Out-Law News 1 min. read

Nine contracts awarded for Singapore-Johor RTS Link systems


Nine contracts worth a total of S$320 million ($240m) have been awarded for system works on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, according to the project operator RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO).

Four of the contracts were for core systems, with Chinese firm CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive taking charge of the rail link's rolling stock and the Malaysian subsidiary of Siemens Mobility handling the signalling system and platform screen doors.

Another Malaysian firm Sapura Rail Systems was awarded contracts to set up the communications system and the integrated supervisory control system.

The remaining five contracts are for track work, power supply systems, depot equipment and service vehicles, as well as an automatic fare collection system.

RTSO said it had earlier awarded a systems consultancy contract to engineering firm CH2M Services for the design, manufacture, delivery, testing and commissioning of all systems on the RTS line.

Benjamin Tay of Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture between MPillay and Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “Following termination of the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail earlier this year, we expect that the involved government stakeholders will have even greater impetus to see the RTS link project through to completion, despite the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic. This will alleviate the congestion along the causeway between Singapore and Malaysia considerably and the consequential economic benefits brought about by this improved connectivity will be significant for both countries.”

RTSO was formed in 2020 as a joint venture between Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysian rail operator Prasarana, will own, design, build, finance and manage operating assets for the RTS Link, including trains, tracks and systems.

The RTS Link is a standalone light rail transit system between the city state's terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station. A ground-breaking ceremony took place at the location of the Bukit Chagar station last November. In January, Singapore broke ground on the Woodlands North terminus station. Once completed, the project has a capacity of 10,000 passengers each hour in each direction once it's completed.

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