S'pore & M'sia simulate fire on stranded RTS Link train in emergency exercise ahead of Feb. 2027 launch

Singapore and Malaysia simulated a fire on board a stranded Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link train on Oct. 27, to test how agencies from both countries would respond to a cross-border emergency.

The scenario put jointly developed emergency response protocols to the test, according to Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann, who spoke at the exercise’s closing ceremony at Wadi Hana Depot in Johor Bahru on Oct. 28.

Testing communication and deployment across the border

In her closing address, Sim said Malaysia’s Operations Centre at Bukit Chagar and Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Integrated Operations Centre maintained real-time contact throughout the exercise.

This allowed both sides to develop a common understanding of the situation and share their response plans.

Officers and station operators on both sides also coordinated the deployment of fire and rescue, law enforcement and border control personnel.

Sim said the agencies demonstrated effective command and control, with officers showing a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

She noted that each RTS Link train will carry more than 600 passengers, with journeys taking about five minutes. An emergency could therefore affect many passengers at short notice while involving two countries with different laws, agencies and command structures.

“An emergency on board a crowded and fast-moving train leaves little room for error,” she said.

She urged participating agencies to study the exercise’s observations and discuss them with their counterparts to improve their joint response plans before an actual incident occurs.

Followed a tabletop exercise in September

Sim said agencies from both countries have been developing frameworks, laws and operational protocols for cross-border incidents since 2023.

Officers also took part in a tabletop exercise in September 2026 to work through procedures for natural hazards, medical emergencies, fires, and public order and security incidents.

The Oct. 27 field exercise then tested those plans under realistic conditions.

Passenger services expected to begin in February 2027

The exercise comes ahead of the rail link’s expected opening in February 2027.

In an Oct. 2 press release, train service operator RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO) said it expected to complete all system tests and trial runs by Dec. 31 this year.

RTSO said the expected February 2027 start of passenger services took into account the remaining works, independent safety certification and approvals from both countries’ authorities.

In a separate joint news release on Oct. 2, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority and Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport said the revised opening timeline remained subject to independent safety certification and final regulatory approvals.

The RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore, with a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Passengers will undergo immigration clearance at their departure station, where both countries’ customs, immigration and quarantine facilities will be co-located.