RTS2 Proposal Gains Support to Ease Tuas Congestion

Johor’s proposal for a second Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Tuas and Iskandar Puteri is gaining support among commuters in southwest Johor, according to a report by CNA.

Residents in Gelang Patah, Pontian and Kulai, many of whom travel daily to Singapore via the Tuas Second Link, told CNA the idea could be a real game changer, especially for those currently relying on buses. On a recent weekday morning, the daily portal observed more than a hundred people already in line at the Gelang Patah bus terminal before 5am. 

The first Causeway Link bus filled up immediately, leaving others to wait for the next one. Commuters said this is a common sight during peak hours.

One regular traveller from Gelang Patah, Kevin Foh, shared that buses often arrive full and passengers sometimes have to let two or three go before they can get a seat. 

"I believe the proposed RTS2 could transform our daily journey with a short taxi ride to an RTS station in Iskandar Puteri, then a direct train to Singapore, without the long queues and waiting," he says in the report.
The proposal was announced on July 31 by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 

"The plan follows a decree from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, although details such as station locations have yet to be confirmed," the minister stated.

The first RTS Link, connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore, is set to open in December 2026, with rail installation works already more than halfway done. 

But for Gelang Patah residents, Bukit Chagar is about 25 kilometres away, and the trip can take up to two hours by bus during rush hour.
Analysts told CNA the proposed RTS2 could ease congestion, reduce travel time for western Johor commuters, and boost growth in Iskandar Puteri, part of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. 

Still, they pointed out the challenge of limited last-mile connectivity in both Tuas and Iskandar Puteri, and questioned whether passenger numbers would justify the construction costs.