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Singapore, Malaysia sign bilateral agreement on JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System
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SINGAPORE: A legally binding agreement
between Singapore and Malaysia brings the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid
Transit System Link (RTS Link) one step closer to fruition.
The
bilateral agreement was signed on Tuesday (Jan 16) by Singapore
Transport Minister and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Khaw
Boon Wan and Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
The signing was witnessed by Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak
during the 8th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat.
In a joint
media release, Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) welcomed the signing, saying
it signifies a firm commitment to an important project that will benefit
both countries.
It said the agreement is the outcome of extensive discussions led by officials from SPAD and LTA.
“It captures the key points of agreement on the RTS Link project,
including the technical, safety and security requirements, commercial,
financing, procurement and regulatory frameworks, as well as customs,
immigration and quarantine arrangements,” the release added.
When completed by 2024, the RTS Link will
be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers in each direction every hour.
This translates to an additional capacity of 60,000 users crossing the
causeway during peak hours.
It is also much higher than the
average 300 passengers per hour in each direction that the Keretapi
Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Tebrau Shuttle currently ferries. The
shuttle service will cease operation six months after the RTS Link
service begins operating.
Until the RTS Link becomes
operational, the frequency of the KTMB shuttle services between
Singapore and Johor Baru will be increased, PM Lee said at the joint
press conference after the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat.
Mr Najib indicated that the KTMB's current 26 daily trips between Johor Baru and Singapore could be raised in future.
"I
really appreciate the decision by the Singapore government to allow the
KTM shuttle service to be increased. It has increased now to 26, and
there’s a proposal for it to go up to 31 in the near future and
certainly this will be helpful," Mr Najib said.
For ease of commute, the RTS Link will have co-located
Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities in both the Bukit
Chagar station in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North station in Singapore.
“Passengers
travelling in either direction will clear both Malaysia and Singapore
authorities at the point of departure, and need not go through
immigration clearance again at the point of arrival,” the statement
said.
ROUTE, MAINTENANCE AND APPOINTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANIES
The
media release also said the service will cross the Straits of Johor via
a 25-metre high bridge linking both the stations. It said the RTS Link
will utilise the same “four core systems” as the upcoming Thomson-East
Coast Line (TEL). These systems include the same trains, signalling
system, communications system and the Integrated Supervisory Control
System.
Heavy maintenance will be outsourced to
SMRT Trains, which will operate TEL. This will be done at its Mandai
Depot, although there will also be a light maintenance facility at Bukit
Chagar.
Each country will appoint an Infrastructure Company
(InfraCo) to fund, build, own, maintain and renew the civil
infrastructure and stations within their territories. In Malaysia, the
InfraCo will be Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, while LTA will be Singapore’s
InfraCo.
Both governments will also jointly appoint an
operating company (OpCo) to own, design, build, finance, operate,
maintain and renew the RTS Link’s operating assets such as trains,
tracks and systems.
The
OpCo will pay a concession fee to the two countries in exchange for the
right to collect fare revenue from operating the Link. The authorities
said fares will be set on a commercial basis by the OpCo and not
regulated by the two governments.
Under the terms of the
agreement, the OpCo for the first concession period of 30 years, will be
a joint venture between a Malaysian and a Singaporean company.
These companies are Prasarana from Malaysia and SMRT Corporation in Singapore.
“The
companies have committed to incorporate the JV (Joint Venture) by 30
June 2018, and to sign the concession agreement by 30 September 2018.
Subsequent concessions will be awarded through open tender,” the
statement said.
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