT set (Alstom)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alstom_Metropolis_C830

931 passengers per set.

That means, thousands of cars can be removed from causeway if rapid transit system is in place.

According to this....
http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/159273

KL to JB on future double track may take 2 hours 48 minutes.

That is faster than bus if not mistaken...

If they can ensure connection to Singapore to be relatively quick, i think Singapore and JB will even closer than before, that will help JB in terms of economy.

Last year news.

http://www.malaysiapropertynews.com/2009/07/johor-mulls-mrt-link-between-iskandar.html

Well, not sure what's the plan for now.

If they can keep KL - centre of Singapore in 3 hours 30 minutes (KTM + MRT), i am happy :)

^^
i think you had mention that the japanese is planning a 200km/h narrow gauge train,any thought on how we can implement similar structure for the gemas-jb stretch..

^^

Yes, i do mention that.....however there is problem if we want to do that...

The method that the Kyushu Shinkansen (west Kyushu route) s employed for construction is called "Super Tokyuu", meaning the alignment is built up to Shinkansen standard, but with narrow gauge during the start of operation.

That means, in their case, the minimum curve radius is 4000 m, equivalent to the alignment of other Shinkansen lines such as Tohoku or Kyushu Shinkansen (Kagoshima route).

While our EDTP does involve realignment, but i don't think the curve radius can even reach 4,000 m. That means, their narrowest curve might be larger than us, because the alignment is based on Shinkansen, although with narrow gauge track.

http://www.pref.nagasaki.jp/shinkansen/outline/construction_1.html


◎設計速度：200km/h
◎最小曲線半径：4,000m
◎最急勾配：25/1,000（25‰）
◎軌間：1,067mm
◎電車線の電圧：20,000V（交流）

"We believe that the connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru will be achieved by 2018," Najib confidently said.

What about connectivity between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia? I don't know if this is far-sighted enough. I would totally agree that the urban integration of Singapore and JB is exceptionally vital with such high volumes of people exchange between the two cities. Historically, socially and culturally both cities are close and there are economic advantages to be shared which strongly supports the cause for a common MRT sytem.

Nationally, wouldn't it be an issue? Kuala Lumpur IS the economic hub of Malaysia. She IS the capital of the country (some may argue Putrajaya). If we are to see real cooperation between the two capitals, wouldn't we need a seamless train journey that connects them in order to allow a more permeable exchange between economies? If the KTM is to stop short in JB, wouldn't it create a sense of alienation to the whole transport scenario? You don't see the Eurostar stop short at Calais and people catching a ferry/other mass transit system thru the Chunnel to reconnect back to the trains in England on their onward journey to London. I think the connectivity between city CENTRES is very important.

Compare this to Hong Kong and the rest of mainland China. Hong Kong didn't move its main station very far from its city centre. It didnt move it to Lo Wu. people need not to stop short at Shenzhen and then catch an MRT upon entering HK. Customs and Immigrations are handled at the terminals itself.

Don't get me wrong, I am not opposing the scrapping of the old agreement and reverting the KTM lands to Singapore. I'm just wondering if anyone had thought of land reservations made for the seamless connectivity between the major cities in the region. True, JB and Singapore has to be tied, but I think JB should not be made the only gateway to Singapore. Malaysians from other regions should have equal access the city state and vice versa for Singaporeans. I think this is what true connectivity means.

I have to say this. Singapore is paranoid. It is not only me who say this. Singapore's beloved daddy Mr Lee Snr has said this and acted out of it before. Geopolitically, Singapore is a non-Muslim dot in the ocean of Malayo-Polynesian realm (that was why the first thing Mr Lee did shortly after independence was to beef up its military through its famous national service programme). This paranoia has benefited its country (and also has created kiasu-ism in its citizens) and it is reasonable that Singapore wants its CIQ to be relocated to Woodlands in the 90s (in case to prevent illegal immigrants jumping off the train in Singapore territory ma.. you know la.. the KTM run so slow, wanna jump off oso not that difficult right). Unless Malaysia could effectively curb its illegal immigrant problem and up our economy so not many people would illegally enter other countries, Singapore wouldn't put it to rest. To ensure that the seamless journey akin to London-Paris is feasible, both countries need to be on par economically. But that doesn't create an excuse to not allow land reservations for this to eventually happen.

author's posts
Water, CPF and bridge issue must be solved too, says Dr M
UPDATED @ 02:01:41 PM 27-05-2010By Adib ZalkapliMay 27, 2010

Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir says other issues must also be resolved. - KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Tun Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad insisted today that the government also solved quickly other contentious bilateral issues with Singapore after it agreed this week to relocate the historic Tanjong Pagar railway station by next year.

The former prime minister said the price of water sold to Singapore, the retirement funds issue and the construction of a new bridge linking the two countries should also be addressed.

“I am still studying the agreement. I still cannot identify the negative or the positive aspect,” he told reporters when asked about the railway land swap.

“In the beginning I hope all problems could be solved. But some things were not touched, like the price of water after 2011, CPF and the new bridge,” said Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir, adding that the bridge would help ease traffic congestion in Johor Baru.

Singapore had said that it would not renew a 1961 water supply agreement that expires next year. Another water supply agreement signed in 1962 will only expire in 2061.

During his administration, Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir had pushed for a revision of the price of raw water supplied to Singapore from three sen per 1,000 gallons to 60 sen.

He had also campaigned for the demolition of the Causeway to be replaced with a bridge, a project which was cancelled by his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir maintained that Malaysia does not need permission from Singapore to proceed with the demolition of the Malaysian side of the Causeway to build the new bridge.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong on Monday announced the decision to move the Tanjong Pagar railway station next year based on a Point of Agreement (POA) signed in 1990.

The decision also involves the relocation of Malaysia’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities to Woodlands.

The two governments also announced the formation of a company to jointly develop parcels of land now owned by Malayan Railway (Keretapi Tanah Melayu or KTM).

The Tanjong Pagar railway land was acquired under a 1918 colonial ordinance specifically for use by KTM for a period of 999 years.

That same ordinance limits the use of this land. The land, which the main railway station is situated on, is considered prime land.

The 1990 POA states that the railway station would be moved either to Bukit Timah first, or directly to Woodlands. In exchange, under the 1990 POA, three parcels of railway land — at Tanjong Pagar, Kranjiand Woodlands — would be jointly developed on a 60/40 basis with the Malaysian government holding the larger share.

However, three years later Dr Tun Dr. Mahathir expressed his displeasure with the POA as it failed to include a piece of railway land in Bukit Timah for joint development.

In September 2001, both neighbours reached a comprehensive agreement with an understanding that the Malaysian immigration checkpoint on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore railway line will be moved from Tanjong Pagar to Kranji

I wish they will tackle all the issue with singapore once for all and move on. I hope one day Malaysia and Singapore can give a good example to others in the region.:).

earth will still exist in 2018....by then hopefully JB and Singapore will be more connected and i also think that the causeway bridge issue will be resolved by then....

earth will still exist in 2018....by then hopefully JB and Singapore will be more connected and i also think that the causeway bridge issue will be resolved by then....

Oh... Finally... Someone answer my question with maturity :lol:

If we do Schengen treaty with Singapore all the lower and middle class Singaporeans will live in Malaysia:lol:

If we do Schengen treaty with Singapore all the lower and middle class Singaporeans will live in Malaysia:lol:

Never, because Malaysia is too dangerous to live, especially JB.

A word from my friend live in JB: "Don't say you come from JB if you have never be robbed!"

Railway land reservation is abolished in Singapore because of Singapore scarce of land and its city planning as well. Singapore will eliminate all on-grade railway and disallow overhead catenary. Thus, KTMB service to Singapore can't be upgraded into double track with electrification. Then, express service and MRT from JB to Singapore can't be developed through existing railway reservations.

The only way to make seamless railway service from JB to Singapore is build entirely new railway system run overground or underground powered by third rail. Or, powered by overhead catenary by whole system is build underground in Singapore, and I prefer the latter. The new line (I think it will be Thompson Line) should be integrated with JB MRT (I think it would be Kempas Bharu - JB Sentral Line), and the track should build in standard gauge 1435mm, and the track shared with KL-Singapore HSR, this save the cost of KL-Singapore HSR, with tracks shared with Kempas Baru-JB Sentral and Thompson Line with it terminal set in Marina Bay. CBD of Singapore. The whole railway track will served by several railway companies:

SMRT or SBST (From Marina Bay to JB Sentral, Singaporean Local Service - Thomson Line / TSL)
JB Metro (From JB Sentral to Kempas Baru, South Johorean Local Service)
SMRT or SBST or JB Metro (From Kempas Baru to Marina Bay, Cross Border Express (CBX) with limited stop.)
Malaysia-Singapore HSR [YTL?] (From KL to Singapore, with stop in Kempas Baru and JB Sentral, a stop in Singapore CBD, possibly Marina Bay)

And the track will be regulated by JB Metro in Malaysian side, SMRT or SBST in Singaporean side.

Railway clearance of both countries will be set in JB Sentral. KTM railway section from Plentong Junction to Johor Bahru will be dismantled to give way for development. The new rail line cross the strait by a bridge, and goes underground at Singaporean side (depends on Singaporean planning on Thomson Line).

I would like the causeway replaced by a bridge but not that scenic bridge. That scenic bridge is not scenic and it is not pragmatic. Why not a road is build straight, but with two unnecessary curves with acute angle. I would like the strait is crossed by a bridge like Tsing-Ma Bridge (double decked suspension bridge), which is straight, and carries both rail and road traffic in 2018. Hope negotiations between Malaysia and Singapore is sucessful.

Never, because Malaysia is too dangerous to live, especially JB.

A word from my friend live in JB: "Don't say you come from JB if you have never be robbed!"

ohhh, lucky me uncle:banana::banana::banana:
never got robbed in the 30+yrs there...

and didn't i see few singaporean livin in the neigbourhood...:lol::lol:

Never, because Malaysia is too dangerous to live, especially JB.

A word from my friend live in JB: "Don't say you come from JB if you have never be robbed!"

Of course they will because
-30% percent of Singaporeans have household incomes less than SG$2500:nuts:
-HDB houses too expensive,8% of HDB owners are defaulting on their loan,thousands of Singaporeans are now in queue for months for HDB rentals, what do you expect when HDB now cost $300-400K but small
-Rising healthcare,there the government use their CPF to pay most of the healthcare!!!! It is a fact that more and more Singaporeans go to JB for treatement...THEY EVEN STOOP SO LOW AS THE MALAYSIAN AND PAY RM50 TO GO TO OUR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS :nuts:
-GST naik 7% last time and will naik lagi
-Most singaporenas dun have car and their MRT like sardine
-Most Singaporeans now send their parents to old folks home in JB

They no need worried about being robbed, they are being robbed left and right in Sing:lol:...Temasek lost SG$50 billion in toxic securotes in US banks in 2009.using Singaporean CPF money .They no need segan one to live in Johor,.if they come to Johor at least can take out all their CPF rather than being locked up until they're 70 and even after that the 'Pay n Pay' party give the money monthly and when u die they claim the balance belong to 'Pay n Pay'.:nuts: AT least they can use the money for bigger house and that is something Singaporeans crave fornow and thrown in a car.

You come back to Johor in 5 years see for yourself soon how many Singaporeans will live in JB:nuts:. Singapore's population now is 5 million with 1 in 3 are foreign talents..god knows how they live if the population grows anymore..the island is 30kmx20km for gods sake

ohhh, lucky me uncle:banana::banana::banana:
never got robbed in the 30+yrs there...

and didn't i see few singaporean livin in the neigbourhood...:lol::lol:

I know.Its a big fuss when Malaysian get robbed. 2 of my friends in Adelaide which is mind you in Australia and is currently the 7th most liveable city in the world got robbed and lost laptops,cameras and even passports.Crime is everwhere maaah.You kene rompak nasibla.

Schengen type of treaty is cannot achieve its full potential until both country have common currency. I would like have common currency and customs union in ASEAN-Oceania. But at the first step, I wish Singaporean-Bruneian-Malaysian currency in fixed exchange ratio and finally monetary union. After we have monetary union, customs union would not be a big problem.

(I get on my nerves when I've bought book from bookstore, I found that our currency are **** undervalued. I don't think Singapore would have monetary union with Malaysia. *>.<*)

Euro may be dead in a few years and you want us have monetary union?

[QUOTE=project aliciel;57739445]Never, because Malaysia is too dangerous to live, especially JB.
QUOTE]

lol... so where do u live actually?

btw, 'Malaysia is not that too dangerous to live.' ha haa

Who said Euro may dead? I wish to hear your reasons of why Euro is dead. I think, from what I've studied from history, monetary union do increase trade between two states because currency exchange is not needed during transaction between people of two states. Prussia had pushed monetary union in German states and improved trade and prosperity in German states especially Prussia. Southeast Asian states are too small to maintain currency and we are very easily played on the hands of Americans. That's why Asian states should unionize their currency into one single currency to against American currency war. As Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei are initially having currencies exchanged in par, our economy is strongly related until we can't lose each other. Such intimacy should push monetary union for increasing trade between two, or three states, and Malaysia as dominant power on these three countries, Malaysia benefits most.

To remove border controls between Malaysia and Singapore, there are still long way to go. First, monetary union. After got monetary union, than only we have customs union. After these, we need bilateral policing co-operation: that means Polis Diraja Malaysia should give full support and allow Singapore Police Force to pursuit criminals in Singapore that leaved Singapore and escaping in Malaysia. But to make Singaporeans confident on our PDRM's policing quality, I don't think it able to happen in 10 years. PDRM policing quality can't even comfort native Malaysians, how their policing standard able to make the people from one of the safest country in the world to believe in PDRM?

Remove border controls between two sovereign states is one step closer to formation of confederation. European Union is now de facto confederation than supernational entity. Confederation of Malaysia-Singapore? Not in 50 years.

Malaysia needs a vibrant second city.

Think of it something like Sydney vs Melbourne or Tokyo vs Osaka.

Johor Bahru has the potential, i wish one day, we can say.........Kuala Lumpur vs JB.

Who said Euro may dead? I wish to hear your reasons of why Euro is dead. I think, from what I've studied from history, monetary union do increase trade between two states because currency exchange is not needed during transaction between people of two states. Prussia had pushed monetary union in German states and improved trade and prosperity in German states especially Prussia. Southeast Asian states are too small to maintain currency and we are very easily played on the hands of Americans. That's why Asian states should unionize their currency into one single currency to against American currency war. As Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei are initially having currencies exchanged in par, our economy is strongly related until we can't lose each other. Such intimacy should push monetary union for increasing trade between two, or three states, and Malaysia as dominant power on these three countries, Malaysia benefits most.

To remove border controls between Malaysia and Singapore, there are still long way to go. First, monetary union. After got monetary union, than only we have customs union. After these, we need bilateral policing co-operation: that means Polis Diraja Malaysia should give full support and allow Singapore Police Force to pursuit criminals in Singapore that leaved Singapore and escaping in Malaysia. But to make Singaporeans confident on our PDRM's policing quality, I don't think it able to happen in 10 years. PDRM policing quality can't even comfort native Malaysians, how their policing standard able to make the people from one of the safest country in the world to believe in PDRM?

Remove border controls between two sovereign states is one step closer to formation of confederation. European Union is now de facto confederation than supernational entity. Confederation of Malaysia-Singapore? Not in 50 years.

confederation?
monetary union?
custom union?

we've been there,done that:lol::lol:...stop livin in the past and move on

even in the US, people are robbed and killed in front of walmart, even in the US,police can't cross their jurisdiction, even after 13yrs,the hongkis didn't adopt the renmimbi yet..

singapore itself are more economically involve with indonesia than with us, so much so that you can describe singapore as indonesian gateway to the world or their unofficial capital:lol::lol:..

-I think my reply is out of topic-

Who said Euro may dead? I wish to hear your reasons of why Euro is dead. I think, from what I've studied from history, monetary union do increase trade between two states because currency exchange is not needed during transaction between people of two states. Prussia had pushed monetary union in German states and improved trade and prosperity in German states especially Prussia. Southeast Asian states are too small to maintain currency and we are very easily played on the hands of Americans. That's why Asian states should unionize their currency into one single currency to against American currency war. As Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei are initially having currencies exchanged in par, our economy is strongly related until we can't lose each other. Such intimacy should push monetary union for increasing trade between two, or three states, and Malaysia as dominant power on these three countries, Malaysia benefits most.

ur example of prussia forgot to mention that w/ monetary union, comes political and sovereignty union. prussia don't only push for single currency, they push for single state --> unification of germany.

even in US where it establish the fed reserve note (before that, each bank have it's own currency), it's already have a structure of political and sovereignty union.

EU is unique where it's the first in human history where a single currency is used while maintaining a high degree of sovereignty and autonomy over member countries. greece has show how the system is prone to systemic failures, hopefully time and reforms will help fix that...

how all that got to do w/ SEA and the context of this discussion, adopting a single currency, like mahathir said, might take another 50 years when we all agree on political, sovereignty and finally trade union.

ASEAN is the first step but since ASEAN members commited not to interfer w/ each other internal matters, it'd would only limited to economic co-operation, not integration...

ur example of prussia forgot to mention that w/ monetary union, comes political and sovereignty union. prussia don't only push for single currency, they push for single state --> unification of germany.

even in US where it establish the fed reserve note (before that, each bank have it's own currency), it's already have a structure of political and sovereignty union.

EU is unique where it's the first in human history where a single currency is used while maintaining a high degree of sovereignty and autonomy over member countries. greece has show how the system is prone to systemic failures, hopefully time and reforms will help fix that...

how all that got to do w/ SEA and the context of this discussion, adopting a single currency, like mahathir said, might take another 50 years when we all agree on political, sovereignty and finally trade union.

ASEAN is the first step but since ASEAN members commited not to interfer w/ each other internal matters, it'd would only limited to economic co-operation, not integration...Most people are suggesting that the problem with the Euro monetary union was not the union itself but that it was expanded too quickly.

European trade has mostly been east-west anyways. Two main corridors (mediterranean & northern Europe) with some north-south trade.

The EU does have a parliament and is working on developing a constiution - perhaps they should have waited until those were more stable and the EU had more authority to 'intervene' in the affairs of member states.

The Greek tragedy is a good example of what can happen when everything is growth-centred and financed by debt.

Because of excessive spending, debt-financing, and a 'cash-based' economy with lots of corruption, Greece had to pass huge austerity measures that were considered as "natural" in northern Europe, 'painful' in France and Italy, and unacceptable in places like Spain, Greece & Portugal.

As for SouthEast Asia, I do not think that any form of monetary union is coming soon.

However, if Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 's 'central banks' could peg their currencies together (with the Ringgit at a reduced ratio e.g. MYR2 : 1SGD/BRD) there would at least be some stability in the market and it would encourage trade.

Brunei can provide the revenue (to adjust for losses & support the peg), Singapore can provide the financial instruments (to protect the peg and improve the trade) and Malaysia can provide the resources & manufacturing (to give depth to the shared economy as well as investment opportunities).

In a few years, Thailand could also be brought in to the currency link-up - perhaps at a fixed ratio of THB10 : MYR2 : 1 SGD/BRD - which would add increased investment & growth opportunities.

At no time do I see Malaysia as the 'dominant' power in the currency link-up.

As for the JB & Singapore system - Id love to see Malaysia adopt the Singapore EZ-Link system (with purses in two currencies or instant exchange rates) for the MRT and public transport in JB (although I can imagine that most people would probably just have two cards)

Cheers, m

http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2011-06-16/newlinetojohor.jpg
MRT Laluan Thomson dirancang bermula di Politeknik Republic dan dijangka disambung dengan sistem transit pantas ke Johor

PARA penduduk di Woodlands, Admiralty dan bahagian utara Singapura yang mahu ke Johor Bahru atau ke pusat bandar akan menikmati perjalanan yang lebih pantas menjelang 2018.

Ini kerana Laluan Thomson (TSL) sepanjang 30 kilometer yang bermula di Politeknik Republic dan melalui stesen MRT Woodlands akan menghubungkan para penduduk ke Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Thomson dan pusat bandar.

Laluan sistem transit pantas (RTS) pula akan menghubungkan Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru, ke laluan Thomson (TSL) di Poliktenik Republic.

Malah para penduduk di Woodlands juga masih boleh memilih meneruskan perjalanan menerusi Laluan Utara Selatan (NSL) ke Yishun, Orchard Road dan City Hall dengan membuat pertukaran di stesen MRT Woodlands.

Menurut Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) dan Penguasa Tanah Singapura (SLA) dalam kenyataan bersama semalam, pembinaan TSL merupakan sebahagian rancangan membangunkan sistem rangkaian rel yang menyeluruh bagi memenuhi keperluan perjalanan masa depan.

'Semua Laluan TSL adalah terowong bawah tanah dan akan melintasi koridor Utara-Selatan dari Woodlands menerusi kawasan pusat bandar ke Marina Bay. Terdapat rancangan bagi membina pusat pertukaran di stesen MRT Woodlands sekarang, dan bagi pembinaan stesen terminal di bahagian paling utara berdekatan Politeknik Republic.

'Laluan sistem transit pantas (RTS) yang sedang dicadangkan antara Singapura dengan Johor Bahru dirancang disambungkan dengan TSL di stesen terminal di bahagian paling utara (Politeknik Republic). Satu kajian kejuruteraan terperinci kini sedang dijalankan bagi TSL,' menurut kenyataan itu lagi.

Sebagai permulaan, sebuah Depoh TSL akan mula dibina menjelang akhir 2012 di Mandai.

Depoh seluas 32 hektar itu akan berupaya menempatkan sehingga 90 rel dan menempatkan Pusat Kawasan Operasi dan menyediakan kemudahan mengandangkan dan penyenggaraan rel.

Perincian mengenai stesen-stesen TSL yang lain hanya akan dikeluarkan selepas kajian menyeluruh mengenainya diselesaikan, menurut kenyataan itu lagi.

Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, sebelum ini berkata Malaysia dan Singapura sedang menimbangkan membina terowong bawah laut bagi laluan RTS menyeberangi Selat Johor sepanjang kira-kira 1.5 kilometer menghubungkan Tanjung Puteri dengan Woodlands.

Dua cadangan lain ialah membina sebuah jambatan dan sebuah tambak.

'Pembinaan terowong merupakan cara paling mesra alam sekitar tetapi ia memakan kos yang lebih tinggi. Cara paling murah ialah membina sebuah tambak tetapi ia bukan pilihan yang baik dari segi alam sekitar.

'Kalau kita bina jambatan pula ia perlu dilengkapkan dengan pagar khas bagi membolehkan kapal melaluinya,' katanya.

Dalam pada itu, Datuk Kong berkata RTS akan memudahkan hubungan antara rakyat Malaysia dengan Singapura pada masa depan.

Sementara itu ketika dihubungi, seorang penduduk di Admiralty, Cik Liza Ahmad, berkata beliau ghairah menanti pembinaan TSL dan RTS yang akan memudahkan perjalanannya ke Johor Bahru.

'Dengan kesesakan yang sering berlaku di Koswe, sebarang perjalanan alternatif amat dialu-alukan,' ujarnya lagi.

Malaysia needs a vibrant second city.

Think of it something like Sydney vs Melbourne or Tokyo vs Osaka.

Johor Bahru has the potential, i wish one day, we can say.........Kuala Lumpur vs JB.

for me only KL and Klang valley dubbed as vibrant city in malaysia...
others still lack behind....

to be vibrant,,transportation coverage must be fully utilised such as tram system,LRT,MRT,monorail and othere fast transport....only KL and KV have this.....

no wonder people reside in KL and KV for job opportunities and other things.....only in Greater KL.....business muhrooming and lively for social interactions...

and after all,Greater KL will only be the most vibrant city in malaysia in 2020.....

Malaysia needs a vibrant second city.

Think of it something like Sydney vs Melbourne or Tokyo vs Osaka.

Johor Bahru has the potential, i wish one day, we can say.........Kuala Lumpur vs JB.

I share the same feelings ^^ Hope to see JB become as good or even better than KL one day

I share the same feelings ^^ Hope to see JB become as good or even better than KL one day

can be good but cant be better than KL....because KL is the main gateway and capital city of malaysia sure a lot of investment and fund allocation from federal goverment to make KL an enjoyable place and happening place to stay......


just waiting by the time we are getting old already to see any massive development in JB and Penang....:)

^^
Tak mungkin la.... JB's fate is already sealed as the Greater Singapore.
Once the new MRT lines runs into JB, many pple (malaysians working in Spore) will just take advantage of the cheaper property prices and stay in JB and get to work to Spore in the morning.
Whether JB can become vibrant or not, its fate cannot run away from the spillover effects from Spore, whether it is employment or business. This is sad, but unfortunately, true.
Be thankful that JB is still a malaysian city. To me, JB is already the more developed 'suburb' of Spore.

not a big deal,so what

lots of people take advantage of living in selangor and go work in kl n putrajaya
some even goes as far as seremban and tg malim

and surely a lot of places in "greater kl" are as vibrant as downtown,and houses mnc n coporate giant,surely JB can do the same

not a big deal,so what

lots of people take advantage of living in selangor and go work in kl n putrajaya
some even goes as far as seremban and tg malim

and surely a lot of places in "greater kl" are as vibrant as downtown,and houses mnc n coporate giant,surely JB can do the same

Of course its a big deal.

We are talking about a msian city here, but its domestic economy and costs of goods being dictated by another country. The costs of goods are no more dependant of the local demand of supply within JB, but rather, on the strength of the S$.

Even it becomes vibrant, it is still a spillover from Singapore, and not organic.

Your KL/Greater KL example is not on the similar basis of comparison.

then malmo coperhagen
san diego and (forgot!!!) then


still not getting you though?..
as we are already dictated by exterior forces that dictate prices,well unless we are north korea

Of course its a big deal.

We are talking about a msian city here, but its domestic economy and costs of goods being dictated by another country. The costs of goods are no more dependant of the local demand of supply within JB, but rather, on the strength of the S$.

Even it becomes vibrant, it is still a spillover from Singapore, and not organic.

Your KL/Greater KL example is not on the similar basis of comparison.

You might be true about the spillover from Singapore.... But what can we do? JB is located just across SG.... Unless we can move JB to an empty island or a magical kingdom & become organic there alone without any spillover...

MRT JB-SG will increase the conectivity between 2 countries & at the same time give benefits to public. That's my opinion...

It shows lack of confidence in local brain/idea. Too dependent on Sg. If its efficiency or capacity they're looking after then they made a good decision by integrating with the Sg system.

I totally agree with u on that.Just hope the govn is smart enough to strike a deal with them to get rid of the causeway once this becomes a reality.The business side of it i only see them potentially making the money besides providing the fastest way to the 2 casinoes:lol

You might be true about the spillover from Singapore.... But what can we do? JB is located just across SG.... Unless we can move JB to an empty island or a magical kingdom & become organic there alone without any spillover...

MRT JB-SG will increase the conectivity between 2 countries & at the same time give benefits to public. That's my opinion...If Singapore were still part of Malaysia it would have been quite interesting - KL v. Singapore competition would have been quite grand, and JB would have been quite well developed.

But then Penang would be a quiet place.

Cheers, m

Singapore, Malaysia To Open Cross-Border Rapid Transit By 2018

SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- The Singapore and Malaysia governments plan to open a rapid transit link between the city-state and the neighboring city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia's south by 2018, both governments said in a joint statement Monday.

"The terminating stations of the (rapid transit system) link will be in the vicinity of JB Sentral, Johor Bahru and in the vicinity of Republic Polytechnic, Singapore," the statement said.


More >>> http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201106270422dowjonesdjonline000058&title=singaporemalaysia-to-open-cross-border-rapid-transit-by-2018

If Singapore were still part of Malaysia it would have been quite interesting - KL v. Singapore competition would have been quite grand, and JB would have been quite well developed.

But then Penang would be a quiet place.

Cheers, m

If Singapore were still part of Malaysia, would we even have a Singapore like what they are now ? :P

If Singapore were still part of Malaysia, would we even have a Singapore like what they are now ? :P

:lol:The simple answer is NO:)

who knows

1)maybe the fusion is a success and singapore would be better than what it is today
2)or its could turn out even worst for both country than what it is today

^^ I think a sense of competition, or trying to keep up with each other as a measuring stick makes us what we are today.....better off than being a part of each other ....

If Singapore were still part of Malaysia, would we even have a Singapore like what they are now ? :P

politics can destroy the country. if singapore didn't left/expelled, PAP vs. UMNO and PAP vs. MCA can be really disruptive and distracting to progress...

singapore was important back in 50's and 60's. if singapore didn't left, i think all development will just concentrate on singapore/johor instead of KV/penang as today...

^^ I think a sense of competition, or trying to keep up with each other as a measuring stick makes us what we are today.....better off than being a part of each other ....That could have happened with Singapore within the federation as well. Competition to develop two excellent cities. It would have been along the lines of New York v. Chicago, Sydney v. Melbourne, Montreal v. Toronto etc.

who knows

1)maybe the fusion is a success and singapore would be better than what it is today
2)or its could turn out even worst for both country than what it is todaySingapore would certainly have turned out interesting if they had developed as a multi-party democracy rather than a "one party-ocracy"
politics can destroy the country. if singapore didn't left/expelled, PAP vs. UMNO and PAP vs. MCA can be really disruptive and distracting to progress...Interesting problems ... racial politics + the politics of development crashed into Malaysia and Singapore - and both states felt that it would be better to be separate and figure things out independently. But they both used the same general system of government - one "party" directing development for 50+ years and pushing development to avoid politics.

My view is that Singapore was already too independent by the time of its independence and this made the federation with Malaysia hard to swallow. On the other hand, the view from the north was probably that Singapore had become too "different" and was a "loose cannon" (dangerous influence) in the federation.

Cheers, m

Singapore was the most autonomous, then only the Borneo partners (North Borneo and Sarawak). The least autonomous were the peninsular states. Now, at least the states are slightly more autonomous than Federal Territories of KL, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Look at the options listed on the ballot paper of Singapore's national referendum 1962 on "how" to merge with Tanah Melayu. It's worth to note that "whether" to merge with Tanah Melayu was never the question for PAP. PAP is not less racial in its approach too, but development is still affected by intransparency, self-interest and authoritarian rules, whether PAP is still in Malaysia, or Umno is still in Singapore. :)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ke74GFuXRms/RnGGEXGn8LI/AAAAAAAAANo/gyTBgFXXXow/s1600/LKY_merge_Malaya_referendum_ballot_1962.jpg

y the hell talk politic here? It will divided us..stop it!

NOT HERE take it elsewhere guys!

No need to be afraid of discussing politics because politics gives direction to an economy.

The big question is not how the economies of JB & Singapore will benefit from better cross-border transport connections ... we know they will ... but to create those connections in the most efficient way possible.

Political decisions made on both sides have affected the economic opportunities for Singapore and JB - so we need to understand those mistakes and make sure they are not made again.

Cheers, m

Hi people,

http://i.imgur.com/qPv63.jpg

Thomson Line Stations have been officially announced...
IMO Woodlands North Stn is the station that connects to JB, but which part of JB?
I speculate it is going to be a Tanjung Puteri/JB Sentral area, what do you guys have in mind? :)

Does anyone know how this international MRT will work?
Will it be similar to the Louwu cross border crossing in Hong Kong where there will be one terminal that houses immigration for both sides?

Does anyone know how this international MRT will work?
Will it be similar to the Louwu cross border crossing in Hong Kong where there will be one terminal that houses immigration for both sides?

That seems to be the case. However, there is no official confirmation from either governments yet.

RTS anyone??
Detailed Proposed Of Personal Rapid Transit In Johor Bahru

0qVk_UAJ4YI

Does anyone know how this international MRT will work?
Will it be similar to the Louwu cross border crossing in Hong Kong where there will be one terminal that houses immigration for both sides?

One crucial question. Where to put the so-called one terminal houses immigration of both side?

If Johor side, then it means Singapore will "makan" some of Malaysia lands.
If Singapore side, then it means Malaysia will "makan" some of Singapore lands.

If remaining immigration as existing, it need some trains or buses to link both side, just like aerotrain for airport terminals.

I don't see it can be solved in near future.

One crucial question. Where to put the so-called one terminal houses immigration of both side?

If Johor side, then it means Singapore will "makan" some of Malaysia lands.
If Singapore side, then it means Malaysia will "makan" some of Singapore lands.

If remaining immigration as existing, it need some trains or buses to link both side, just like aerotrain for airport terminals.

I don't see it can be solved in near future.

perhaps somewhr in d middle of Straits of Johor..side by side at respective area...:nuts:

I suspect for sure its going to be tunnel crossing so there are going to be more options!

One crucial question. Where to put the so-called one terminal houses immigration of both side?

If Johor side, then it means Singapore will "makan" some of Malaysia lands.
If Singapore side, then it means Malaysia will "makan" some of Singapore lands.

If remaining immigration as existing, it need some trains or buses to link both side, just like aerotrain for airport terminals.

I don't see it can be solved in near future.

I'm just wondering whether the complex should pay tax for occupying the land or not? And also IF there will be some store in the complex, who will give the license to operate the store? If the above is true, maybe the country who got the complex to build in its land will gain more profit from this.:cheers:

Here is an article which is about a year ago. I think it clearly states that there will be combined facility at each end.


S'pore-Johor rapid transit link by 2018
Posted: 27 June 2011 1751 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore and Malaysian governments plan to open a rapid transit link between the city-state and the neighbouring city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia's south by 2018, both governments said in a joint statement on Monday.

"The terminating stations of the (rapid transit system) link will be in the vicinity of JB Sentral, Johor Bahru and in the vicinity of Republic Polytechnic, Singapore," the statement said.

"It is targeted that the RTS link will be operational by 2018. The RTS link will have a co-located (customs, immigration and quarantine) facility in Singapore and another co-located CIQ facility in Johor Bahru so that commuters need to clear immigration only once for each way of travel."

The announcement comes as Malaysia and Singapore officially sealed the Points of Agreement (POA) on Malayan railway land in Singapore.

The signing ceremony took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Monday.

Foreign Minister K Shanmugam signed on behalf of Singapore while Malaysia's side was represented by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

The signing officially marks an end to year-long negotiations on implementation details that kickstarted following the landmark announcement of the POA breakthrough by the prime ministers of both countries in May 2010.

The joint statement by the prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia said that preparations for the relocation of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) from Tanjong Pagar to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint on July 1 are on track.

A joint venture company, called M+S Pte Ltd, and Iskandar JV Company will be established by Thursday.

M+S will develop the four land parcels in Marina South as an integrated development and the two land parcels in Ophir-Rochor, also as an integrated development.

Iskandar JV will undertake two wellness developments in Iskandar Malaysia.

In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will jointly consider other potential developments which are commercially viable in Iskandar Malaysia of up to 500 acres of land, inclusive of the said 215 acres.

Also on schedule is the implementation of the work plan to hand over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement by Singapore free of charge and as a matter of goodwill after the expiry of the agreement on 31 August 2011.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed appreciation and satisfaction on the work done by the ministers and officials in achieving the historic breakthrough in the POA.

Both prime ministers also reiterated their commitments towards further strengthening bilateral relations.

They noted that the resolution of the POA would pave the way for the two countries to explore new areas of cooperation.

- CNA/ir


source: CNA (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1137439/1/.html)

This is a single one project involving both countries that will be a win win situation.There are no problems that cant be solved if both sides want to see this happens.Having to worry about the traffic on the causeway will be a thing of the past.I think it should be the upmost priority to get it going as soon as possible.Enough with the politicking.

This is a single one project involving both countries that will be a win win situation.There are no problems that cant be solved if both sides want to see this happens.Having to worry about the traffic on the causeway will be a thing of the past.I think it should be the upmost priority to get it going as soon as possible.Enough with the politicking.

I agree.

Anyway, it seems that they want to build a road tunnel together with the RTS connection. They are still doing the feasibility study. I hope it happens. Just hope that if they decide to build them, the road tunnels have more than 2 lanes for each way. At most 4 to 5 lanes. :)

Once its completed perhaps leaders from both countries can seriously consider removing the causeway once and for all!At the rate we reclaiming the johor side ,even if the causeway no being there i suspect the ships will have a hard time going thru the johor straits.:lol:

Once its completed perhaps leaders from both countries can seriously consider removing the causeway once and for all!At the rate we reclaiming the johor side ,even if the causeway no being there i suspect the ships will have a hard time going thru the johor straits.:lol:

Haha, well, I guess the only ships that would dare use the straits would be ferries. :)

The tunnel is purely for the train right?

The tunnel is purely for the train right?

Yes but they are also studying the possibility of building another set of tunnels for vehicles as well. It is part of the feasibility study. :)

Dare I suggest or predict, that the crossing will be an new elevated crossing. Train only into tanjung puteri. :)

MRT

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/148666_381634555259222_762151392_n.jpg

Dare I suggest or predict, that the crossing will be an new elevated crossing. Train only into tanjung puteri. :)

Most likely.

The bridge from the CIQ is really tall.

Most likely.

The bridge from the CIQ is really tall.

Hope they will have vehicular access as well. The current causeway is always jammed up...

MRT

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/148666_381634555259222_762151392_n.jpg

The RTS will actually link JB Sentral and a new integrated CIQ complex north of Woodlands MRT station, which is also the northern terminus of the new Thomson MRT line (fully operational in 2021), not surprisingly named Woodlands North.

The next station on the Thomson Line will interchange with the existing Woodlands MRT on the North-South Line.

JB Sentral and Woodlands North are expected to accommodate both Malaysian and Singaporean immigration counters so passengers only need to clear immigrations once on either side of the causeway.

However, I still think that with further 22 stations on the Thomson Line before reaching the other terminus at Gardens by the Bay, it will add well over an hour to the shortened ETS journey time from KL-JB to complete the centre-to-centre journey between the capitals.

The RTS will actually link JB Sentral and a new integrated CIQ complex north of Woodlands MRT station, which is also the northern terminus of the new Thomson MRT line (fully operational in 2021), not surprisingly named Woodlands North.

The next station on the Thomson Line will interchange with the existing Woodlands MRT on the North-South Line.

JB Sentral and Woodlands North are expected to accommodate both Malaysian and Singaporean immigration counters so passengers only need to clear immigrations once on either side of the causeway.

However, I still think that with further 22 stations on the Thomson Line before reaching the other terminus at Gardens by the Bay, it will add well over an hour to the shortened ETS journey time from KL-JB to complete the centre-to-centre journey between the capitals.

JB sentral?

I though they are gonna build a dedicated station at tg.puteri (the old truck/lorry CIQ)

I may have got this wrong but I think there'll be a link between the CIQ at Tanjung Puteri and JB Sentral.

But anyway it just means a step further from a "seamless" journey from KL to Singapore

Singapore MRT is slow, a ride from Woodland station to Changi Aiport via circle line interchange will take 1:20min at least. I used to tried a bus ride from Woodland Bus Interchange to Changi Airport, end up taking almost the same time as MRT and also same price S$2.20. Anyway, it is still an efficient and economical way to travel when I am in a rush to Changi Airport as compare to a taxi which will cost 10 times more.

Just feel that Singapore also need to upgrade the speed of its MRT as the old lines are still using the wooden sleeper.

Singapore MRT is slow, a ride from Woodland station to Changi Aiport via circle line interchange will take 1:20min at least. I used to tried a bus ride from Woodland Bus Interchange to Changi Airport, end up taking almost the same time as MRT and also same price S$2.20. Anyway, it is still an efficient and economical way to travel when I am in a rush to Changi Airport as compare to a taxi which will cost 10 times more.

Just feel that Singapore also need to upgrade the speed of its MRT as the old lines are still using the wooden sleeper.

They're changing the wooden sleeper and also the ticketing system which quite confuses me. I'm hoping that Touch N go can be integrated or the credit can be transferred into EZ link card. Of course, to implement this still need a long way to go.

There are private coaches from Changi Airport direct to JB.

Announcing soon !!!

Can't wait... but i think need to wait til tomorrow instead!

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

SINGAPORE, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Singapore have up to 12 months to decide on the preferred option for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru, following the Joint Engineering Study (JES).

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the phase one of the JES to identify alignment and station scheme option for the RTS had been completed in November last year.

"Officials from both countries are finalising the review of the final report," he told a press conference here Monday in conjunction with the Leaders' Retreat 2013.

The two-day retreat starting here today, features Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, with the RTS being among the main topics of their discussion.

According to reports, depending on the outcome of the JES study,the RTS link may see trains run above ground or via undersea tunnel.

The RTS is also among the highlights of the progress of implementation of the Points of Agreement (POA), reached between both leaders at their meeting on Jan 5 in Putrajaya last year, as well as the Leaders' Joint Statement on May 24, 2010.

Anifah said other matters to be discussed under the POA are the M+S Development Projects in Marina Bay and Ophir-Rochor and Pulau Indah Ventures Development of the Urban and Resort Wellness Projects in Iskandar Malaysia.

He said the joint investments in MS+ Pte Ltd - a joint venture between Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd - are proceeding well.

Tuesday afternoon, Najib and Lee will witness the unveiling of the model for the Marina One project in Marina Bay.

"The 50:50 investment in Pulau Indah Ventures is for the development of the five-acre Urban Wellness project in Medini North and a 210-acre Resort Wellness project in Medini Central, both in Iskandar Malaysia.

"Both prime ministers will witness the unveiling of the Urban Wellness development and officially launch its ground breaking," he added.

Anifah said the prime ministers will also discuss progress of cooperation under the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).

He added that Najib and Lee will take stock of the progress in the implementation of various initiatives discussed during the last retreat.

These include cooperation in aviation and airport services between Senai Airport and Changi Airport, alignment of the Radio Frequence Spectrum Plan, cooperation in higher education, technical and vocational and establishment of ferry and water taxi services between Puteri Harbour in Iskandar Malaysia and Tuas in Singapore.

Both Najib and Lee are also expected to explore new initiatives to enhance further bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore.

-- BERNAMA

Edit: ok I got carried away. Hope there won't be more delays though.

Malaysian side only reported on the Rapid Transit System while Singapore only reported on High Speed Rail Link... Haha. both r confirmed.

However, no info on the location in JB side... abit disappointed. thought they will announce the findings on the feasibility study.

It could very well be part of the same system, can't it? If the HSR comes into Singapore, it will be going at normal train speeds from JB to Singapore, so they very well can use the same track/route.

I draw an analogy to bullet trains in Japan. Within Tokyo city, the bullet trains go at normal train speeds, but once it's out of the metro area, they go at their usual speeds.

^^ Agreed. They might use the same line and even same station. I just hope they don't put the terminal in woodlands.

The terminal is likely going to be at the new Woodlands North station (part of the new Thomson Line) and will be about 2km away from the edge of JB. I hardly think Singapore is going to allow the line to go any more further than that.

I suspect both RTS and HSR will be using the same terminal in Woodlands. both underdround

Yesterday was the MRT link coming into Johor.

Today it will be the Bullet Train link going to Kuala Lumpur.

Finally, a surprise official announcement to the international media. :applause:


Singapore, Malaysia agree to high-speed rail link
Reuters | By Kevin Lim SINGAPORE | Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:28am EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/19/us-singapore-malaysia-idUSBRE91I05720130219
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1255068/1/.html
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/singapore-malaysia-agree-to-high-speed-rail-link

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore and Malaysia moved to strengthen growing economic ties on Tuesday with plans to build a high-speed rail link by 2020 that will cut travel time between the wealthy city-state and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes.

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20130219&t=2&i=705326496&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=CBRE91I0KRH00
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak attends a news conference after a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R) in Singapore February 19, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Edgar Su

The neighboring Southeast Asian countries also said they would look for ways to intensify cooperation in developing the Iskandar Malaysia economic zone that's across a narrow strip of water from Singapore.

The rail link announcement, after a meeting between the prime ministers of the two nations, reflects improved relations in recent years. Singapore was once part of Malaysia but they separated acrimoniously in 1965, clouding diplomatic and economic dealings for decades.

The high-speed train "is a strategic development that will dramatically improve the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore," the two governments said in a joint statement.

"It will facilitate seamless travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, enhance business linkages and bring the people of Malaysia and Singapore closer together," they said. "Ultimately, this project will give both countries greater stake in each other's prosperity and success," it added.

No cost estimate was given for the rail link, which will be built by private companies with strong support from the two governments. The official statement said a committee of ministers from both countries will look into the details.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak conceded the 2020 target was ambitious but said it was one both countries were working towards.


International business wire Bloomberg reported Najib as saying that Malaysia will provide the infrastructure support for the project, but added that the prime minister did not offer further details. Najib also reportedly said the project would be built via public-private partnership “with strong government participation”.

Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia (CNA) quoted Najib as saying that the project would complement Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and add opportunities for its residents.

“So I am excited about the project. We will certainly do our level best to meet the 2020 deadline. It may go slightly beyond that, but those are details in implementation,” he said.

On Bloomberg, Lee was quoted as describing the project as “strategic”, adding that it would change the way both nations view one another.

“It’s the way people in London and Paris are able to think of it, really as twin cities where you can commute, go up there, do business, meet friends, have a meal and come back all within maybe two-thirds of the day,” he was quoted as saying.

“And I think it is going to be a game changer. It will transform the way people interact, the intensity of our co-operation and the degree to which we become interdependent on each other and therefore have stakes on each other’s success,” he added.


It now takes around four hours to drive from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, which are about 300 km (186 miles) apart. A flight takes around 50 minutes but travelers must spend time checking in and out of airports, as well as taking a one-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the city centre. :lol:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2013/february2013/rail-feb19.jpg
Wikipedia file picture of a China high-speed train. The Singapore-Malaysia high-speed rail link is expected to be completed by 2020.


TECHNOLOGICALLY POSSIBLE

The rail agreement was a "major breakthrough," said Chua Hak Bin, Southeast Asian economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

But he noted the potential for bureaucratic delays when such mega-projects are undertaken.

"It's technologically possible. We've seen how fast China builds these things," Chua said. "It makes a lot of sense. There is a huge amount of business, trade and investment between the countries. There are also a large number of Malaysians working in Singapore."

A new customs, immigration and quarantine facilities at Puteri Harbour in Malaysia's Iskandar zone will likely be set up this year, the two governments said.

Iskandar, three times the size of Singapore, has seen a surge in investment from the city-state after the two governments signed a broad agreement in 2010 to address longstanding issues.

In October, Singapore government-linked firm Ascendas, whose projects include the Singapore Science Park and the International Tech Park in Bangalore, said it will help build a $1.2 billion industrial park in Iskandar.

Also on Tuesday, Najib and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong were officiating at joint venture projects involving their sovereign investors Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Temasek Holdings in Singapore and Iskandar.

The two leaders will also be at the unveiling of a project by Singapore's CapitaLand Ltd in Iskandar, the first in the zone by Southeast Asia's biggest developer.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5681/1199highviewpanorama.jpg
The southern Malaysian city of Johor Baru, part of the Iskandar Malaysia economic zone. Johor Baru is the 3rd largest conurbation in Malaysia. http://property-in-singapore.biz/new-homes-condominium/paragon-suites-ciq-jalan-indera-putra-johor-bahru-johor-malaysia

($1 = 3.0940 Malaysian ringgit) (Editing by John O'Callaghan and Richard Borsuk)




BIG DAY ::: Today, Malaysia and Singapore open a new chapter in bilateral relationship.

- The largest gathering of any ASEAN nations Cabinet ministers/secretaries (Malaysia and Singapore will bring both their ministers)
- Malaysia and Singapore will get an urban rail link,
- a ferry system across the Causeway,
- the Johor airport/Senai will tie up with Singapore's Changi,
- Singapore-Malaysia will invest in Johor,
- Malaysia-Singapore will invest in Marina Bay,
- Malaysia-Singapore will bring foreign investments into the region



Johor-Singapore rapid transit system gets green light
By Nelson Benjamin | The Star/Asia News Network | Tuesday, Feb 19, 2013
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130219-402913.html

SINGAPORE - Malaysia and Singa**pore have agreed to go ahead with the Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor Baru with the republic.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said both countries had a year to draft the plans on the preferred option for the RTS.

http://www.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/news/02Feb13/images/20130219.092321_station430.jpg
Woodlands MRT station will serve as an interchange and allow travellers to take the proposed Rapid Transit System Link between Singapore and Johor Baru.

He added that under phase one, the alignment and station scheme options would be identified.

"Once this is decided, we can move to phase two," Anifah said during a briefing on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's two-day working visit to Singapore which began yesterday.

It is learnt that among the options being considered is a bridge or an underground tunnel link.

Singapore had earlier announced that its Thomson mass rapid transit (MRT) line would be opened in stages from 2019.

The 30km line will run through the north-south corridor of the island republic, starting in Wood*lands, the area closest to Johor Baru via the Causeway, and passing through industrial, residential and shopping districts before ending at Marina Bay.

The S$18bil (RM44bil) line will be completely underground and is expected to serve 400,000 commuters daily.

Anifah said leaders from both countries were expected to discuss the progress and implementation of the Points of Agreement.

"Both leaders will also travel to Iskandar Malaysia in Johor to launch the ground-breaking ceremony of the Urban and Resort Wellness project.

He added that it involved a 2ha "Urban Wellness" project in Medini North and a 84ha "Resort Wellness" in Medini Central.

Other issues to be discussed include cooperation in aviation and airport services between Senai and Changi airports as well as the establishment of ferry and water taxi services between Puteri Har**-bour in Iskandar and Tuas in Singapore.

Anifah added that there was steady progress in the implementation of initiatives under the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia including in transport, immigration, tourism, environment and industrial cooperation.




Malaysian PM in Singapore for Leaders' Retreat with PM Lee
By Robin Chan | The Straits Times | Published on Feb 18, 2013 2:22 PM
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/malaysian-pm-singapore-leaders-retreat-pm-lee-20130218

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives in Singapore for a two-day Leaders' Retreat with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/imagecache/story-gallery-featured/najib1902e.jpg
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching tossing yusheng with Malaysian PM Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor at the Fullerton Bay Hotel on Monday night. The two prime ministers have held the Leaders' Retreat every year since Mr Najib came for an introductory visit in 2009. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

The fourth annual leaders' retreat is a "key bilateral platform for both Prime Ministers to drive relations forward", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.

PM Lee and Mrs Lee will host a private dinner for Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor tonight.

The two Prime Ministers and their ministerial delegations, will meet on Tuesday morning for bilateral discussions.




Singapore's Temasek and Capitaland to announce Iskandar deal today
The StarBiz | Tuesday February 19, 2013

PETALING JAYA: Singapore's Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd and its unit CapitaLand Malaysia Pte Ltd will enter into an agreement with Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Bhd (IWH) today to buy a man-made island measuring about 28.33ha at Danga Bay for about RM800mil.

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20130219000218/front_top

The total cost of the land and the integrated development was likely to cost RM8bil, they said. A joint venture has been formed for this deal between CapitaLand Malaysia, IWSB and Temasek, with the Singaporeans taking the bigger share.

This is the second largest tract of land that is being sold by IWH in less than two months after China's Country Garden bought 22.26ha for RM900mil in December.

Read More >>> http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/2/19/business/12727602&sec=business#1361239579500239&if_height=674

I suspect both RTS and HSR will be using the same terminal in Woodlands. both underdround

HSR will fail if it ends at Woodlands.

at last!! :banana: build it fast and no delay pls. I'm getting old! :lol:

HSR will fail if it ends at Woodlands.

If connect with MRT then is OK.

If connect with MRT then is OK.

I still think terminating at Woodlands will kill the attractiveness of taking high speed train due to very long transfer ride on local MRT lines.

One of the attractiveness of taking high speed rail is that the stations are usually in city centre.

Suppose if the HSR takes 80 minutes from KL to Woodlands (estimation of minus 10 minutes based on tunnel speed of similar length in proposed HK XRL, same distance as West Kowloon to Shenzhen), then say 10 minutes for immigration clearance, 5 minutes to MRT station, lets say Woodlands North or Woodlands MRT station itself. The journey time from Woodlands to Marina Bay on future TSL should be 55 minutes.

Total journey time = 150 minutes.

It is much longer than 90 minutes, straight into core area of Singapore (which I define as Marina Bay, near enough to the CBD).

Also, HSR passengers won't like to contend with crowded ride on MRT. NSL is crowded and TSL will be crowded to due to the JB RTS and Orchard station (as example).

For KL part, the government proposal is basically to have a station in KL city centre area. So similarly, Singapore station should be in Marina Bay, where they can still allocate space for underground station ala West Kowloon Terminal in Hong Kong.

The problem is actually finding the space to dig the tunnels. The Woodlands to City corridor is already crowded with a future MRT line and a future underground expressway. As much as I would love for it to go there, the cost will be prohibitive.

wondering how would be the immigration clearance for HSR been done.. with 2 separate customs again, then JB-Spore MRT would have another 2 more customs? or with a centralize custom for 2 countries? or done it on train (impossible for short distance if JB have a station) or ideally without any check in / out procedure like in Europe?

wondering how would be the immigration clearance for HSR been done.. with 2 separate customs again, then JB-Spore MRT would have another 2 more customs? or with a centralize custom for 2 countries? or done it on train (impossible for short distance if JB have a station) or ideally without any check in / out procedure like in Europe?

eurostar:

london to paris => french immigration/customs check your passport/luggage at london
paris to london => british immigration check your passport at paris and customs check your luggage at london...

i think they will follow the same situation or have centralised at each directions...

eurostar:

london to paris => french immigration/customs check your passport/luggage at london
paris to london => british immigration check your passport at paris and customs check your luggage at london...

i think they will follow the same situation or have centralised at each directions...

Hope by 2020 then the HSR is ready, this two neighboring countries can make like Germany-Austria-Italy.... only have some kind spot check to the passport on train, and close down the existing customs too :D

I still think terminating at Woodlands will kill the attractiveness of taking high speed train due to very long transfer ride on local MRT lines.

One of the attractiveness of taking high speed rail is that the stations are usually in city centre.

Suppose if the HSR takes 80 minutes from KL to Woodlands (estimation of minus 10 minutes based on tunnel speed of similar length in proposed HK XRL, same distance as West Kowloon to Shenzhen), then say 10 minutes for immigration clearance, 5 minutes to MRT station, lets say Woodlands North or Woodlands MRT station itself. The journey time from Woodlands to Marina Bay on future TSL should be 55 minutes.

Total journey time = 150 minutes.

It is much longer than 90 minutes, straight into core area of Singapore (which I define as Marina Bay, near enough to the CBD).

Also, HSR passengers won't like to contend with crowded ride on MRT. NSL is crowded and TSL will be crowded to due to the JB RTS and Orchard station (as example).

For KL part, the government proposal is basically to have a station in KL city centre area. So similarly, Singapore station should be in Marina Bay, where they can still allocate space for underground station ala West Kowloon Terminal in Hong Kong.

Understood your point, but I feel that it doesn't have to be in Singapore city (as per Marina Bay).

Alot of Malaysians who go to Singapore may not necessary go to the city as city is not a priority. Many visiting Malaysians who visit their kin in Singapore, who most likely are not staying within the city (Woodlands is actually home to most Malaysians). Many Singapore express bus from KL does not necessary go to the city as well. Places like Novena or Beach Road (near Orchard) is good enough.

Based on the cost analysis, I believe a fresh digging from Woodlands to Marina Bay would be a big financial cost.

But as for KL, it has to be in the city as Singaporeans always feel that our best-of-best shopping and properties are in the city with Twin Tower as the focal point!


*********************************

Some options I think that can work well:

1. KL Sentral (Hub) - Dhoby Ghaut (Hub)

2. KL Sentral (Hub) - Bayfront (instead of Marina Bay)

3. Bukit Bintang (MRT) - Orchard (MRT)

4. KLCC (LRT) - Harbourfront (MRT - Resorts World Sentosa)

5. KLCC (Centre) - Raffles Place (Centre)

6. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Outram Park (MRT)

7. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Jurong East (MRT)

8. Bandar Utama (MRT) - Queenstown (MRT) ---- :lol: this journey is for me :lol:

What you guys think?

^^ I wouldn't be too fixated on the very Marina Bay Precinct too, but no matter where, it HAS to be near the CBD. Personally I find Marina Center and Outram Park the most viable contenders outside of the strict Marina Bay itself. Harborfront is possible but it would involve a lot of disruptions, with closure of a couple of large car parks and a bus terminal. Dhoby would be great for connectivity but there's simply not enough space for another underground station (a pretty big one most likely) there, unless they decide to build it elevated. Fat chance for that one, though..

The problem is actually finding the space to dig the tunnels. The Woodlands to City corridor is already crowded with a future MRT line and a future underground expressway. As much as I would love for it to go there, the cost will be prohibitive.

I seriously don't think it has to run underground. If the line indeed entered by Woodlands, it may run elevated or even at-grade along BKE and PIE until Adam Road, before entering underground.

Hell, if Singapore side was willing, there are ways to run the whole length elevated too, until some above-road terminal in Bugis perhaps. But that's rather unlikely.

^^

Does Singapore allow the appearance of overhead wires on elevated sections? :D

Understood your point, but I feel that it doesn't have to be in Singapore city (as per Marina Bay).

Alot of Malaysians who go to Singapore may not necessary go to the city as city is not a priority. Many visiting Malaysians who visit their kin in Singapore, who most likely are not staying within the city (Woodlands is actually home to most Malaysians). Many Singapore express bus from KL does not necessary go to the city as well. Places like Novena or Beach Road (near Orchard) is good enough.

Based on the cost analysis, I believe a fresh digging from Woodlands to Marina Bay would be a big financial cost.

But as for KL, it has to be in the city as Singaporeans always feel that our best-of-best shopping and properties are in the city with Twin Tower as the focal point!


*********************************

Some options I think that can work well:

1. KL Sentral (Hub) - Dhoby Ghaut (Hub)

2. KL Sentral (Hub) - Bayfront (instead of Marina Bay)

3. Bukit Bintang (MRT) - Orchard (MRT)

4. KLCC (LRT) - Harbourfront (MRT - Resorts World Sentosa)

5. KLCC (Centre) - Raffles Place (Centre)

6. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Outram Park (MRT)

7. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Jurong East (MRT)

8. Bandar Utama (MRT) - Queenstown (MRT) ---- :lol: this journey is for me :lol:

What you guys think?

Of your choices, I would say Outram Park and Dhoby Ghaut would be great :)

For KL, either KL Sentral or if you want space, but still close to KL city (Bukit Bintang), I would suggest Cochrane.

Don't think the HSR will enter KL Sentral. The most logical place for the station is the new development at Sg Besi airport.

Patchay, 1, 2, and 3 are my pick. Most logical and most central. Haha

orchard, dhoby ghaut, raffles place? u must be kidding, patchay? still not crowded enough? i think it shall be built at individual and separate building with link to existing mrt in north part or just away from city and cbd area.

Building a HSR terminal often takes much larger than what a regular metro station do.

This is why, an area close to CBD, but relatively less developed by now such as Marina Bay (if possible) would be preferable.

An example of West Kowloon Terminus in Hong Kong.

http://www.expressraillink.hk/images/en/construction/811b_1_l.jpg

Let's keep HSR in the right thread.

^^

Does Singapore allow the appearance of overhead wires on elevated sections? :D

Very good point. We'll see if they're going to retain that ridiculous rule and blast away 10 times the money or finally get away with it.

Understood your point, but I feel that it doesn't have to be in Singapore city (as per Marina Bay).

Alot of Malaysians who go to Singapore may not necessary go to the city as city is not a priority. Many visiting Malaysians who visit their kin in Singapore, who most likely are not staying within the city (Woodlands is actually home to most Malaysians). Many Singapore express bus from KL does not necessary go to the city as well. Places like Novena or Beach Road (near Orchard) is good enough.

Based on the cost analysis, I believe a fresh digging from Woodlands to Marina Bay would be a big financial cost.

But as for KL, it has to be in the city as Singaporeans always feel that our best-of-best shopping and properties are in the city with Twin Tower as the focal point!


*********************************

Some options I think that can work well:

1. KL Sentral (Hub) - Dhoby Ghaut (Hub)

2. KL Sentral (Hub) - Bayfront (instead of Marina Bay)

3. Bukit Bintang (MRT) - Orchard (MRT)

4. KLCC (LRT) - Harbourfront (MRT - Resorts World Sentosa)

5. KLCC (Centre) - Raffles Place (Centre)

6. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Outram Park (MRT)

7. Pasar Seni (MRT) - Jurong East (MRT)

8. Bandar Utama (MRT) - Queenstown (MRT) ---- :lol: this journey is for me :lol:

What you guys think?


It is true that a lot of Malaysians who visit Singapore do not necessarily go to the city. However, Singapore would eventually be short-changed if it places the HSR teminal at the periphery like Woodlands without provision for future extension into the city centre. The government must have factored in the expansion of rail travel beyond Malaysia into China and the rest of Southeast Asia before happily announcing that they'll collaborate in high-speed rail. That said, with the potential Thais, Vietnamese, Chinese etc arriving on the train, the argument would more likely favour the location of the terminal smack bang in the middle of the city, or at least close to it.

The MRT North-South Line is already overcrowded and the new Thomson Line was planned primarily to alleviate the congestion. By the time the RTS is ready, the capacity of this new line could easily be maxed out by Johoreans commuting to and from Singapore, thus leaving very little room for the masses who travel to and from the rest of Malaysia and beyond.

However, one possible scenario is that the HSR terminates at Woodlands and Thomson Line operates a three-stop Woodlands North-Orchard-Marina Bay service every 15-30 minutes to coincide with the HSR arrival and departure times. I'm doubtful that Singapore would want to allow "undocumented" arrivals into their soil and incoming passengers would likely still have to clear immigration at the border, thereby eliminating the need for the HSR to replicate this hypothetical Thomson Line express service. The Thomson Line is only going to be double-tracked so it'll be interesting to see if this actually pulls off.

On the other hand, should Singapore allow city-centre CIQ procedures, then Marina Bay could easily be the location for the HSR terminal. With an eventual five-line interchange, there's no better place to locate the station. On the Malaysian side, I think it makes perfect sense to place the terminal at Pasar Rakyat since the trains will link both countries' future financial hubs (hence CBD) literally at the doorsteps. Plus, the Pasar Rakyat area will host an MRT interchange station, meaning that KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, MidValley etc are just several minutes away.

In the event that KL Sentral is deemed too crowded to develop a HSR terminal, I won't be surprised if Tasik Selatan is pushed forward as the next best location given its connectivity. But then again, this would create the same scenario as Woodland's terminal in Singapore.

Until now, the URA and LTA had not been very keen to develop land-links with Malaysia as evident in their indifference to the bridge replacement for the Causeway. After all, it's mostly economically affecting Malaysians rather than Singaporeans. But now that the HSR could mean future extension to China, and the PM has publicly expressed interest in this project, policies might change in this little island nation that thrives on top-down management.

I seriously don't think it has to run underground. If the line indeed entered by Woodlands, it may run elevated or even at-grade along BKE and PIE until Adam Road, before entering underground.

Hell, if Singapore side was willing, there are ways to run the whole length elevated too, until some above-road terminal in Bugis perhaps. But that's rather unlikely.

You must be kidding. After all the efforts and eventually KTM was made to leave the Spore's soil, do you think the Sporeans will ever allow another rail to enter SPore on elevated or at-grade? [Take note of the reasons why Spore wanted to rid the KTM - for "security" reasons].

So, the next best alternative is underground. Now, who is going to pay for the construction cost? I doubt Spore would want to spend so much money, afterall, the HSR brings more benefits to M'sia than to Spore. [Think property].

You must be kidding. After all the efforts and eventually KTM was made to leave the Spore's soil, do you think the Sporeans will ever allow another rail to enter SPore on elevated or at-grade? [Take note of the reasons why Spore wanted to rid the KTM - for "security" reasons].

So, the next best alternative is underground. Now, who is going to pay for the construction cost? I doubt Spore would want to spend so much money, afterall, the HSR brings more benefits to M'sia than to Spore. [Think property].

I'm not. KTM tracks lacked even the most elementary isolation. A proper HSR corridor would not only be fenced out along the entire distance, it would certainly be under constant surveillance. Especially that hopping out of the train at such speeds (even of 100-150km per hour that would possibly be the top speed in Singapore) would equal death or at least severe injuries, no matter what silly action films would depict.

Singapore has been getting so open and international the past years that the vast majority of foreign criminal element enters legally on proper checkpoints under simple disguise. So I say HSR would be the least worry under the circumstances.

Speaking of the reason, I'm not sure how important security was in the KTM line closure. I think it was more of national pride (however arguable that sounds) and freeing up underutilized land in the CBD area that belonged to Malaysia. If it depended on me I'd upgrade the line straight away to dual/triple track with dual gauge, but well Singapore government always has a better idea on doing things.

^^

Well, the security concerns are not people jumping out from the train, but throwing 'things' out from the high speed train.

I don't think Spore cares about pride as much as Malaysia does. Spore cares only about economic pragmatism.

Much was talked about how much Msia would gain, and how SPore would 'lose'. But knowing the Spore government, they would have done their calculations and will somehow gain in other ways. Afterall, they are superbly economically-geared. (Sorry to bring back history, but I still feel that our Msian gov did not get a good deal from the land swaps of the KTM railway land)

What about Singapore terminus being under the actual Marina Bay, meaning the station is underground in between Raffles Place and Marina Bay Sands (Bayfront)?

Alamak!!! I first heard about this MRT link over 20 years ago, now both PMs has met few times over their so called retreat over the last 1-2 years??? Nothing has happened except keep telling the same old grandmother story. Please have something solid and concrete before making annoucement, what a waste of everybody's time. :bash::bash:

Jangan buang masa dgn kambing ajak SG!!?? Why care how the line alignment in SG? If the JB side only involve one station terminate at JB Sentral, no need to waste so much time to talk, just bring the Zoo Negara trams will serve the purpose. :nuts::nuts::nuts:

Alamak!!! I first heard about this MRT link over 20 years ago, now both PMs has met few times over their so called retreat over the last 1-2 years??? Nothing has happened except keep telling the same old grandmother story. Please have something solid and concrete before making annoucement, what a waste of everybody's time. :bash::bash:

Jangan buang masa dgn kambing ajak SG!!?? Why care how the line alignment in SG? If the JB side only involve one station terminate at JB Sentral, no need to waste so much time to talk, just bring the Zoo Negara trams will serve the purpose. :nuts::nuts::nuts:

I hope you are not getting things wrong. The announcement this time is Singapore and Malaysia's agree to go ahead with this project. It also mentioned that viability study is OK.

Last time was a proposal from Malaysia side. Singapore hasn't agreed. Now M + S will sit down together to plan the project.

Now the next step is to study the options, budget, routes, technology and to prepare the best proposal before a final decision is made to proceed with the selected option. Then I think they have to publicise for public feedback.

After that, only tender stage begins, etc etc. This whole process takes between 1.5 to 3 years. Land acquisition and consruction works will take the next 4 years. We shall see it running by end of 2020.

I hope you are not getting things wrong. The announcement this time is Singapore and Malaysia's agree to go ahead with this project. It also mentioned that viability study is OK.

Last time was a proposal from Malaysia side. Singapore hasn't agreed. Now M + S will sit down together to plan the project.

Now the next step is to study the options, budget, routes, technology and to prepare the best proposal before a final decision is made to proceed with the selected option. Then I think they have to publicise for public feedback.

After that, only tender stage begins, etc etc. This whole process takes between 1.5 to 3 years. Land acquisition and consruction works will take the next 4 years. We shall see it running by end of 2020.


While I totally support this HSR project, I just want to express my utmost dissatisfaction over this clear example of lousy leadership. If the line is business viable, then getting funding for the project should not be an issue (unless SG is the only option). We should just do it from KL to JB just like the newly opened HSR from Guangzhao to Shenzhen. Then only ask our fren want to join or not just like what happen in HK now. Why so difficult? I still don't understand why we need to give so much face since 99% of the line is on our side? :ohno::ohno::ohno:

Now the whole world would think that this project is made possible only with SG participation. Alamak!!! :bash::bash:

Maybe it is true also, without SG, we will never have a HSR :nuts::nuts::nuts:

While I totally support this HSR project, I just want to express my utmost dissatisfaction over this clear example of lousy leadership. If the line is business viable, then getting funding for the project should not be an issue (unless SG is the only option). We should just do it from KL to JB just like the newly opened HSR from Guangzhao to Shenzhen. Then only ask our fren want to join or not just like what happen in HK now. Why so difficult? I still don't understand why we need to give so much face since 99% of the line is on our side? :ohno::ohno::ohno:

Now the whole world would think that this project is made possible only with SG participation. Alamak!!! :bash::bash:

Maybe it is true also, without SG, we will never have a HSR :nuts::nuts::nuts:

I dont think building ours then ask them to build it or not would make a lot of commercial sense. The money maker is kl-sg. Just look at the flight frequency. If its viable just to link just to JB, we would have build it already i guess.

Then theres always the problem if they decide not to sambung. The whole gerbang selatan shit all over again.

And HK is still under beijing sphere of influence. U cant be chief executive without beijing blessing. Not to mention beijing build infrastuktur are not all financially viable. Theres still some underutilized mega bridge as well as the crazy high tibet railway.

Given the 2020 deadline, i guess they had iron out major issues behind close door already. probably it a premature announcement but given election is near and mr.PM need some advantage.

Unfortunately being a pembangkang in malaysia mean u bangkang everything!. Since they already intent to stop RAPID, that just mean that najib know that for HSR loving rakyat know, they would lose it if they were not to vote for him.

I like this:
The government must have factored in the expansion of rail travel beyond Malaysia into China and the rest of Southeast Asia before happily announcing that they'll collaborate in high-speed rail.

That said, with the potential Thais, Vietnamese, Chinese etc arriving on the train, the argument would more likely favour the location of the terminal smack bang in the middle of the city, or at least close to it.


Thanks for writing in. I enjoyed reading your clear & well presented point of view.

It's not about whether you agree or disagree with someone but having a meaningful thoughts/idea/pictures/suggestions/etc that can make you say, "aah... (cue: LED light bulb flickered to life in your head)".

i think this could be change still, no official document signed yet, and both site recently lost supports from the people, and is a good tool to gain support.

till they really signed the document then only can be confirmed

Guys, don't you think scrapping KTM railway between Woodlands and Tanjong Pagar prior to the completion of the Woodlands - JB RTS was a bit irrational?

And then, to talk about KL - SG HSR before earmarking fundings for Gemas - JBS double tracking and electrification is too premature? Call it putting the cart before the horse, to put it mildly.

But Malaysia does it all the time. Such as suddenly decided to build LRT in Bandar Kinrara, or building MRT in Kampong Baru Sungei Buloh, without first establishing a reliable, frequent and efficient bus system there to build up the public transport commuter population.

Guys, don't you think scrapping KTM railway between Woodlands and Tanjong Pagar prior to the completion of the Woodlands - JB RTS was a bit irrational?

And then, to talk about KL - SG HSR before earmarking fundings for Gemas - JBS double tracking and electrification is too premature? Call it putting the cart before the horse, to put it mildly.

But Malaysia does it all the time. Such as suddenly decided to build LRT in Bandar Kinrara, or building MRT in Kampong Baru Sungei Buloh, without first establishing a reliable, frequent and efficient bus system there to build up the public transport commuter population.
Firstly, KTM had absolutely no infrastructure to operate a reliable and frequent service between JB and Singapore - it's a single tracked line, and the EMUs are slow.

Secondly, saying its just a KL-SG HSR is not correct. Yes, international services will run only between these two cities, but details are slowly coming out that there will be indeed a domestic service serving Johor Bahru, Malacca and other cities. This, in my opinion, is way faster and better than a Gemas-JB double tracking service although I believe that too, must also be completed. Why is it that we've to choose between either? We can have both. It's just like countries in China, Japan and Korea and all where there are both high speed and slow speed commuter intercity service.

^^

Well, the security concerns are not people jumping out from the train, but throwing 'things' out from the high speed train.

I don't think Spore cares about pride as much as Malaysia does. Spore cares only about economic pragmatism.

Much was talked about how much Msia would gain, and how SPore would 'lose'. But knowing the Spore government, they would have done their calculations and will somehow gain in other ways. Afterall, they are superbly economically-geared. (Sorry to bring back history, but I still feel that our Msian gov did not get a good deal from the land swaps of the KTM railway land)

Well with fencing and CCTVs its going to be impossible to use the line for smuggling. Especially that HSRs do not have open-able windows and opening the doors during the trip would be a major offense and also pretty obvious to notice.

Sadly, if Singapore cared only about economic pragmatism, they would have cooperated with Malaysia to upgrade to original KTM line to high capacity usability for inter city/cargo/commuter trains ages ago. It would end up exactly the same as East Rail in HK. Trust me, economic pragmatism is a frequent excuse but they do a lot of biased decisions too.

Firstly, KTM had absolutely no infrastructure to operate a reliable and frequent service between JB and Singapore - it's a single tracked line, and the EMUs are slow.

Secondly, saying its just a KL-SG HSR is not correct. Yes, international services will run only between these two cities, but details are slowly coming out that there will be indeed a domestic service serving Johor Bahru, Malacca and other cities. This, in my opinion, is way faster and better than a Gemas-JB double tracking service although I believe that too, must also be completed. Why is it that we've to choose between either? We can have both. It's just like countries in China, Japan and Korea and all where there are both high speed and slow speed commuter intercity service.

Agreed, and that's what opponents of the projects often miss. The HSR will be an astronomical catalyst for development in every town it stops by. It occured to me by passing by the smaller cities along Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. Suddenly you realize that the Shinkansen isn't there because of the office towers, but rather the other way around.

Well with fencing and CCTVs its going to be impossible to use the line for smuggling. Especially that HSRs do not have open-able windows and opening the doors during the trip would be a major offense and also pretty obvious to notice.



I think the security threats concerned with having a checkpoint deep in the city-state has more to do with terrorist threats.

It's easy to see why. A potential terrorist can easily penetrate into Singapore's sovereign land and sets off the bomb just before walking into immigration, effectively killing thousands in the city center and causing a nationwide shutdown. From this point of view, weeding out terrorists at the border seems way more logical. For a country where a bomb shelter is built into every new-built household unit, no threat is too impossible.

Plus, its easier to turn away "illegal" migrants at the border.

I've got a this idea for the JB station, probably absurd to some, but amazing to others. Since the Johore Strait is so narrow at the causeway, Why not we put the JB station right under the causeway, with exits at both ends? That way, those who want to go to JB can proceed to one end and exit at Tanjung Puteri, then those who want to go to Woodlands, clear immigration with Malaysian officers at Woodlands then disembark to somewhr near the Woodlands North MRT Station.

Then the train will proceed to Downtown Core and ppl will clear immigrations there with Malaysian officers too. Not sure whether Singapore will like this as it makes the whole line on the Singapore side 'Malaysian soil', with Malaysian immigration officers stationed in Woodlands and Downtown Core, reminiscent of and yeah, it's a security threat to Singapore.

For the Singapore station, if there's no land, I prefer it to be in between Raffles Place and Marina Bay Sands. Yes, under the real Marina Bay. That'll be sweet!

It is true that a lot of Malaysians who visit Singapore do not necessarily go to the city. However, Singapore would eventually be short-changed if it places the HSR teminal at the periphery like Woodlands without provision for future extension into the city centre. The government must have factored in the expansion of rail travel beyond Malaysia into China and the rest of Southeast Asia before happily announcing that they'll collaborate in high-speed rail. That said, with the potential Thais, Vietnamese, Chinese etc arriving on the train, the argument would more likely favour the location of the terminal smack bang in the middle of the city, or at least close to it.

The MRT North-South Line is already overcrowded and the new Thomson Line was planned primarily to alleviate the congestion. By the time the RTS is ready, the capacity of this new line could easily be maxed out by Johoreans commuting to and from Singapore, thus leaving very little room for the masses who travel to and from the rest of Malaysia and beyond.

However, one possible scenario is that the HSR terminates at Woodlands and Thomson Line operates a three-stop Woodlands North-Orchard-Marina Bay service every 15-30 minutes to coincide with the HSR arrival and departure times. I'm doubtful that Singapore would want to allow "undocumented" arrivals into their soil and incoming passengers would likely still have to clear immigration at the border, thereby eliminating the need for the HSR to replicate this hypothetical Thomson Line express service. The Thomson Line is only going to be double-tracked so it'll be interesting to see if this actually pulls off.

On the other hand, should Singapore allow city-centre CIQ procedures, then Marina Bay could easily be the location for the HSR terminal. With an eventual five-line interchange, there's no better place to locate the station. On the Malaysian side, I think it makes perfect sense to place the terminal at Pasar Rakyat since the trains will link both countries' future financial hubs (hence CBD) literally at the doorsteps. Plus, the Pasar Rakyat area will host an MRT interchange station, meaning that KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, MidValley etc are just several minutes away.

In the event that KL Sentral is deemed too crowded to develop a HSR terminal, I won't be surprised if Tasik Selatan is pushed forward as the next best location given its connectivity. But then again, this would create the same scenario as Woodland's terminal in Singapore.

Until now, the URA and LTA had not been very keen to develop land-links with Malaysia as evident in their indifference to the bridge replacement for the Causeway. After all, it's mostly economically affecting Malaysians rather than Singaporeans. But now that the HSR could mean future extension to China, and the PM has publicly expressed interest in this project, policies might change in this little island nation that thrives on top-down management.

Possible to consider the HSR not gonto Sg via woodlands but via nusajaya side as a possibility?
arguably got more options for both sides and its closer to sg cbd too. mrt connection would probably be via woodlands but not hsr, what u guys think...

While I totally support this HSR project, I just want to express my utmost dissatisfaction over this clear example of lousy leadership. If the line is business viable, then getting funding for the project should not be an issue (unless SG is the only option). We should just do it from KL to JB just like the newly opened HSR from Guangzhao to Shenzhen. Then only ask our fren want to join or not just like what happen in HK now. Why so difficult? I still don't understand why we need to give so much face since 99% of the line is on our side? :ohno::ohno::ohno:

Now the whole world would think that this project is made possible only with SG participation. Alamak!!! :bash::bash:

Maybe it is true also, without SG, we will never have a HSR :nuts::nuts::nuts:

Haha im malaysia, born and bred jb boy.
And I have to agree but not too proudly, that the only thing we have going on in IM is its proximity to SG. (a city on par with tokyo,hk,ny, london)

Yes without Sg, HSR wouldn't really make sense. Much less IM.
However having said that, SG sees the need for a hinterland for its activities, SG still has lots of land arguably if we are talking about building for residential or commercial, But land over in jb is much cheaper to develope...
And has anyone ever wondered if SG is actually exporting its inflation to jb... Now im not sure that's a good thing or how malaysia would have a policy to combat that... But then again, its election year so to hell with that.. :(

Sg side has already identified the location of the MRT station. How about JB side and when?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/weijie/SMRT_zpscf16c540.jpg

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/bringing-new-life-woodlands

The terminating stations of the link would be at the former site of the Tanjung Puteri Lorry Custom Complex here and in the vicinity of the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F2%2F25%2Fbusiness%2F12742994&sec=business

The Malaysian gov't really should wise up on this, and lobby the Singaporeans hard to merge the RTS completely into the Thompson line, with an extension to JB Sentral simply being the last stop on the Thompson MRT, with a co-located bi-directional CIQ at Sentral - i.e. you "enter" and "leave" both SG and M'sia at Sentral, so the entire MRT line is "within Singapore" from a customs/immigration point of view.

Malaysia might have a dented national pride at having a Singaporean MRT and border post on their soil, but the benefits to JB would be huge. By having a single train right through from CBD to CBD that connects directly into Sentral and the future Komuter Seletan system, vehicle traffic in JB would be slashed, travel times would drop and JB would become much more easily accessible for casual visits by Singaporeans, boosting the economy greatly.

Financially, Kazanah or the Johor state government could take a small stake in the Thompson line to restore hurt pride.

Another possibility is a "one for me, one for you" agreement. The proposed Komuter Seletan route using the Tj. Pelepas branch line will probabaly (eventually) end up terminating at the 2nd Link, but could be extended over to Tuas to interface in a shared terminus and co-located bi-directional CIQ with the East-West Line. This would provide a more direct route for Malaysian commuters living in the northern/western JB subrubs and working in Tuas or Jurong (not an insignificant number)

Malaysia, Singapore in final stages of RTS
Published: 2013/05/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130502160712/Article/index_html#ixzz2S8GNQRHq

SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Singapore are in the final stages of their plans on the proposed rapid transport system (RTS) that will enhance people-to-people links between both countries.

It was reported earlier both countries had agreed to go ahead with the RTS linking Johor Baru and the republic and they had a year to draft the plans on the preferred option for the RTS.

Johor Mentri Besar, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, said the two countries were now in the final stages in the preparation for the RTS.

"The proposed alternative will be finally presented to the two governments including the design, taking into account also the costing.

"Before year-end, I would imagine both governments will decide on the type of RTS to be implemented with the schedule completion by 2018," he told reporters after taking a bus together with Malaysians working in Singapore at Jurong East Bus Terminal here today.

Abdul Ghani said the RTS would ensure that lots of people could move speedily to and fro.

He said both governments were also trying to explore the most efficient checkpoint and immigration quarantine (CIQ) just like Europe, where there was one stop at one CIQ, "so it may be a joint CIQ as well."

"A joint CIQ would realise the optimum objective of having the proposed mode of transport linking Johor Bahru and Singapore," he said.

Abdul Ghani said when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak visited Singapore during the Leaders Retreat with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in February this year, "in the Joint Ministerial Meeting, which I am a member of it, we have been briefed on the possible options (of the RTS design)."

"I would not want to say all the possible options. The consultants had been asked to come out with all the possible options.

"They have spent time doing these consultations in the last two years and it has been exhausting," he said.

He said upon completion of the RTS, travelling between Malaysia and Singapore, at least on the causeway side, would definitely be more efficient, with lots of people will be moved via RTS

"The capacity will be enough, the speed will be fast enough and people moving to and fro Singapore will be more efficient.

"That will definitely reduce the congestion that cause as a result of the daily usage of the causeway or the second link," he said.

Abdul Ghani said based on his observation when following Malaysians working in Singapore, he noticed it has been quite a long journey to go to work and back to Johor.

"But the flow of bus is comfortable enough and make it easy for them to go to work into Singapore and (back) Johor, I notice a high percentage of Malaysians do work in Singapore," he said.-- Bernama

This is how it gonna be like…
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/8756250298_e48ae26b1b_b.jpg

:)

Looks amateurish.. what's the source