Construction of the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS), a cross-border rail link between Malaysia's Johor state and Singapore, continues uninterrupted as the Spring Festival approaches. At the train depot in Johor Bahru, testing is progressing methodically, while across the strait in Singapore, project teams are working in shifts to prepare for upcoming integration tests. The RTS, which involves Chinese enterprises in its construction, will connect Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North Station in Singapore and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
At the Johor Bahru depot, tracks extend toward Singapore across the Johor Strait. Rows of white, blue, and red trains are illuminated under the lights, with occasional instrument alerts and radio communications heard from the cabins. Chinese and international engineers move through the site, some checking traction system parameters while others calibrate programs on control screens, maintaining a brisk yet orderly pace. With all eight trains delivered by the end of last year, the project has transitioned from track laying to vehicle testing.
During the Spring Festival holiday, Chinese and Malaysian technical teams are accelerating static and dynamic tests to ensure the system opens on schedule and operates safely. "Each system must be validated individually and tested for interoperability to guarantee precision," explained Li Linzhong, a commissioning engineer from CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive. He noted that current testing focuses on key systems such as traction, network control, doors, and air conditioning, with all data repeatedly verified to ensure stable performance in high heat and humidity.
"This Spring Festival coincides with a critical project phase, so our schedule is packed," said Li, who is spending another holiday overseas. "No one is taking a break; we're all monitoring tests on-site to keep progress on track and lay a solid foundation for formal operations." Having worked in Malaysia for years on multiple rail projects, Li admitted that being away from home during festivals can be challenging, but video calls ease the distance. "Working alongside colleagues from different countries adds meaning to this cross-cultural collaboration," he added.
Among those working alongside Li are young Malaysian technicians like 25-year-old Muhammad Syafiq from Johor. With the Spring Festival overlapping with Ramadan this year, creating a unique "dual festival" period in Malaysia, Syafiq also chose to remain on duty. "Completing key milestones requires us to work through the holidays. While it may mean sacrificing personal time, it strengthens team cohesion," he said. For Syafiq, holiday work brings the day of train operations closer. "The RTS is not just a transport project; it's an artery driving socio-economic integration between the two regions. A few minutes' cross-strait journey, coupled with efficient customs clearance, will create a 'single-city living circle' and boost mobility," he remarked.
The RTS spans approximately 4 kilometers, crossing the Johor Strait via elevated bridges and underground tunnels, with a maximum capacity of 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions. On the Singapore side, work at the Woodlands North site continues unabated during the festival. Chen Weihao, Deputy General Manager of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Overseas Engineering Division and General Manager of CCCC Singapore, emphasized that the RTS is more than a metro line—it is a decade-in-the-making民生 project between Singapore and Malaysia and the world's first cross-border light rail system. "Currently, over 100,000 people may be stuck on the Causeway during peak hours, with delays lasting hours. Once operational, the RTS's hourly capacity of 10,000 passengers per direction will halve Causeway congestion, making travel between Johor and Singapore more convenient and secure," he said. Stressing the importance of holiday work, Chen added that accelerating progress aims to deliver benefits to residents sooner.
This dedication is echoed by Chen Chao, CCCC Singapore's RTS Elevated and Tunnel Project Manager, who has spent five consecutive Spring Festivals on-site since the project began in 2021. He recalled a foreign team leader telling him during a holiday break, "If the team isn't leaving until the bridge is done, neither am I." In that moment, Chen realized the structure represents more than engineering—it carries families' hopes. "Staying during the festival means getting things done step by step," he said.
From the Johor Bahru depot to the Woodlands North site, this commitment spans both sides of the strait. "When trains officially run, I'll be there to experience it," Syafiq said with a smile. "Standing at the front, viewing the sea and cities on both shores, I'll know our hard work was worth it."