JOHOR BAHRU, April 3 — Malaysia hopes that Singapore will consider the request for the KTMB Shuttle Tebrau service to be maintained temporarily after the RTS Link is operational.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the request had been raised with the Singapore government before, but had not yet received a decision.
“Although Malaysia hopes that this service can be maintained temporarily, this requires Singapore’s approval.
If we follow the agreement, we must acknowledge and accept that the bilateral agreement for the RTS Link also requires the KTM Shuttle Tebrau to be terminated six months after the RTS Link is operational,” he said.
He told reporters after visiting the RTS Link project and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex as well as the RTS Bukit Chagar Station here today.
The Shuttle Tebrau, which has been operating since July 1, 2015, connects JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) in just five minutes across the Malaysia-Singapore border.
The service, with a ticket price of RM5 one-way from JB Sentral to Woodlands and SGD5 from Woodlands to JB Sentral, can carry 8,635 passengers per day with a frequency of 31 trips in both directions.
Previously, the Johor state government was of the opinion that the 1.1-kilometre KTM Shuttle Tebrau route could potentially be used as a safer motorcycle or pedestrian route after the termination of the service.
Regarding the fare for the RTS Link service, he said the service operator, RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), was conducting a study on it before it was expected to be finalised in the third quarter of this year.
Asked about the possibility of introducing an RTS Link seasonal pass, he said any proposal to introduce it would need to be discussed with RTSO and obtain the approval of the company’s board.
“According to our experience, if any season pass is to be worth it, there has to be government responsibility on our side. So, on our side, when we talk about season pass, we are only talking about the Malaysian season pass.
“ Only for Malaysians, we are not going to subsidise foreigners. Likewise, if it’s for Singaporeans, if they want to provide a season pass, I’m sure they will only talk about their locals. So, the respective governments have to look at it,” he said.
